While in the US, Mr Gan met with US Cabinet Secretaries, members of Congress and business and private-sector representatives.<\/p>\n
He also participated in a business roundtable organised by the US Chamber of Commerce to discuss international and regional economic developments, and opportunities for collaboration between US and Singapore companies.<\/p>\n
Mr Gan said his first question to US officials was whether they were open to negotiations on the 10 per cent tariff that Singapore is subject to, and whether it could be reduced or removed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the answer for the time being was quite obvious \u2013 they are not in the mood to discuss any discount to the baseline tariff,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we also want to put a place marker to remind (the US that) at any point in time, in future, if there’s flexibility to discuss the baseline tariff, we are interested in negotiating.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also asked officials if the baseline tariff will stay at 10 per cent or if it will go higher or lower.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe answer was non-committal. They are still reviewing the tariff, and in time to come they will make an appropriate announcement, so we just have to wait and see,\u201d said Mr Gan.<\/p>\n
Even if the baseline tariff changes, no one can tell if that will be the final rate, he added, noting that the level of\u00a0 uncertainty has increased.<\/p>\n
He said he did not have the chance to meet US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick when he was in Washington, and hence, did not have detailed negotiations on pharmaceutical tariffs.<\/p>\n