Hot Links

Become a TPP

Bureau of Industry & Security

Bureau of Census

China Business Center

Export Admin. Regulations

Find HS Numbers

Importing

Int'l Trade Guides

Int'l Business Planning
Market of the Month

MDEC Membership

MDEC Members Only
Michigan Exports

Michigan Export Services

TPP Only

USDOC Int'l Trade Admin.

WebGuides

What's new

Free Counseling
It doesn't matter whether it's as close as Windsor or as far as Hong Kong or Zimbabwe, the Michigan District Export Council has someone who's been there and done that.  We encourage you to give us a try.

Singapore:

US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Opens Doors for U.S. Companies!

Today, Singapore looks better than ever to American firms with an eye on Asian markets. It is the logistics, communications, IT, financial services and management hub for the ten countries of the region as well as a gateway to a market of more than 500 million people. Many U.S. companies have termed Singapore as "Asia for beginners" because it is the market in Asia most similar to the U.S. A wide range of U.S. products and services are exported to Singapore requiring little, if any, adjustment on the part of the exporting company. 

Singapore is the 11th largest export market and 12th largest trading partner of the United States, with nearly $31 billion in bilateral goods traded in 2002. It is the home to more than 1500 American firms with 90 percent of the companies having regional or sub-regional responsibilities, a testament to Singapore's role as the core of the Southeast Asian region. A British based commercial code, strong legal system, and the predominance of the English language make Singpapore the optimal place to expand into the Asian region. U.S. companies have continually expressed their delight with the ease of doing business in Singapore, and many of them are using Singapore as a base to export their products and services to other countries in the region.

U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement

On January 1, 2004, the bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the United States and Singapore went into force. The FTA will greatly expand opportunities for American businesses in Singapore. All U.S. exports to Singapore enjoy a zero percent tariff rate, and for Singapore exports, 80 percent of existing U.S. tariffs have been eliminated, with the remaining 20 percent being phased out over a period of 12 years. In addition, the FTA guarantees fair and non-discriminatory treatment and greater market access to service industries, such as land surveying, architecture and engineering, express delivery, legal services, financial services and telecommunications. 

The FTA also includes extensive enhancements to the protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). There is state-of-the-art protection for trademarks, including government involvement in resolving disputes between trademark and Internet domain names. The agreement provides for patent protection for biotech plants and animals; extended terms for copyright protection; strong anti-circumvention provisions to prohibit tampering with technologies that are designed to prevent piracy; criminal penalties for companies that use unlicensed software; protection for encrypted program-carrying satellite signals; and limited liability for Internet Service Providers.

 For more information on the U.S.-Singapore FTA, go to our Singapore BuyUSA site.

The U.S. Commercial Service in Singapore is here to help your company to achieve your business objectives in Singapore and the region. Please take a look at our website for more information on our programs and services that are tailored to your individual needs. We look forward to working with you.

Streaming Video Market Brief:

With a brand-new U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in place and a country hungry for U.S. products and services, View this webcast on Singapore to learn more about the market and opportunities that the FTA will create for U.S. exporters!

Best Prospects for U.S. Exporters:

Best prospects for U.S. exports to Singapore include electronic components and equipment, aircraft and parts, pollution control equipment, education services, construction and building equipment, scientific equipment and medical devices, information technologies (telecommunications equipment and computers) and franchising. As part of the government's commitment to becoming the premier telecommunications and broadcasting hub in the region, Singapore has one of the most advanced information communications infrastructures in the world. With the FTA, opportunities for U.S. telecommunications companies will increase. Search our Market Research Library for more information on Singapore's top markets for U.S. exporters.

Michigan Exports to Singapore

Trade Events:

• Asian Aerospace 2006
• Food & Hotel Asia 2006
• CommunicAsia and BroadcastAsia

Singapore is #1 in Asia for regional exhibitions, and CS Singapore supports most the major shows. In addition, many of the exhibitions, including those below, are part of "Asia Now", a regional program which brings CS personnel from throughout Asia to the most important events, providing the U.S. firms with a single point of access to 14 Asian markets. For more information on AsiaNow, visit our AsiaNow Website.

For more information on other CS Singapore news and events please visit our Singapore BuyUSA site.

Success Story:

The next best thing to having a factory or an office in a foreign country is to have a knowledgeable, aggressive distributor. It's also potentially the least expensive, lowest risk way to enter and profit from overseas markets, as many smaller U.S. companies are finding.

But how do you locate well-matched, trustworthy distributors without spending an arm and a leg? Learn more about Farouk Systems, Inc.'s successful approach...

Contact us:

U.S. Commercial Service Singapore
Senior Commercial Officer: George Ruffner
American Embassy
27 Napier Road
Singapore, 258508
Phone: 65-6476-9037
Fax: 65-6476-9080
Other useful contacts…

Additional Information

For additional information about the Singapore market, please see these companion articles:

• Singapore WebGuide
• Business Puts the "SING” in Singapore
• ICT Team WebGuide for Singapore.

• The Export Channel            Expand your vision! What’s on?  Insightful, interactive, international business Webcasts, brought to you by the U.S. Commercial Service.  Expand your vision now!

  Market Brief In-country experts share unique perspectives and new opportunities for markets around the world.

  With a hunger for U.S. products and services, Singapore should be on any U.S exporter’s map Click on picture.

Date Updated: March 27, 2007