SINGAPORE (Reuters) -The implementation of a U.S. tariff on Singapore’s pharmaceutical exports has been delayed to allow companies to negotiate possible exemptions with the U.S. administration, the Straits Times newspaper cited a junior minister as saying on Tuesday.

The U.S. announced a 100% tariff on branded drugs last month and it was originally meant to take effect from October 1.

The Straits Times did not say if the minister of state for trade, Gan Siow Huang, gave a fresh date for the tariff’s introduction.

But she said Singapore-based pharmaceutical companies are now waiting to hear from the U.S. administration to determine if their plans to build and expand manufacturing capacity would qualify them for an exemption, the paper reported.

Singapore’s exports to the United States a

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