CFOTI announces new partnership with six founding members including DHL Express

On 9 Sep 2025, CFOTI hosted the “Navigating U.S. Tariffs: Adapt and Advance” seminar at Orchard Hotel, attended by close to 600 business leaders, policymakers, and trade experts.

Starting with the fireside chat with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr. Gan Kim Yong, and Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance, Mr. Jeffrey Siow, trade and customs experts shared various insights and strategies to adopt in response to the U.S. tariff changes.  

The seminar also marked an important milestone for DHL Express as CFOTI announced a new partnership initiative with its six founding members, DBS Bank, DHL Express, Pacific International Lines, PwC Singapore, Rajah & Tann, and Temasek Foundation. This partnership signifies DHL’s commitment to strengthening the cooperation within all Singaporean businesses and navigating the ever-evolving trade environment as one.

Through this partnership, DHL Express will support the Singapore Business Federation in developing solutions and guides for SMEs to navigate and adapt to changing trade policies.

Figure 1: L-R James Chan, Senior Director, Temasek Foundation; Kala Anandarajah, Head, Competition & Antitrust and Trade, Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP; Frank Debets, Asia Pacific Customs and Trade Leader, PwC Singapore; Ng Bee Kim, CFOTI Committee Member; Kok Ping Soon, CEO, SBF; S. S. Teo, Chairman, SBF; Gan Kim Yong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry; Jeffrey Siow, Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance; Gan Seow Kee, Chairman, CFOTI; Tan Chin Hwee, Vice Chairman, CFOTI; Chee Yaw Chek, Vice President, Commercial, DHL Express (Singapore) Pte Ltd; Chen Ze Ling, Group Head of Corporate and SME Banking, DBS Bank; William Ng, Group Chief Financial Officer, Pacific International Lines

To further aid businesses in understanding the complex trade environment of today, CFOTI introduced the “Trade AI Advisory” (TAIA), the world’s first generative AI tool purpose-built to provide global trade advice. Drawing from an extensive FTA database and trusted sources, TAIA provides businesses with clear guidance on tariffs and compliance requirements along with actionable solutions. The new AI tool is set to be piloted by a few select members by the end of September 2025 before scaling up to include up to 32,000 members at the start of 2026.

DPM Gan reaffirmed Singapore’s commitment to ensuring the resilience of Singaporean companies and the importance of preserving ASEAN as a key production and trade hub in the world. DPM Gan is the chairperson of the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce (SERT), a taskforce created by the Singapore government to guide Singaporean businesses through the economic uncertainties arising from the U.S. tariff changes. The taskforce is supported by representatives from SBF, Singapore National Employers Federation, and NTUC.  

For the business panel discussion, global trade and customs experts led the conversation on how businesses can adapt and adjust amidst the dynamic tariff changes.

Raymond Yee, Vice-President of Customs Compliance & Regulatory Affairs at DHL Express Singapore, emphasised the importance of precise documentation for the correct application of tariffs, and for businesses to do their due diligence in understanding the precise impact of the tariffs on their business, including but not limited to cost, supply chains, and demand.

Navigating U.S. Tariffs Playbook

This is not the first time DHL Express and CFOTI have collaborated on a project. In April 2025, CFOTI launched a “Navigating U.S. Tariffs” playbook designed to help Singaporean companies make informed decisions amidst growing trade disruptions. Along with other partners such as DBS Bank, Pacific International Lines, PwC Singapore, and Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP, DHL Express contributed actionable strategies for Singaporean businesses to implement in both the short and long term.

Drawing on our expertise in operating within a global network linking Asia Pacific and the rest of the world while maintaining quick transit times, DHL Express was able to provide its unique global perspective on international shipping and insight in adapting to shifting trade policies.  

The playbook lays out a three-step plan that addresses both short and long-term goals for companies to work towards. For more details, read about the playbook here.

Have any trade concerns? Don’t worry, we’ve got your back.

Although the U.S. tariff changes have shaken up the global economy, leaving thousands of businesses stranded with the threat of increased consumer prices, CFOTI along with its partners provides a chance for Singaporean businesses and workers to band together, share their challenges and strategies, and emerge out of this crisis as one. 

If you require business guidance or have any enquires about the latest developments in the U.S. tariffs, DHL’s specialists can also provide assistance to your international shipping enquiries. Contact us for more details.