Singapore has been actively negotiating and signing Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with other countries to help businesses export their goods and services.

What Are Free Trade Agreements?
Why Do Free Trade Agreements Create Opportunities?
Where Can I Learn More?

What Are Free Trade Agreements?

• They are legally binding contracts between two or more countries to bring about closer economic integration.

• One of the aims of FTAs is to eliminate trade barriers and allow goods and services to flow freely between countries. Trade barriers can be tariffs (taxes), onerous regulations, etc.

Why Do Free Trade Agreements Create Opportunities?

• With trade barriers lifted, Singapore companies can offer more competitive goods and services in overseas markets.

• For instance, Singapore has signed an FTA with New Zealand. Goods and services from Singapore enjoy greater access to the New Zealand market when compared to other countries that do not have an FTA with New Zealand.

Where Can I Learn More?

• Businesses Trading in Goods
  Refer to our Free Trade Agreements write-up in the Import/Export section. It helps answer questions such as:
  
  
  • How do FTAs help my import/export business?
  • Which products qualify under FTAs?
  • How do I show that my product qualifies?
  • Which countries have signed FTAs with Singapore?
  • Where can I learn more about FTAs
    
    

  See:	Singapore Free Trade Agreements  (Trade in Goods) - Guide for SMEs (PDF)

  
  
• Businesses Trading in Services (PDF)
  This PDF guide for SMEs is published by SPRING Singapore. Its topics include:
  
  
  • The FTA Framework.
  • What is Trade in Services?
  • What is in the Services Chapter of an FTA?
  • Steps to verify you benefit from FTAs.
  • Reading a Positive List Schedule.
  • Reading a Negative List Schedule.
    
    
• Free Trade Agreements website
  This website contains the latest and most updated information on Free Trade Agreements.