Singapore
The Singaporean government has taken on a very active programme of FTA negotiations, further deepening its position as a business hub of Southeast Asia. It has signed bilateral deals with New Zealand (2000), Japan (2002), EFTA (2002), Australia (2003), the US (2003), Jordan (2004), the quadrilateral Pacific 4 (2005), India (2005), Korea (2005), Panama (2006), Peru (2008), China (2008), Qatar (2008), the Gulf Cooperation Council (2008) and Costa Rica (2010). Negotiations with Mexico, Canada, Colombia, SACU, Egypt, Ukraine, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are ongoing. There has been talk of further FTAs with Iran and Morocco.
Additionally, Singapore is part of the ASEAN bloc which is currently working towards an FTA with the EU, India, and Australia/New Zealand, as well as full implementation of the deal with China.
last update: May 2012
Articles
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17-Oct-2018 Singapore Straits-Times PM Lee Hsien Loong to visit Austria, Belgium, and sign EU-Singapore FTA
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong arrives in Austria on Wednesday (Oct 17) for an official visit, and will travel on to Belgium for a biennial summit of leaders from Asia and Europe. -
29-Aug-2018 Economy Next Sri Lanka to review Singapore FTA annually
A Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement with Singapore can be reviewed annually, and the government will set up an independent commission to do so, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said as activists and opposition politicians protest fearing that the deal may lower prices to consumers and give less easy profits to businessmen. -
25-Aug-2018 Colombo Page Expert Committee appointed to review Singapore-Sri Lanka FTA calls for public opinions
The Expert Committee appointed by the President Maithripala Sirisena to study the Singapore-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement has decided to gather views from organizations and the public. -
24-Jul-2018 The Straits Times Singapore, South America customs union Mercosur launch free trade negotiations
Singapore and the South American customs union Mercosur have started negotiations for a free trade agreement. -
18-Jun-2018 The Straits Times Singapore deepens ties with Kenya, Rwanda
Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam meets their govt leaders, discusses ways to boost cooperation in various areas. -
13-Jun-2018 The Straits Times Singapore, Kenya ink two pacts to boost investment flows
Singapore and Kenya signed two agreements yesterday, a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) and an Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation (DTA), to promote greater investment flows. -
1-Jun-2018 The Business Times Singapore, India to cut tariffs on 30 more products after trade pact review
Singapore and India will reduce or remove tariffs on a further 30 products, improve rules of origin and facilitate mutual recognition of nursing standards following the second review of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) between the two countries. -
9-Apr-2018 Xinhua La Chine et Singapour s’engagent à approfondir leur coopération dans les domaines clés
La Chine et Singapour se sont engagés dimanche à approfondir leur coopération dans les domaines clés. -
9-Apr-2018 Channel News Asia Vivian Balakrishnan, Wang Yi stress importance of upholding free trade
Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on Sunday, with both reaffirming bilateral ties and stressing the importance of upholding free trade. -
5-Mar-2018 Singapore Business Review Singapore-EU to push ratification of free trade deal this year
Singapore and European Union (EU) have committed to facilitate the ratification of their trade and investment deal by the end of 2018 and push its entry into force soon thereafter. -
2-Mar-2018 The Nation Singapore calls on ASEAN to enhance economic integration
Singapore’s Minister for Trade and Industry (Trade) Lim Hng Kiang said on Thursday all ASEAN members must keep pursuing deeper economic integration and liberalization so that citizens can enjoy the benefits of their collective community efforts. -
22-Jan-2018 The Straits Times Singapore to sign free trade agreement with Sri Lanka
Singapore will sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with Sri Lanka this week - its 13th bilateral deal and, significantly, its first since the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) faced a setback last year when the United States withdrew from it. -
16-Jan-2018 The Straits Times Tall order as Singapore takes Asean chair: The Nation
Singapore has assumed the ASEAN 2018 chair. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has announced that his theme for the undertaking would be "Resilient and Innovative". It will be challenging for Singapore amidst multilateral trade and the Rohingya calamity in the region. -
14-Jan-2018 The Straits Times Singapore takes the hot seat: Steering Asean amid challenges
As Singapore becomes chairman of grouping, it hopes to get members to share common vision on terrorism, climate change and trade. -
7-Sep-2017 CNA Singapore and Indonesia to start discussions on new bilateral investment treaty
Singapore and Indonesia are working towards a new agreement to promote investment in both countries, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced -
5-Sep-2017 Straits Times Turkey, Singapore ratify free trade agreement in significant bilateral milestone
Turkey and Singapore have ratified a bilateral Free Trade Agreement that will enter into force on 1 October. -
18-Aug-2017 Daily Sabah Turkey ratifies free trade agreement with Singapore
The trade agreement has been described as the most expansive and comprehensive free trade agreement Turkey has signed. -
20-Jul-2017 Straits Times Singapore and Sri Lanka committed to concluding FTA talks by end-2017
Both Singapore and Sri Lanka are committed to concluding negotiations on a free trade agreement before the end of the year, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said in Colombo. -
1-Dec-2016 The Straits Times Singapore, Myanmar to start talks on investment treaty
Singapore and Myanmar will begin talks on a bilateral investment treaty. -
25-Aug-2016 Straits Times Singapore inks bilateral agreements with Ethiopia, Mozambique and Nigeria
Singapore signed a bilateral investment treaty with Mozambique at the Africa Singapore Business Forum. It already has BITs with Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso.
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Singapore’s FTAs website
Singapore’s FTAs website, with documents and news of latest developments.
