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MTI Launches FTA Web-site 
Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2003 - 11:13 AM

MTI Launches a Preview Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Web-site.
The preview FTA web-site, www.fta.gov.sg, was unveiled on 16 October 2003 by Minister of State (Trade and Industry & National Development), Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan.
This is the first comprehensive FTA web-site put up by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and is designed to be a one-stop platform on all matters relating to Singapore's FTAs. It contains relevant information for Singapore-based manufacturers, traders and service providers who are interested in exporting their goods and services under Singapore's preferential arrangements in a simple and easy-to-navigate format. The business community can also make use of this web-site to provide feedback on Singapore's FTAs.

The preview FTA web-site includes information on both the concluded and upcoming FTAs. Specifically, it consists of introductions to the Goods and Services chapters of an FTA, which cover topics like tariff elimination, rules of origin, the rules for trade in services as well as the list of sectoral commitments. A calendar of public events that involve talks or seminars on FTAs given by MTI is also made available on the web-site. In addition, there is a section on Frequently Asked Questions for easy reference.

The Singapore FTA web-site is expected to be fully operationalized in two months' time. By then, a search engine comprising a novel feature, the first in the world - the tariff savings calculator - will be in place. This interactive element will allow Singapore-based manufacturers and exporters to calculate the amount of tariff savings for their particular exports. Through the search engine, exporters can easily find out how their products can qualify for preferential tariffs under each FTA.