US Ambassador's Tariff Defense Draws Criticism in Singapore

The new United States ambassador to Singapore has sparked public criticism. He defended a recent 10% US tariff by comparing the US to a friend asking for help. Ambassador Anjani Sinha made the remarks in an interview with *The Straits Times*, a government-funded newspaper. He stated the US was asking friends like Singapore to help "rebalance" trade. Sinha suggested the US had played an important role in Singapore's past economic growth. Many Singaporeans found the ambassador's comments offensive. Online critics compared the justification to a "debt collector" seeking repayment for past favors. Orthopaedic surgeon Anjani Sinha officially began his diplomatic tenure on November 17. The tariff was implemented by the administration of President Donald Trump.