In a surprising twist, Xie Lao Song, a restaurant in the heart of Singapore's Chinatown, has taken down its provocative signs that threatened a staggering "104% surcharge" for American diners, following a social media firestorm.

These controversial notices, plastered on the front door, clearly stated that starting April 9, 2025, patrons from the U.S. would face this outrageous fee. The announcement coincided closely with former U.S. President Donald Trump's declaration of a 104% tariff on Chinese imports, making the message even more inflammatory.

The signs caught the attention of many, with a TikTok video sharing the news racking up over 400,000 views and igniting a heated discussion online. Although the restaurant promptly removed the signs, the uproar only intensified, with many users condemning the act as blatant discrimination.

Critics took to platforms like Reddit, where a post about the incident received over 2,800 upvotes. Some speculated whether this was a calculated publicity stunt to gain attention for the establishment, which offers dishes such as Peking duck and spicy crayfish.

Legal experts chimed in, highlighting that, as it stands, Singaporean law does not explicitly prohibit pricing discrimination based on nationality. Eugene Tan, a law professor at Singapore Management University, noted that while it isn't illegal, it raises significant ethical concerns. The Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act does state that taking advantage of a customer’s vulnerability constitutes an unfair practice, but does not specifically address nationality-based surcharges.

As this story unfolds, many are left questioning the potential implications of such pricing strategies in a multicultural society like Singapore. Will this be a one-off incident, or will it spark further discussions on fairness in pricing practices?

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story!