LIST OF ARTICLE II MFN EXEMPTIONS WTO Services Database Output

Description of measure Countries to which the Conditions creating the

Sector or Sub-sector indicating its inconsistency Intended duration Notes
measure applies need for the exemption
with Article II

Singapore

All Sectors:
Presence of:
- unskilled and semi-skilled
natural persons
- skilled persons (include
craftsmen skilled in a
particular trade, but exclude
specialists/ professional
personnel at management
level)
Preference for workers from
traditional sources of supply
Traditional sources
Indefinite Due to land constraints and the
fundamental need for social
Singapore will periodically cohesion among the multi-racial
review this in the light of population, the Government needs
domestic and national to regulate the flow of foreign
policy considerations workers, both skilled and unskilled,
to ensure that Singapore is not
overpopulated and foreigners who
could potentially disrupt social
order are not admitted

All Sectors: Investment guarantee, i.e. All countries. Current signatories Indefinite Currently, many countries'
Investment Guarantee obligations to protect foreign with whom Singapore has obligations to protect foreign
Agreements investments from unforeseen concluded IGAs are: Singapore will periodically investments from unforeseen
(IGAs) contingencies such as review this in the light of contingencies are governed by the
nationalization, war, etc. are ASEAN countries, France, the international developments provisions established under
accorded only to co-signatories of Netherlands, Switzerland, the bilateral investment guarantee
Investment Guarantee Agreements United Kingdom, Belgo- agreements. The agreements also
Luxembourg Economic Union, Sri help to provide the economic and
Lanka, People's Republic of political guarantees for the
China, Vietnam, Taiwan, the promotion of bilateral relations.
United States of America

All Sectors: Section 48 of the Income Tax Act
Commonwealth Tax Credit provides for the granting of relief
Scheme against Singapore tax payable on
income derived from a
Commonwealth country
Commonwealth countries which Indefinite This is part of Singapore's
grant reciprocal relief cooperation among Commonwealth
Singapore will periodically members
review this in the light of
international developments

Legal Services All measures pertaining to the
provision of legal services in
Singapore
All countries Indefinite The exemption is necessary as the
establishment of foreign law firms
Singapore will keep the in Singapore is based on
possibility of removing this case-by-case approval
exemption under review
LIST OF ARTICLE II MFN EXEMPTIONS WTO Services Database Output

Description of measure Countries to which the Conditions creating the

Sector or Sub-sector indicating its inconsistency Intended duration Notes
measure applies need for the exemption
with Article II
Broadcasting The Singapore Broadcasting All countries. Currently, Brunei Singapore will keep the To promote social, economic and
Corporation (SBC) accords and Indonesia have Memoranda possibility of removing this cultural relations
Broadcasting is defined to preferential broadcast and of Understanding with Singapore. exemption under review
include: transmission rights to selected
countries with which it has signed
- Free-to-air broadcasting bilateral agreements

- Cable and pay television

- Direct broadcast by
satellite

- Teletext

- All broadcasting services

listed in Services Sectoral
Classification List,
MTN.GNS/W/120
LIST OF ARTICLE II MFN EXEMPTIONS
Description of measure
Sector or Sub-sector indicating its inconsistency
with Article II
Computer reservation Market access and national
systems treatment are based on reciprocity
in mutual concessions, but not
necessarily in the same areas, as
established under bilateral Air
Services Agreements
WTO Services Database Output
Countries to which the Conditions creating the
Intended duration Notes
measure applies need for the exemption
All countries. Current countries Indefinite Currently, the conditions and level
with whom Singapore has of market access granted in air
concluded bilateral air services Singapore will periodically transport services are primarily
agreements are: review this in the light of governed by other multilateral
international developments agreements and/or bilateral air
Australia, Austria, Bahrain, services agreements. In addition,
Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, the "Annex on Air Transport
Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Services" contained in the GATS
Chile, China, Commonwealth currently has only limited
Independent States, Cyprus, application to measures affecting
Czech and Slovak Republics, the air transport services sector.
Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji,
Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary,
India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan,
Jordan, Kenya, South Korea,
Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon,
Luxembourg, Madagascar,
Malaysia, Maldives, Malta,
Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia,
Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, the
Netherlands, New Zealand,
Nigeria, Norway, Oman,
Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the
Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia,
Seychelles, South Africa, Spain,
Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland,
Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand,
Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab
Emirates, the United Kingdom,
the United States of America,
Vietnam, Yemen Arab Republic,
Yugoslavia, Zambia and
Zimbabwe
LIST OF ARTICLE II MFN EXEMPTIONS WTO Services Database Output

Description of measure Countries to which the Conditions creating the

Sector or Sub-sector indicating its inconsistency Intended duration Notes
measure applies need for the exemption
with Article II
Maritime Transport Services:The undertaking of the All countries. Current countries Indefinite Some of Singapore's trading
commitments to bind the current with whom Singapore has partners do not accord Singapore
- Storage and warehousing level of market access and concluded bilateral shipping Singapore will periodically companies satisfactory access to
treatment to services and services agreements are: the Republic of review this in the light of maritime transport services in their
- Freight forwarding supplier, in the 4 subsectors will be Korea, the People's Republic of international developments territories
through the conclusion of bilateral China and Vietnam
- Inland trucking shipping agreements

- Container station and

depot services

Reinsurance and Exception granted to ASEAN ASEAN ASEAN Re has committed To promote greater cooperation
retrocession Reinsurance Corporation (ASEAN itself to increase its paid-up among ASEAN in the reinsurance
Re), a private-sector venture with capital when its premium sector
equal shareholdings from the 6 income increases.
ASEAN countries, to be established Presently, ASEAN Re writes
with a paid-up capital of S$ 6 a relatively small amount of
million instead of the minimum S$ business.
10 million stipulated in the
Insurance Act. Other than this,
ASEAN Re is subject to the same
rules and regulations applied to all
reinsurers in Singapore.

Banking and other financial Under a currency interchangeability Brunei Indefinite, until either The currency interchangeability
services agreement between Singapore and country terminates the agreement was entered into in
Brunei, the currency-issuing agreement 1967 arising from special historical
authorities of Singapore and Brunei and economic ties between
would: Singapore and Brunei

- accept from banks, notes and

coins issued by the other issuing
authority, at par and without
charge and to exchange such notes
and coins into the currency of the
country concerned; and

- arrange for repatriation at the

expense of the respective currency
issuing authority, the notes and
coins issued by the other currency
issuing authority and to receive at
par the equivalent in any agreed
currency.