Singapore

“Trade Policy Reviews” analyse the trade policies and practices of each member of the WTO. The reviews consist of three parts: an independent report by the WTO Secretariat, a report by the government, and the concluding remarks by the Chair of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body. The opening section - “key trade facts” - provides a visual overview of the WTO member's major exports/imports, main export destinations, origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of Singapore.

“Trade Policy Reviews" analyse the trade policies and practices of each member of the WTO. The reviews consist of three parts: an independent report by the WTO Secretariat, a report by the government, and the concluding remarks by the Chair of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body. The opening section - "key trade facts" - provides a visual overview of the WTO member's major exports/imports, main export destinations, origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of Singapore.

The Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM) was first established on a trial basis by the GATT contracting parties in April 1989. The Mechanism became a permanent feature of the World Trade Organization under the Marrakesh Agreement which established the WTO in January 1995.

This is the sixth Trade Policy Review of Singapore by the World Trade Organization (WTO). Singapore’s period under review (2008-2011) was marked by an unprecedented global economic crisis. Amidst an increasingly challenging post-crisis landscape, Singapore is committed to keeping our markets open and promoting fair and active competition. To ensure that growth is both sustainable and inclusive, Singapore will undertake long-term economic reforms to increase productivity and innovation and strengthen our social infrastructure.

The Uruguay Round negotiations ended on 15 December 1993 with an exhausting rush to meet a deadline set, for the most part, by the expiry of the US President’s negotiating authority. But the official end of negotiations was followed by months of hard work in Geneva and in the capitals of Members to get ready for the final signatures at Marrakesh in April 1994, and the entry into force of the WTO Agreements on 1 January 1995.

Singapore remains one of the most market-oriented and open economies in the world and is also considered the easiest country in which to do business. Singapore is facing a number of new challenges, as well as opportunities, due to the global financial crisis and its competitiveness is being tested by low-cost economies particularly in Asia. In response, Singapore has launched a productivity drive to boost GDP growth and facilitate its transformation into a high-tech economy.

The services sector plays a crucial role in the economic growth and development of both India and Singapore. The two countries have liberalized unilaterally and developed global competitiveness in selected services, and now they are major exporters. Consequently, they not only have an aggressive interest in the multilateral liberalization of trade in services, but also perceive this sector as an integral part of their preferential trade agreements.

This sixth Trade Policy Review of Singapore has allowed us to improve our understanding of Singapore’ trade and trade-related policies and practices and how they have evolved since the previous review in 2008. We are grateful for the active participation of the Singaporean delegation headed by Mrs. Ow Foong Pheng, Permanent Secretary of Trade and Industry. I would also like to thank the discussant, Ambassador John Adank of New Zealand, and Members of the TPRB for contributing to our fruitful exchange of views.

Le 27 juin 2019, l’OMC a distribué le rapport du Groupe spécial dans l’affaire “États-Unis - Certaines mesures relatives au secteur des énergies renouvelables”, introduite par l’Inde (DS510).

Le 9 juin 2020, l’Organe d’appel a remis ses rapports dans les procédures engagées par le Honduras et la République dominicaine dans l’affaire “Australie — Certaines mesures concernant les marques de fabrique ou de commerce, les indications géographiques et autres prescriptions en matière d’emballage neutre applicables aux produits du tabac et à leur emballage” (DS435 et DS441).

On 11 July 2019 the WTO circulated two panel report in the cases brought by the United States in “Canada — Additional Duties on Certain Products from the United States” (DS557) and “Mexico — Additional Duties on Certain Products from the United States” (DS560).

On 4 December 2019 the WTO circulated the dispute panel report in the case brought by Indonesia in “Australia - Anti-Dumping Measures On A4 Copy Paper” (DS529).

El 15 de septiembre de 2020, la OMC distribuyó el informe del Grupo Especial encargado del asunto planteado por China en la diferencia “Estados Unidos — Medidas arancelarias sobre determinados productos procedentes de China” (DS543).

Le 5 avril 2019, l’OMC a distribué le rapport du Groupe spécial chargé d’examiner l’affaire introduite par l’Ukraine “Russie - Mesures concernant le trafic en transit” (DS512).

On 12 April 2018, the WTO circulated the panel report in the case brought by Japan in “Korea - Anti-Dumping Duties on Pneumatic Valves from Japan".

Le 28 juin 2014, l’OMC a distribué le rapport du Groupe spécial dans les affaires introduites par le Honduras, la République dominicaine, Cuba et l’Indonésie “Australie — Certaines mesures concernant les marques de fabrique ou de commerce, les indications géographiques et autres prescriptions en matière d’emballage neutre applicables aux produits du tabac et à leur emballage” (DS435, DS441, DS458 et DS467)

El 11 de julio 2019, la OMC distribuyó los dos informes de los asuntos planteados por los Estados Unidos: “Canadá — Derechos adicionales sobre determinados productos procedentes de los Estados Unidos” (DS557) y “México — Derechos adicionales sobre determinados productos procedentes de los Estados Unidos” (DS560).

On 27 2019 June the WTO circulated the panel report in the case brought by India in “United States - Certain Measures Relating to the Renewable Energy Sector” (DS510).

El 11 de julio de 2019, la OMC distribuyó dos informes del Grupo Especial que entendió en los asuntos planteados por el Canadá y México: “Estados Unidos — Determinadas medidas relativas a los productos de acero y aluminio” (DS550) y “Estados Unidos — Determinadas medidas relativas a los productos de acero y aluminio” (DS551).

On 11 July 2019 the WTO circulated two panel report in the cases brought by Canada and Mexico in “United States — Certain Measures on Steel and Aluminium Products” (DS550) and “United States — Certain Measures on Steel and Aluminium Products” (DS551).

El 5 de abril de 2019 la OMC hizo público el informe del Grupo Especial que se ocupó del asunto planteado por Ucrania “ Rusia — medidas que afectan al tráfico en tránsito” (DS512).