Three Charged in Singapore Over Scheme to Evade U.S. Tariffs on China-Made Mattresses

Singapore authorities have charged three individuals and a company for their alleged role in a scheme to falsely declare Chinese-made mattresses as Singaporean goods, aiming to bypass U.S. import duties. The accused, including Singapore permanent resident Yin Yuxi, Chinese national Xue Xin, and Singaporean Bernard Koh Wee Yiap, along with their company Healthy Living Biotech, face multiple charges.

These charges relate to making false declarations and statements, applying incorrect trade descriptions, and fraudulently evading Goods and Services Tax (GST). Investigations by Singapore Customs, initiated in February 2026, revealed that mattresses manufactured in China were stamped with "Made in Singapore." The alleged scheme, which ran from August 2024 to September 2025, involved goods valued at around S$1.9 million (US$1.5 million).

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Singapore Customs takes a serious view of the falsification of trade declarations or the misuse of Certificates of Origin.

The case emerges just a day after the Trump administration identified Singapore among over 40 trading partners at risk of facilitating the evasion of U.S. tariffs on Chinese products. A White House report specifically cited concerns about "illegal transshipment," where goods are rerouted through countries with lower U.S. tariffs to avoid higher duties on Chinese imports. Singapore's preferential access to the U.S. market makes it an "attractive opportunistic target" for such activities, the report noted.

Singapore Customs emphasized the seriousness of falsifying trade declarations and misusing Certificates of Origin, stating that such actions damage the integrity of international trade documentation and Singapore's reputation as a reliable global trading hub. The penalties for conviction include substantial fines, jail time, or both, depending on the specific offense.

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Such conduct undermines the integrity of international trade documentation and can damage Singapore's standing as a trusted and reliable global trading hub.