The U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has helped increase U.S. exports, improve U.S. competitiveness around the globe, and provide a standard of free trade that encourages a high level of liberalization. Doing business in Singapore has become even easier, faster, cheaper, and more transparent. The FTA has given U.S. businesses and exporters even more access to one of the world’s biggest markets.
Besides binding all Singapore tariffs for U.S. goods at zero, the FTA has increased export opportunities for certain U.S. manufacturing sectors, including those that produce medical instruments and equipment, microelectronics, photo equipment, certain textiles, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals.Singapore also has accorded substantial access to its services and investment market, with few exceptions. It also has increased government procurement opportunities and protection of intellectual property. Furthermore, the FTA provided for groundbreaking cooperation in promoting labor rights and the environment.
For goods that are not wholly obtained, you must meet the product’s rule of origin, usually through Tariff Shift or Regional Value Content. Learn more about how to Read and Apply FTA Rules of Origin. The rules of origin may be found in the final text of the FTA. Occasionally, a particular rule of origin may be revised. For the most updated version of the ROOs consult the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, General Notes — General Note 25.
No specific certificate is required for the U.S. – Singapore FTA. You may be requested by the importer to provide information to support a claim of preferential treatment. More information on what to include can be found in Free Trade Agreements Certificates of Origin.