Singapore–United States Free Trade Agreement

The United States–Singapore Free Trade Agreement (USSFTA), officially the Free Trade Agreement Between the United States of America and the Republic of Singapore, is a preferential trade agreement between Singapore and the United States that was signed on 6 May 2003. It was ratified by the US House of Representatives on 24 July 2003 by a vote of 272–155, and the US Senate ratified the bill on 31 July 2003 by a vote of 66–32. Then U.S. President George W. Bush signed into law the United States–Singapore Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act on 3 September 2003 and it officially came into effect on 1 January 2004.[1][2]

Singapore–United States Free Trade Agreement

Singapore
United States
Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and U.S. President George W. Bush signing the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement in the White House, May 6, 2003. In the background Robert Zoellick and Colin Powell

In addition to lowering of tariffs, the agreement also allowed easier movement of citizens from both countries. With its implementation, it became possible for Singaporean citizens to reside in the United States for extended periods of time. Business people and traders with an E-1 or E-2 visa are allowed a two-year stay period with an indefinite extension allowed.

Furthermore, Professionals with a H-1B1 visa (also known as H-1B1-Singapore) are allowed to stay for a maximum period of up to 18 months with also the possibility of an indefinite extension. This visa was specifically created for Singaporeans, and there is an annual priority quota of 5,400 visas, but this quota has yet to be reached to date. Any unused quota is transferred to the general pool for use by citizens of other countries.[3]

United States citizens coming to Singapore are also allowed to work in most business occupations for 3 months without a visa or a "Professional Visit Pass".[4]

Competition chapter

Chapter 12 of the agreement proscribes conduct to promote competitive market behavior.[5] The chapter broke new ground among U.S. FTAs for its obligations related to government enterprises. A government enterprise was a "covered entity" for purposes of the FTA if the Government of Singapore owned any special voting shares, with the exception of enterprises operating only for investing Singapore Government reserves.[6] Even if the Singapore Government did not own any shares in an enterprise, enterprises with revenue over an adjusted threshold could still be a covered entity if there was "effective influence" from the Government. Effective influence exists where the government owns more than 50% of the voting rights, or can exercise substantial influence over the management. If the government owns less than 50% of the voting shares, but more than 20%, there is a presumption of effective influence that the Government of Singapore can rebut.[7]

Having broadly defined government enterprises, the chapter goes on to proscribe several obligations subject to the FTAs dispute settlement provisions.[8] Singapore agreed to ensure that its government enterprises acted in accordance with commercial considerations and that they do not enter into anti-competitive dealings with competitors.[9] Singapore also agreed to annually publish a report detailing its ownership and relationship with all covered entities, offer the names of any government officials serving as officers or directors, and the entity's annual revenue or total assets.[10] Furthermore, Singapore is obligated to take no action or attempt at influencing decisions of its government enterprises, and at the same time continually reduce, with the goal of substantially eliminating, its ownership and other interests in enterprises.[11]

Views in favor of US-Singapore FTA

Proponents of the US-Singapore FTA claim that the reduction of trade barriers between the two countries will lead to a growth in exports.

Views opposed to the US-Singapore FTA

In announcing the deal, President Bush hailed Singapore as "a strong partner in the war on terrorism and a member of the coalition on Iraq." Asia Times columnist Jeffrey Robertson argued that the deal was a reward for Singapore's support of the Iraq invasion. The suggested quid pro quo may be dubious, since the FTA negotiations with Singapore were begun by President Clinton and concluded around the same time as the FTA with Chile (also started by Clinton), which was not a coalition partner.[12][13][14]

See more

References
  1. "United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (2003 - H.R. 2739)". GovTrack.us. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  2. "President Bush Signs Chile, Singapore Free Trade Agreement Bills". georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  3. "Free Trade Agreements | Enterprise Singapore". www.enterprisesg.gov.sg. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  4. "Free Trade Agreements | Enterprise Singapore". www.enterprisesg.gov.sg. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  5. Final Text of the Agreement
  6. Article 12.8
  7. Article 12.8(5)
  8. Article 12.3(2)
  9. Article 12.3(2)(d)
  10. Article 12.3(g)
  11. Article 12.3.(2)(e)-(f)
  12. President Signed U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement
  13. Asia Times Online :: Global Economy
  14. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on January 14, 2009. Retrieved February 3, 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

Other references
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