Singapore Restaurant Removes Controversial Surcharge Signs Targeting American Diners

The signs, which coincided with Trump's tariffs on Chinese goods, were dismissed by a worker as a potential prank, leaving the restaurant's stance unclear.

• A restaurant in Singapore's Chinatown displayed signs imposing a 104% surcharge on American diners starting April 9, 2025, citing nationality-based pricing.
• The signs went viral on social media, receiving over 400,000 views on TikTok and sparking widespread debate about legality and ethics.
• The notices were removed by April 11, 2025, with the restaurant staff and owner declining to comment on the matter.
• A worker at the restaurant claimed the signs were a 'malicious prank' and not authorized by the management, but no further clarification was provided.
• Legal experts noted that while such pricing is not explicitly illegal in Singapore, it raises significant ethical concerns under the 'willing buyer, willing seller' framework.

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