Singapore Assesses Impact of Trump’s Pharmaceutical Tariffs Amid Exemption Plans

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Business

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Image Credit: CMG

The upcoming pharmaceutical tariffs announced by the Trump administration may have “no immediate impact” on Singaporean drugmakers, as many could qualify for exemptions, Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Gan Kim Yong said on Saturday (Sep 27).

DPM Gan, who also serves as Trade and Industry Minister, noted that “many of them already have plans to invest [in the US], so tariffs may not have immediate impacts on their exports.” At the same time, major pharmaceutical firms are continuing discussions with the US administration to clarify the conditions and criteria tied to the new tariffs, including whether plants still in the planning stage would qualify for exemptions.

The tariffs, set to take effect on Oct. 1, impose a 100 per cent duty on imports of branded or patented pharmaceutical goods unless a company has already begun constructing a US facility. Companies that have broken ground on US plants are eligible for exemptions.

Singaporean pharmaceutical exports to the US total approximately S$4 billion annually, representing about 13 per cent of the country’s domestic goods exports. A significant portion of these exports comprises patented, branded medicines that fall under the tariff scope. Singapore is also home to nine of the world’s top ten pharmaceutical firms.

DPM Gan emphasized that Singapore is engaging in bilateral discussions with the US on pharmaceuticals and semiconductors, exploring measures such as tariff rate ceilings similar to recent trade agreements with Japan and the European Union. He cautioned that these negotiations will take time due to the complexity of details involved.

The government is also looking at broader economic resilience amid rising global tariffs, with the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce reviewing long-term strategies. Two support measures have been announced: the Business Adaptation Grant, capped at S$100,000 per company, and the Graduate Industry Traineeships scheme for recent graduates, both aimed at helping businesses adjust to the evolving trade environment.

DPM Gan stressed the importance of strengthening Singapore’s competitiveness to remain relevant in the global economy amid growing protectionist measures worldwide.

2 Polar Park Employees Were Injured During the Postgame Fireworks

Wanjiru Waweru, Jadetimes Contributor

W. Waweru is a Jadetimes News Reporter Covering America News

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Image Source: Spectrum News

Worcester, Massachusetts – Two Polar Park employees received unwanted treatment from last Friday’s postgame fireworks show on September 26 postgame fireworks show.

Fireworks technicians complete a safety change on the following various items in the centerfield bank finished to the side, and launched horizontally, about left field, instead of vertically.

The individual show is under the supervision of the Worcester Fire Department and ballpark staff members, and the fireworks operator was closing the launch site.

One employee, responsible for the “safety zone,” was assigned to secure the fans who had suffered the most severe burns and was transported to a local hospital as a precaution. He returned to the ballpark later on that day.

The second employee was below in the field securing the grounds when the debris hit him; however, he remained in the field after the Emergency Medical Services technicians evaluated him. No other injuries were investigated.

Government Shutdown Continues as Partisan Standoff Deepens

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering the USA

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Image Source: Jack Gruber/USA TODAY NETWORK

The U.S. government remained partially shut down Friday as lawmakers failed to pass a spending bill to reopen federal operations, leaving millions of Americans and federal workers in uncertainty. Senate Democrats rejected a House-approved continuing resolution that would have funded the government through Nov. 21, prolonging the impasse.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) criticized Democrats for blocking the measure, stating, “Hopefully over the weekend they’ll have a chance to think about it.” Democrats are demanding negotiations to restore Affordable Care Act subsidies for lower-income families and to reverse earlier Medicaid cuts, while Republicans insist talks cannot resume until the government reopens.

President Donald Trump escalated pressure on Democrats, warning of “vast” layoffs of federal employees and the potential elimination of what he described as “Democrat Agencies” during the shutdown. Vice President JD Vance indicated that the administration is focusing on persuading a small group of Democrats open to negotiating on “critical needs,” dismissing others with larger healthcare demands as unreasonable.

The shutdown has halted paychecks for roughly 750,000 federal workers, while military personnel are also affected. Federal unions, including the American Federation of Government Employees and the AFL-CIO, filed a lawsuit in California seeking to block potential layoffs and agency closures during the shutdown.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) emphasized that the pain caused by the shutdown would prompt more Democrats to support reopening the government. Meanwhile, Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, blamed Trump’s actions and what they described as “erratic” behavior for the stalemate.

The deadlock revolves around a House-passed funding extension versus Democrats’ demands to protect health insurance subsidies set to expire at the end of the year. Failure to restore them could impact an estimated 10 million Americans. Both parties indicated that negotiations over healthcare and budget priorities could continue once the government reopens, leaving the timeline for ending the shutdown uncertain.

The shutdown marks the first major lapse in federal funding since 2018, highlighting the deep partisan divisions in Congress over healthcare and budgetary priorities.