Guidance

Trade with Singapore

How you import from and export to Singapore.

UK-Singapore trade agreement and Digital Economy Agreement

The UK has signed a trade agreement with Singapore, which is in effect.

This guidance provides information on aspects of trade covered by the UK-Singapore agreement. It is for UK businesses trading with Singapore.

The UK has also signed a Digital Economy Agreement with Singapore, which is in effect.

What the trade agreement includes

This agreement includes provisions on:

  • trade in goods - including provisions on preferential tariffs, rules of origin, and sanitary and phytosanitary measures

  • trade in services
  • intellectual property, including geographical indications
  • government procurement

Tariff rates on goods

Tariff rates for bilateral trade in goods between the UK and Singapore continue to apply as set out in the agreement. However, in some cases, the non-preferential applied rates may in fact be lower because of changes in the UK’s Most Favoured Nation tariff schedule.

You can use online tools UK Integrated Online Tariff and Check How to Export Goods to check product-specific and country-specific information on tariffs and regulations that currently apply to UK trade in goods. These tools are regularly updated to reflect any changes.

Rules of origin

Finding the correct rule of origin for export

Depending on the type of good you are seeking to export, in order to claim preferential treatment it will need to be either wholly obtained or sufficiently processed.

To be considered sufficiently processed your good will need to meet the relevant product specific rule (PSR). The PSRs for this agreement use the 2007 version of the Harmonised System (HS) nomenclature. You should apply the PSR for your good using the code in which it was classified under this nomenclature.

In a limited number of cases the code for your good may have changed during HS revisions. We are currently updating our online services to reflect these changes. In the interim correlation tables tracing these changes have been made available by the World Customs Organization and the United Nations.

Claiming preferential rates for your exports from the UK

The requirements for claiming preference remain unchanged. Your goods should be accompanied by an origin declaration made out by one of the following:

  • an approved exporter
  • any exporter for a consignment of originating products whose total value does not exceed 6,000 Euros

Approved exporter authorisations issued in the UK prior to the UK leaving the EU remain valid in the UK for goods exported under the UK-Singapore agreement.

Using EU materials and processing in your exports to Singapore

You can use EU materials or processing in your exports to Singapore. The UK and Singapore must have fulfilled the necessary requirements set out in the Rules of Origin Protocol. You must also ensure the working or processing you do in the UK goes beyond the minimal operations listed in the agreement and that the other relevant conditions are met.

For example, you cannot simply package or label a product from the EU and export it to Singapore as a good originating in the UK.

See the list of minimal operations in Article 6 of the Rules of Origin Protocol in the UK-Singapore agreement text.

The ability to consider materials from, or processing carried out in, another country as originating when incorporated into your product is called cumulation.

Using materials and/or processing from other countries in your exports to Singapore

For certain products and materials, if both the UK and Singapore have appropriate arrangements in place with one of the other countries provided for in the Rules of Origin Protocol, you can continue using materials from that country in your exports to Singapore. You must ensure that the working or processing you do in the UK goes beyond the minimal operations listed in the agreement and that the other relevant conditions are fulfilled.

Sending your goods to Singapore through the EU and other countries

Goods transited through the EU are subject to the same restrictions as those in transit through other third countries.

For example, you can split a consignment in the EU, as well as in other third countries when exporting goods to Singapore, provided the goods comprising the consignment have not been entered into free circulation in the country of transit.

Goods in transit and retrospective certificates of origin

If your goods were in transit or in temporary storage when the EU-Singapore agreement ceased to apply to the UK, you can submit a retrospective origin declaration showing that the goods originated in the UK and are eligible for preferential terms if your goods arrived or leave temporary storage within 12 months after the date the UK-Singapore agreement started to apply.

Origin quotas

Origin quotas in the agreement have been tailored specifically to the UK.

Please see table 4 in the Parliamentary Report, which details the origin quotas.

Geographical indications

Geographical indications (GIs) protect the geographical names of food, drink and agricultural products.

The following UK GIs are protected under this agreement:

  • Irish Whisky/Irish Whiskey/Uisce Beatha Eireannach
  • Irish Cream
  • Scotch Whisky

Irish Cream and Irish Whisky/Irish Whiskey/Uisce Beatha Eireannach are ‘transborder GIs’ that can be produced in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Further information

Find further guidance on exporting.

Find out about moving goods into, out of, or through Northern Ireland.

Freight forwarding may save you time and money if you’re exporting large volumes of goods or high value items by sea or air freight. Find out more about moving goods and using freight forwarders.

This guidance is for information only. You should consult your legal advisers if you wish to ensure you understand the legal implications of trading for your business.

Contact

If you have queries about trade, contact the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).

Should you wish to speak to someone directly, we have local trade offices based around the UK. Within each office, you can contact an international trade adviser. Find your local trade office.

Published 16 December 2020
Last updated 1 January 2022 + show all updates
  1. Added guidance on finding the correct rule of origin for export.

  2. Added link to Digital Economy Agreement in principle explainer.

  3. Updated following a content review.

  4. Updated with the latest business advice for trading with Singapore.

  5. First published.