Marcos Jr. arrives in US to tackle tariffs, defense with Donald Trump

WASHGINTON DC, July 21 ------ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. arrived in the United States’ capital on Sunday, days ahead of his tariff and defense discussions with US President Donald Trump, their first official meeting since the American leader returned to the White House for a second term.

Shortly after arriving here, Marcos Jr. gathered his Cabinet for a briefing before meeting their American counterparts at the Pentagon on July 21, then to the White House on July 22. “This visit builds on the active exchanges that we have had since the assumption of the new Trump administration,” Marcos Jr. said in his departure statement. “It will enhance our national interests and strengthen our alliance,” he said, noting that he is the first leader from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to be invited to the White House for a meeting in Trump’s second term as US President.

Marcos Jr.’s fifth trip to the United States comes weeks after the US announced a 20 percent tariff on its traditional ally, a 3-percentage point increase than the 17 percent tariff initially announced in April. This tariff rate is the second lowest in Southeast Asia with Singapore’s 10 percent tariff being the lowest, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go earlier said. But more than negotiating for a reduced tariff rate, Marcos Jr. and his officials are expected to focus on making several commodities exempted from duties. “We are concerned that the US has decided to impose a 20 percent tariff on Philippine exports,” Go said in an earlier briefing in Manila. “More important than trying to bring down the reciprocal tariffs… Ang mas malaking bagay is if we can sign a free trade agreement or a bilateral comprehensive economic partnership agreement,” he said.

Among the goods exempted from tariffs under the current US policy include semiconductors, steel, aluminum, auto parts, copper, lumber, bullion, among others. While semiconductors — the Philippines’ top exports to the US at $6.4 billion in 2024 — are exempted from certain taxes, other top Philippine exports to the US that are still covered by tariffs include apparel, coconut and other agricultural produces. As of 2024, the US listed a $4.9-billion trade deficit with the Philippines, according to data from the Office of the United States Trade Representative. The two countries’ total trade amounted to $23.5 billion last year, but US exports accounted for only $9.3 billion while its imports from the Philippines is pegged at $14.2 billion.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com