Frank exchange' as DPM Gan shares Singapore's concerns over tariffs with US trade chief

Officials from both sides continue to discuss how to work together on issue: Minister

- Ovais SubhaniSenior Business Correspondentand Bhagyashree GarekarUS Bureau Chief

SINGAPORE/WASHINGTON - Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong discussed America's recent tariffs and their impact on trade in his first conversation with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on April 15, which he described as a "frank exchange".

"We discussed our relationship, we talked about the tariffs, our concerns about the tariffs. We also discussed what we plan to do going forward," Mr Gan told reporters on April 16.

"I took the opportunity to explain to Ambassador Greer Singapore's approach and our position, and our unique status as a small, open economy, which is quite different from other countries," he added.

Mr Gan, who is also Minister for Trade and Industry, was responding to questions on Singapore's engagement with America on tariffs at the first press conference of the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce, which he chairs.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong had announced the setting up of the task force in Parliament on April 8, to support businesses and workers in response to sweeping tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, which have sparked volatility in markets worldwide and cast a pall on the global economy.

Singapore, which has a free trade agreement (FTA) with the US and currently imposes zero tariffs on imports from America, was subject to the baseline 10 per cent tariff rate, which came into effect on April 5.

Mr Gan also touched on his call with Mr Greer in a LinkedIn post after the press conference, saying he shared Singapore's concerns on how the tariffs would impact trade.

"Ambassador Greer explained the US' concern over its overall trade deficit in goods, as well as the US' priority to strengthen its domestic manufacturing base," Mr Gan wrote.

"He also acknowledged Singapore's importance as an economic partner and the US' trade surplus with Singapore, even as we are subject to the 10 per cent baseline tariff."