US proposed 12.5% tariff could hit one-third of Singapore exports
What's next: The plan faces public comments and USTR hearings in July before current US reciprocal tariffs expire on July 24.
A proposed 12.5% US tariff tied to forced-labor enforcement could apply to about one-third of Singapore’s exports to the United States, after exemptions for products including energy, pharmaceuticals, some electronics, aerospace goods and semiconductors. Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry rejected any link to forced labor supply chains and said it had presented its position to the Office of the United States Trade Representative in bilateral consultations. The USTR this week proposed tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on imports from 60 economies it says have not banned or effectively blocked goods tied to forced labor. Singapore’s non-exempt goods currently face a baseline 10% US tariff.