Sheesh dont tell me they will fly in with their choppers and grab our leader?
Hopefully they mistakenly take our President, thinking that is the highest position.
That could save us millions every year
Looks like economy will be hit. Hope later this month, voucher god will declare a raiding of reserves and everyone huat until JB
Tiagong now JB is dangerous. They are into kidnapping for a fast buck.
US flags Singapore as part of China's 'shadow transshipment network' that avoids Trump's tariffs
https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/us-flags-singapore-part-chinas-shadow-transshipment-network-avoids-trumps-tariffs?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwdGRjcATrx0RjbGNrBOvHDHBkb2YFZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEen4tCyFoHQnznhFn-L4f-k3cT7-YKCxeGdfS-ynQbtLl55XYFLx6M_hVrJ8A_aem_l7SIeaCJ_GNFkQ4raDOmxQ
Full Details: US Flags Singapore as Part of China’s 'Shadow Transshipment Network'
Source: AsiaOne / The Straits Times | Published Aug 14, 2026, 4:44 AM; Updated same day 6:59 AM | By Ovais Subhani
📌 Core Announcement
On Aug 13, 2026, the Trump administration released a White House report titled "The Great Transshipment Scam", accusing Singapore and dozens of other countries of being used by Chinese exporters to illegally reroute goods to evade US tariffs — calling this a "shadow transshipment network."
📝 Key Details from the Report
- Definition of illegal transshipment: Routing Chinese goods through intermediate countries with lower tariffs, concealing the true country of origin to avoid duties.
- Enforcement measures: The US will deploy an AI-powered "Detective Border" and other crackdown tools. The report stated: "The age of untraceable illegal transshipment is over."
- Existing penalty: Back in August 2025, the US introduced an additional 40% tariff on goods proven to be illegally transshipped to dodge duties.
- Revenue loss estimate: Tariff evasion via transshipment may have cost the US US$40 billion to US$303 billion in customs revenue, based on government and private-sector studies.
- Trade shift observation: After 2018 tariffs, China’s direct share of US imports fell — while the combined share from the 40 identified "transshipment countries" rose. The report noted: "Products made largely in China, lightly touched abroad and exported to America under new identities." It acknowledged some shift reflects legitimate sourcing/production changes, but the pattern warrants investigation.
🗂️ Classification: Singapore’s Tier
The 40 countries were grouped into three tiers; Singapore is placed in Tier 3:
"Small, opportunistic Chinese targets — smaller economies with lower absolute illegal transshipment volumes but specific weak-link advantages: low-cost labour, free zones, port/border access, bonded warehousing, niche assembly capacity, preferential US access, or limited customs enforcement — making them attractive for China-linked rerouting, plus limited production/logistics routing."
- The report warned that growing dependence on Chinese inputs, logistics and capital could let Beijing gain commercial and geopolitical leverage, while keeping indirect access to the US market.
🛡️ Singapore’s Stance & Response
- Official position: Singapore has repeatedly stated it takes trade compliance seriously.
- Singapore Customs (Sep 2025):
- Legal framework aligns with international best practices/WCO rules, aiming for transparency and predictability.
- Defines transshipment as goods passing through Singapore without originating here, country of origin remains unchanged — cannot be relabelled as Singapore-made.
- Businesses must fully comply; authorities work with global partners to detect and act against illicit shipments.
- The Ministry of Trade and Industry has been contacted for comment on the new White House report.
⚖️ Broader Context
- This report is part of efforts to rebuild Trump’s tariff regime, after a court ruling earlier in 2026 weakened it.
- Earlier measure (July 2026): The US imposed a 12.5% levy covering ~one-third of Singapore’s domestic exports to the US — over allegations Singapore and others failed to enforce bans on goods made with forced labour.