SIIA Chairman Mr. Simon Tay spoke to CNA on the recent US tariff changes after US President Donald Trump imposed fresh tariffs using a different trade law, following the US Supreme Court’s decision to reject his signature reciprocal tariffs policy.
As a major trading nation, Singapore is bound to be affected by renewed tariff tensions and prolonged uncertainty in the US, Mr. Tay said. He noted that even if recent legal challenges slow tariff implementation, attempts to revive them under alternative legal bases are likely, creating sustained unpredictability.
While this environment will inevitably impact Singapore, “the good news is that when it comes to the rule of law, managing uncertainty and being fairly agile, Singapore is in a pretty strong position. What we need to do is return to some fundamentals,” Mr. Tay added.
“Even before this recent case, it was quite clear that getting into the American market and keeping tariffs at something you could afford was going to be difficult. You have to explore other countries, other markets. This reinforces that drive,” he said.
“The Singapore government has announced aid for companies to globalise, and all the more we should step up our efforts and maybe push in this direction. We mustn’t give up on America, but with this uncertainty, we’d better look for alternatives and a Plan B.”
Watch the CNA news report (21 February 2026) here: https://youtu.be/LGZegs6zS-U?si=2FeputX1kS4UAVob&t=108
