US tariffs may pose threat to security situation in Singapore: Shanmugam (2025)

SINGAPORE – Tariffs imposed by the US may pose a threat to global security as international relations are fundamentally reshaped.

Moving away from a rules-based system also means every country will have to look to itself for security, said Home Affairs Minister K.Shanmugamon April 17.

This comes as US President Donald Trump unveiled sweeping tariffs on its trading partners on April 2.

A baseline tariff of 10 per cent will apply to all goods imported into the US from around the world, including Singapore. Steeper, reciprocal tariffs were also slapped on at least 60 trading partners.

“We don’t know whether the world, as we know, has gone permanently, or Mr Trump will have a change of heart, but it is going to be a very difficult environment and, inevitably, big countries will start giving incentives and putting up more barriers, because when the US does it, others have to do it too,” Mr Shanmugam said.

He added that Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and like-minded counterparts in other countries are currently working together to salvage the world trading system.

“It’s not going to replace the Americans, because as I said, they are one third of the world’s consumption. But some order is better than no order. So we are trying to do that, and that’s what the Prime Minister meant by there is agency, but there will be stress, and we will be under stress,” said Mr Shanmugam, referring to PM Wong’s address at the 14th S. Rajaratnam Lecture on April 16.

Mr Shanmugam, who is also Law Minister, was speaking at the Home Team Promotion Ceremony held at the ballroom of Orchard Hotel.

More than 380 officers in the Home Team were recognised in the ceremony, highlighting their promotions to the rank of lieutenant-colonel or superintendent and above.

Mr Shanmugam said he wanted to talk about the tariffs due to their significant economic impact, which could affect the work of Home Team agencies that include the Singapore Police Force and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).

“You must expect that economic vibrancy could be affected. Jobs are likely to be lost around the world, including Singapore, financial stress. Tailor-made for an increase in crime,” he said.

Economic hardships can also create social or community tensions, increasing the risk of public disorder, he added.

Meanwhile, Singapore, being a trade-reliant economy, will also be harder hit than other countries.

This will not only affect the nation’s ability to create jobs, but also the manner in which the Government can run public services as the Budget is impacted.

“Our ability to collect taxes, fund programmes, maintain healthcare, keep up other areas of social and public spending. It’s all going to come under pressure. There are therefore wider implications as well for the international order and a direct implication for security,” said Mr Shanmugam.

Addressing the officers at the event, Mr Shanmugam added: “We can prepare our officers to deal with the challenges if they come. And I have no doubt, I have every confidence, management has every confidence, that we will meet that challenge and that you will continue to lead the Home Team well.”

Promotion ceremony

SCDF Colonel Tay Zhi Wei, 41, who headed an 80-strong contingent to quake-hit Myanmar from March 29 to April 8 for a search-and-rescue operation, was promoted from his previous rank of lieutenant-colonel in April.

He said the experience of leading Operation Lionheart served as a reminder how things, including a strong and coordinated emergency system, are sometimes taken for granted.

“It reaffirmed the importance of what we have built in SCDF, from our fire stations to our national service units, and why we train and prepare relentlessly. It reminded me why we do what we do: to bring hope, comfort and lifesaving aid when it’s needed most,” said Col Tay.

He told The Straits Times that the teamwork involved in firefighting has driven and motivated him in his 16-year-long career.

“You’ll be tested, pushed beyond your limits and trained to respond in the toughest situations. But you’ll also grow, form bonds that last a lifetime, and be part of a team that stands ready to protect and save lives.”

He added: “And at the end of the day, you’ll go home knowing you made a difference – sometimes in matters of life and death.”

Dr Hee Hwan Ing, deputy director at Home Team Medical Services Division, received a grade promotion.

The 56-year-old was formerly a paediatric anaesthesiologist for more than two decades at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital. She said her time as a clinician inspired her move to population and public health.

“To prepare for the career switch, I pursued further studies in epidemiology, research methodology and medical device regulations so that I would be able to serve in good capacity beyond my clinical speciality.”

“I believe in continuous learning, professional development and making continuous contributions to healthcare beyond the hospital, and the mid-career switch was a timely transfer of experience and work I had acquired over the years,” Dr Hee said.

She is part of the Home Team Medical Services Division that aims to develop in-house medical capability.

“I hope I will be able to apply the study of epidemiology to evaluate and design health policy to improve the health and operational readiness of our Home Team officers. I also look forward to mentoring and inspiring younger physicians in this endeavour,” she said.

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