Prime Minister Lawrence Wong delivered the National Day Rally speech on August 23, 2026, outlining Singapore's stance on rising US tariffs, the country's move towards autonomous vehicles, and its population policies [1, 2, 3].
Wong highlighted that the United States has imposed a 12.5% tariff on Singaporean exports, citing concerns over forced labor and alleged rerouting of goods to evade tariffs. The prime minister stated, "Singapore will not allow itself to be used as a conduit for illegal trade practices, but neither can it possibly trace and verify the entire supply chain behind every product that passes through its shores" [1, 4, 5].
He pointed to a shifting global environment where "the rules and norms that underpinned stability and prosperity for decades are being overturned" due to rising China-US competition and geopolitical crises [1]. Wong emphasized Singapore's challenge to maintain stability amid unpredictability.
On the domestic front, the government is promoting autonomous vehicles to address manpower shortages, especially since 66% of taxi drivers are aged 60 and above. Trials of driverless shuttles began in early 2026 in Punggol by ComfortDelGro and Grab. Self-driving public bus trials are planned to start by the end of 2026 at Marina Bay, Shenton Way, and one-north. Wong said, "So, even as we scale up autonomous vehicles, we will do so progressively. We will not let adoption run ahead of our ability to retrain and support affected drivers, and help them move into new jobs." He added, "That is how we manage the impact of technological change on jobs" and assured that workers would be supported through the transition [2, 6, 7, 8, 9].
Regarding population, Wong reaffirmed Singapore’s commitment to maintaining its multiracial character and ethnic balance. "Every community will continue to have its place in Singapore – its language, culture and traditions," he said, noting the importance of integration while welcoming newcomers. He acknowledged Singapore's low fertility rates require continued naturalization to sustain the population but stressed Singaporeans would remain the majority. The foreign workforce size will be carefully and precisely managed to balance population needs [3, 10, 11, 12].
Wong’s speech came as oil prices remain above US$100 per barrel, adding pressure to economic conditions [1, 4, 5].
The government aims to start self-driving public bus trials later this year as part of its transport modernization plan and will continue to engage with citizens on population policies ahead.
