Joint Statement on Transport Co-Operation by the Ministry of Transport of Singapore and the Department of Transportation of the United States of America

1     Minister for Transport of the Republic of Singapore, Ong Ye Kung, and Secretary of Transportation of the United States of America, Pete Buttigieg, held an introductory virtual meeting on 8 April 2021.

2     Minister Ong and Secretary Buttigieg both recognise the impact of transportation on climate change, as well as the critical role that transport plays in driving post-COVID-19 economic recovery, keeping goods and supply chains moving, facilitating people-to-people exchanges, and contributing to overall economic development.   

3     Building on the excellent co-operation established over the years by the technical agencies and officials on both sides, they intend to strengthen and deepen bilateral exchanges between Singapore and the United States across all transport sectors, including:

(a)   Exploring ways to revive international air travel safely amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and long-term post-pandemic recovery and resiliency, including discussions related to international use and interoperability of vaccination certificates, whether digital or otherwise;

(b)   Continuing to co-operate on enhancing safety, security, and facilitation;

(c)   Exchanging best practices on urban transport and intelligent transport systems; and

(d)   Exploring opportunities to advance digitalisation and to harness the potential of automation, including through well-designed regulation.

4     Reaffirming that our two countries are Parties to the Paris Agreement, we look forward to collaborating on climate action in the area of transport, including in areas such as alternative fuels, electrification, market-based measures, and technological advancements for greater efficiency.  This could include co-operation, such as:

(a)   Advancing the development and deployment of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and other clean technologies that meet rigorous international standards, including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) framework for SAF;

(b)   Identifying new climate-related innovations, such as electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and smart mobility technologies; and

(c)   Exploring climate-friendly best practices in urban transportation planning including reducing unnecessary trips, and encouraging use of mass public transport and low-emissions mobility options such as walking and cycling.

5     Both sides intend to also strengthen co-operation at the ICAO and International Maritime Organization (IMO), to keep aviation and maritime transport open, efficient, reliable, safe, sustainable, and resilient, in a manner consistent with applicable international law, and in close consultation with industry and other stakeholders. On climate action and sustainability, this includes:

(a)   At the ICAO, engaging in processes to advance a new long-term aspirational goal to decarbonise the aviation sector, and encourage full participation in the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA); and

(b)   At the IMO, to reduce emissions from ships, we plan to work towards at least achieving the ambition reflected in the Initial IMO Strategy on reduction of GHG emissions to halve emissions from ships by 2050 compared to 2008 levels, and to explore strengthening the levels of ambition, with the aim of contributing to the Paris Agreement temperature goals.

6     We will continue our engagement at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, specifically through the Transportation Working Group and Transport Ministers’ Meetings, supporting the goals of the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040 and advancing the group’s efforts on climate, innovation, and digitisation.