Trump tariffs

Threat to US Fed independence, geopolitical tensions cloud Wall Street outlook

Investors rush into Asia markets, precious metals as the ‘sell US’ trade takes hold

Although US-China bilateral trade dropped sharply by 33%, Chinese EV exports to Asean surged 75%.
NEW GLOBAL ORDER

The tariff war that wasn’t: What economists missed about Trump’s trade gambit

Reality proves more complex with non-traditional factors at play, including structural shifts

Singapore's Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong speaking at the Iseas-Yusof Ishak Institute’s Regional Outlook Forum in Singapore on Jan 8.

Full impact of Trump tariffs will take some time to play out: SM Lee

The US’ ‘opting out’ of the multilateral trading system it anchors will hurt world economy, he says

Tariffs alone have added 0.7 percentage point to inflation, making the typical US household US$600 poorer.

Don’t be fooled – everything has changed for the global economy: Gita Gopinath

Damage caused by US tariffs has so far been muted but that won’t last

The priorities of Singapore's 4G leadership – led by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong – should become clearer in 2026.
OUTLOOK 2026

Transition in full swing: The 4G leadership’s direction and Budget 2026 priorities

With the election over, the focus may be on long-term issues such as climate change and the ageing population

The higher tariffs were due to take effect on Thursday, but are now set to take effect Jan 1, 2027, according to the fact sheet.

Trump delays new tariff hike on furniture, kitchen cabinets

[WASHINGTON] US President Donald Trump delayed tariff increases on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets and vanities, easing the pace of his levies as voter frustration over price levels continues ...

Singapore enters 2026 in better-than-expected economic condition, with full-year GDP growth for 2025 forecast at “around 4%”.
THINKING ALOUD

Now that the party’s over

After a better-than-expected 2025, greater sobriety might be in order for 2026

President Donald Trump signing a Bill to end the US government shutdown on Nov 12, allowing 670,000 furloughed federal workers to return to work.

From Trump tariffs to Bitcoin’s crash: 10 global events that made headlines in 2025

It’s been an eventful year with Nvidia’s record-breaking share price and a Cambodian scam ring with international links

Global trade booms on tech and AI, but geopolitical tensions and slower growth cloud the outlook.

In a triumph over tariffs, the world is trading more than ever

Singapore has also ridden the tech wave, with non-oil domestic exports rising by 11.6% year on year in November