DPM Gan plans visit to US later in July to hold talks on tariffs

He will also meet business representatives to explore opportunities for S'pore firms

- Ovais Subhani

Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong will travel to the US later in July to hold talks with his counterparts in the US administration, and to meet business representatives to explore opportunities for Singapore companies.

"This (trip) will allow us to get a better understanding of US concerns, their priorities, their interests, and to explore opportunities that we can work together on to strengthen the bilateral relationship that has so far been mutually beneficial," he said during a press conference held by the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce on July 10.

While details of the trip are still being planned, DPM Gan said there are broadly three key objectives that he would focus on during his US visit.

The top priority will be to further the discussions on tariffs on pharmaceuticals being contemplated by the US administration. The US is a major destination for Singapore-based drugmakers that include American multinationals such as Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson.

DPM Gan said he will explore various ways to "facilitate trade between Singapore and the US on pharmaceuticals".