Singapore told the United States there is no technical or economic basis for imposing tariffs on the city-state, according to Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan [1].

The statement comes as Singapore seeks to protect its trade-dependent economy from potential U.S. protectionist policies that could disrupt regional supply chains and diplomatic ties.

Balakrishnan said the remarks on Thursday, July 23, 2026 [1], during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The discussion took place in Manila, Philippines, on the sidelines of the 59th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting [1, 2].

During the exchange, Balakrishnan said that the U.S. lacks a technical or economic justification to target Singapore with tariffs [1]. He described the meeting with Rubio as a "good, candid and honest-to-goodness discussion" [1].

Singapore remains a critical hub for global trade and a key security partner for the U.S. in Southeast Asia. The pushback against potential tariffs suggests a concern that broader U.S. trade strategies might inadvertently penalize allies who maintain open markets.

Balakrishnan said there is no technical or economic basis for imposing tariffs on Singapore [1]. The 59th ASEAN meeting serves as a primary venue for member states to coordinate regional stability, and economic cooperation [2].

“There is no technical or economic basis for imposing tariffs on Singapore.”

This interaction highlights the tension between the U.S. government's current shift toward more aggressive trade tariffs and its strategic need to maintain strong alliances in the Indo-Pacific. By asserting a lack of economic justification, Singapore is attempting to preemptively carve out an exemption or discourage the U.S. from applying broad trade penalties that would disproportionately impact a small, trade-reliant economy.