The United States’ new ambassador to Singapore has come under fire for his remarks defending the 10 per cent tariff on the city state by framing it as the US seeking help from a friend after it had played an important role in Singapore’s economic miracle.
Orthopaedic surgeon Anjani Sinha, who officially started his tenure on November 17, told government-funded local media outlet The Straits Times that the US was asking friends such as Singapore to help President Donald Trump “rebalance” and restore “fairness” to the international trading system through tariffs.
Sinha reportedly said: “Over many decades, American taxpayers and service members have underwritten regional security, playing an important role in making Singapore’s economic miracle possible.
“Now, we are asking our friends to help us rebalance the economy. That’s the framework, and I am confident the US-Singapore business and economic relationship will continue to grow.”
Sinha, who made headlines after a grilling from Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth during his confirmation hearing back home in July, argued that Trump’s trade agenda was focused on “restoring balance and fairness to the international trading system and protecting US national security”.
Observers told This Week in Asia that while Sinha’s comments were in line with the Trump administration’s rhetoric on global trade, they struck a nerve with Singaporeans since America also benefited from regional security and an open economy.
