Singapore Customs has charged three Singapore-registered companies and three individuals for their alleged involvement in a scheme to falsely declare the origin of mattresses exported from Singapore to the United States. The case is significant due to its scale and its potential link to the circumvention of U.S. import duties imposed on Chinese-origin goods. According to Singapore Customs, investigations revealed that mattresses manufactured in China were allegedly declared as products of Singapore and exported to the U.S. between August 2022 and June 2025. The scheme reportedly involved goods with a total value exceeding S$23 million.
The investigation commenced in February 2025 following information received by Singapore Customs regarding possible false origin declarations. The authorities subsequently uncovered evidence suggesting the misuse of trade documentation, including false declarations, false statements, and incorrect trade descriptions. Court proceedings are currently ongoing.
This enforcement action highlights the growing global scrutiny on origin fraud and trade diversion practices, particularly in the context of elevated tariffs, anti-dumping measures, and geopolitical trade tensions. For businesses engaged in international trade, the case serves as a timely reminder of the importance of maintaining robust origin determination processes, accurate trade declarations, and proper controls over Certificates of Origin. Companies should regularly review their trade compliance programmes, verify the legitimacy of origin claims throughout their supply chains, and ensure that all export documentation accurately reflects the true origin of goods. Failure to do so can expose organizations and individuals to significant financial penalties, criminal liability, reputational damage, and heightened regulatory scrutiny across multiple jurisdictions.
Official source: https://isomer-user-content.by.gov.sg/174/273fe415-517d-458b-906c-2f325ec21b39/SingaporeCustoms-MediaRelease-11Jun2026.pdf