Singapore’s STI up, Apac stocks largely gain after Trump raises new global tariffs to 15%

[SINGAPORE] Markets in Asia-Pacific largely shrugged off US President Donald Trump’s latest decision to increase global tariffs to 15 per cent from 10 per cent, in response to the US Supreme Court ruling that his previous tariff mechanism was illegal.

Singapore’s Straits Times Index was up 0.3 per cent as at 9.36 am, while South Korea’s Kospi was up 1.5 per cent at 10.36 am local time. In Malaysia, the KLCI mirrored the STI’s gains and climbed 0.3 per cent as at 9.16 am, while the Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index surged 2.1 per cent as at 9.37 am.

Only Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was down, falling 0.5 per cent as at 12.36 pm local time. Meanwhile, the Japanese stock market was closed for the Emperor’s birthday, while the mainland China market remained closed for Chinese New Year.

The US Supreme Court on Friday (Feb 20) night in Asia struck down Trump’s original slate of tariffs, originally announced on the so-called Liberation Day in April last year. The court said that Trump exceeded his authority by invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) without the approval on the US Congress.

Economists estimate more than US$175 billion worth of the original tariffs likely need to be refunded by the US government, according to Reuters.

Shortly after the Supreme Court ruling, Trump imposed a new 10 per cent global levy under another trade law provision before increasing that to 15 per cent on Saturday. The new provision, Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, allows tariffs of up to 15 per cent for 150 days without congressional approval.

Singapore has not revised its growth forecast, said Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong on Sunday, adding that the city-state’s relative export competitiveness is unlikely to be affected even if tariffs were applied across the board. The country was set to face a 10 per cent levy under the original tariffs.

DPM Gan also discouraged speculation that Singapore might be exempted from the new 15 per cent tariffs.

A spokesperson from the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) said the Singapore government will seek clarity on the implementation of the new tariffs and the processes for the original tariff refunds.

MTI added that certain goods, including pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical ingredients and some electronics, are exempt from the Section 122 tariffs but may be the subject of Section 232 tariffs that have not been imposed yet.