Trump tariffs could benefit Malaysia-Singapore special economic zone, trade chief says

In a world rattled by the United States’ recent imposition of tariffs, the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) could emerge as a beacon of investment potential and resilience, according to a local politician.

Lee Ting Han, chairman of Johor’s investment, trade, consumer affairs, and human resources committee, said the JS-SEZ would offer foreign investors a launch pad into the burgeoning Asean market.

“There is uncertainty following the United States’ move to impose high tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico, and China,” Lee said on Sunday, adding that he believed this would affect the global supply chain.

However, he thinks the JS-SEZ will remain largely insulated. “It will not immediately impact the JS-SEZ as the zone is a window of opportunity for foreign investors to get into the Asean region, which has a population of almost 700 million,” he said.

The backdrop for Lee’s remarks was US President Donald Trump’s imposition on Saturday of tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China. Analysts warn that such moves risk igniting a trade war and causing global economic uncertainty, given that the US and China are the world’s two largest economies.

  

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