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SINGAPORE: It was a nail-biting morning that had finally come. Would there be a new American president? Or would it be four more years of Trump?
Inside a brightly lit ballroom at the Conrad Centennial Singapore hotel on Wednesday (November 4), 120 people gathered to hear the results of the US elections, in a year marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and economic fallout. resulting, and their consequences. impact in the Asia-Pacific region.
The results were broadcast on CNN and FOX News on giant screens as American business and community leaders listened to panelists, including former U.S. Ambassador to Singapore Frank Lavin and former U.S. Embassy Singapore Deputy Chief of Mission Blair. Hall.
READ: Live updates: America decides between Trump and Biden in historic US elections
Charge d’Affaires of the US embassy, Rafik Mansour, said in his keynote address that regardless of the outcome, the United States will remain a “key player in the Indo-Pacific and Singapore,” especially as it continues to build on his “indispensable economy, politics and cooperation in the matter of security”.
He called the economic relationship between Singapore and the United States “dynamic,” noting that there were more than 4,500 American companies operating here employing 200,000 people.
The free trade agreement between the United States and Singapore signed in 2003 remains one of the “gold standards” for trade agreements, he said in his keynote speech at the surveillance party hosted by the United States Chamber of Commerce in Singapore. .
“That unbreakable economic relationship is deeply rooted in our many shared values and a common desire for stability, progress and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific,” Mansour added.
According to the US Embassy website, in 2017, there were more than 30,000 Americans living in Singapore.
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The other observers agreed that there would be little change in relations between the United States and Singapore under either presidency, which they say has been good so far.
“I think the close relationship with Singapore has transcended politics. It is seen as a good partner, good friend, good counterpart in the region (with) rule of law, open markets,” said Lavin, former US ambassador to Singapore. . He predicted that former Vice President Joe Biden would gain between five and seven percentage points.
“And there is such a strong anchor of American investment in economic engagement here … there is tremendous educational connectivity, there is good military connectivity, so it is multifaceted,” said Lavin, who is now the CEO of Export Now. and is based in Singapore.
“In general, these two countries see the world in the same way. So there is no burning bilateral crisis.”
But in terms of ties with Asia, he said: “I think there is growing concern about the role of the United States in Asia … whether Trump is re-elected or Biden wins, I think you see a greater emphasis on Asia.”
Hall, who is now the managing director of consultancy Westminster Minato, said Singapore will remain an important partner for the United States, whichever party comes to power.
“I believe the United States will continue to regard Singapore as a leader in ASEAN, as a trusted advisor and friend, as a place where we can send forces here for resupply and also to pay attention to Singapore’s security interests.”
Both Biden and Trump have visited Singapore before: Biden during his tenure as vice president in 2013 and Trump in 2018 during the US summit with North Korea.
According to the Office of the United States Trade Representative, Singapore is the 17th largest trade partner for goods of the United States.
Trade in goods and services between the two countries was estimated at $ 91.6 billion in 2019, with a trade surplus of $ 18.3 billion for the US.
TRADE WITH ASIA
On the trade policy issue, Mr. Lavin said it remains an open question.
While Biden has some “kinship” in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a key foreign policy during the Obama administration when Biden was vice president, Trump has spoken out so much against trade that he has changed the debate on it.
However, he said that Biden believes much more in multilateralism that Trump and Singapore would see more interaction with the US administration than the current situation.
Hall also said it would be unlikely that a Biden administration would immediately agree to join the new version of the TPP, which is now known as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, or CPTPP.
“What did happen was that the remaining countries agreed on the CPTPP, but it didn’t have the kind of jobs, environment and other things that were very important to the United States,” he said.
“So it is impossible to think of Biden in the current environment with the support that he would have from his party, in Congress, to reach an agreement that does not have labor or environmental guarantees.”
“I think the discussion about trade and globalization, their policy in the United States has changed,” he added.
It is also unlikely that the entire deal will be renegotiated for the US to rejoin the pact, but Biden could consider other multilateral or bilateral trade deals.
READ: Comment: The future of Asia depends on who wins the US elections
Trade with Asia and Southeast Asia will be an important part of how the United States interacts with the region, he said. But at the same time, foreign affairs have only played a small role in either candidate’s campaign this year.
“The question is not about the bilateral relationship between the United States and Singapore, but more about the United States and the world: how long would the president have to think about international relations, and all international relations, how much about Southeast Asia in compared to Iran or China, “he said.
SMALLER CELEBRATIONS FOR AMERICANS IN SINGAPORE
Aside from the AmCham event, which was stopped this year due to security protocols, it was also a much quieter affair for the rest of the American community. Instead of meeting shoulder to shoulder at restaurants and parties, they huddled at home, watching coverage alone or in small groups of up to five people.
Ross Knudson and his son had been awake since 4 a.m., following the results at home.
“There has been a lot of coffee,” he joked. The 56-year-old, who has been living in Singapore for 20 years, voted for Biden via an absentee ballot. You are registered to vote in California.
He said the day has been “very exciting”, and is “optimistic” that the Democratic leader will win, especially since many votes in battle states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have not been counted due to the increase in mail-in votes, which are inclined to favor Biden.
“Trump’s America is not the country I want to be from. It has to change, ”said co-owner of concert organizer LAMC Productions.
Four years ago, Kanika Kohli was in a bar watching the results with friends at home. This year, she is alone in Singapore and has been messaging friends and family in the US.
“I think it’s too early to tell and I’m really looking forward to it,” said Ms Kohli, a marketing executive in her 30s. She is also registered to vote in California and was mailed on her ballot about three weeks ago.
“I think it’s much closer to what most of us wanted,” Patricia Reed said. But the chair of the Democrats Abroad Lion City Committee said she is still “keeping faith” and hopeful in what the mail-in ballots will show.
Usually its members would meet in a bar at the end of the event, but this year, they joined a global watch party hosted by the organization at Zoom and some met in groups of five.
“It’s a bit frustrating not being able to celebrate a little more freely, but on the other hand, we all appreciate being in a place where COVID is well managed,” he said.
Tina Datta, the chair of Singapore’s Overseas Republican Party, said she is “pretty sure” of Trump’s victory, but added: “I think everyone has done the best they can.”
“Let’s end with smiles.”
