Philippines seeks economic strength as Marcos heads to US for Trump talks
Philippines hopes to secure a trade agreement with the US when President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr discusses a planned US tariff during his meeting with President Donald Trump in Washington, according to a Manila official.
Marcos will also seek to bolster US-Philippine security ties during his July 20-22 visit, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for American Affairs Raquel Solano said at a briefing on Friday.
The trip by Marcos, set to be the first Southeast Asian leader to visit
Trump during his second presidency, comes after the Trump administration increased the tariff on Philippine goods to the US to 20 per cent from 17 per cent starting in August, raising concern from its long-time ally.
Ahead of Marcos, Philippine government officials including Trade Secretary Cristina Roque flew to Washington this week for tariff talks. 'We hope of course to arrive at a bilateral trade agreement or a deal on reciprocal trade that is mutually acceptable, mutually beneficial for both our countries,' Solano said.
The Philippines initially held trade talks with the US in May in its bid to lower an earlier threatened 17 per cent levy in April. To secure that, Roque had said Manila plans to increase imports of US farm goods, including soybeans and frozen meat, and boost exports of semiconductors, coconut and mango products to the US.
09:23
History, money and military: why the South China Sea is so important to Beijing
History, money and military: why the South China Sea is so important to Beijing
'We will continue to underscore that for the Philippines to be a truly strong partner for the United States, we need to be stronger economically as well,' Solano said. Trump and Marcos will discuss 'closer cooperation in economic, defence and security matters of common interest,' she added.
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