Singapore Foreign Minister Urges US to Avoid Tariffs

Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on July 23 in Manila during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Balakrishnan argued that Singapore should not be targeted by upcoming US tariff measures, asserting that there is no technical or economic basis for such duties given the growing US trade surplus with Singapore.

The meeting took place as a temporary 10 percent global import surcharge from the Trump administration was set to expire, with new global and targeted Section 301 tariffs expected to follow. Balakrishnan emphasized that Singapore should not become collateral damage in these broader trade policies.

Beyond bilateral trade, Balakrishnan addressed regional stability through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. He highlighted the need for economic integration and energy resilience amid geopolitical uncertainty. He also critiqued the situation in Myanmar, stating the country has made insufficient progress toward reconciliation and that the release of political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, remains a necessity.