“We’re very close to finishing a trade deal — a big trade deal, actually,” Trump said as he welcomed Marcos to the White House, calling him a “very tough negotiator.”
Shortly after, Trump declared on social media that although the Philippines would fully open to US goods, he would still apply a 19 percent tax to goods coming from the Southeast Asian nation, which is a significant exporter of clothing and high-tech goods.
Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, “It was a beautiful visit, and we concluded our Trade Deal, whereby The Philippines is going OPEN MARKET with the United States, and ZERO Tariffs.”
This month, Trump sent letters to two dozen economies, including the Philippines, threatening of 20 percent tariffs on all goods.Shortly after, Trump declared on social media that although the Philippines would fully open to US goods, he would still apply a 19 percent tax to goods coming from the Southeast Asian nation, which is a significant exporter of clothing and high-tech goods.
Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, “It was a beautiful visit, and we concluded our Trade Deal, whereby The Philippines is going OPEN MARKET with the United States, and ZERO Tariffs.”
The 19 percent rate remains higher than the 17 percent Trump threatened to impose worldwide tariffs on in April.
The commercial rift occurs in spite of the United States and the Philippines, a former US colony and treaty-bound ally that has experienced high tensions with China, having closer defense ties.
Under Joe Biden, Trump’s predecessor, the US stationed ground-launched missiles in the Philippines last year.
Despite the 1992 closure of the US naval facility at Subic Bay as a result of strong public protest, Washington has also expressed interest in the Philippines’ munitions production industry.
“Everything we believe to be a component of the Philippine military’s modernization is actually a reaction to the conditions surrounding the South China Sea situation,” Marcos stated.The commercial rift occurs in spite of the United States and the Philippines, a former US colony and treaty-bound ally that has experienced high tensions with China, having closer defense ties.
Under Joe Biden, Trump’s predecessor, the US stationed ground-launched missiles in the Philippines last year.
Trump spent a large portion of the appearance criticizing Barack Obama and Joe Biden, his Democratic predecessors.
“The exercise of our sovereign rights and the defense of our territory are our primary concerns,” Marcos stated.
“The United States has always been our most dependable, closest, and strongest ally.”
Trump plans to visit China.
Despite an international finding that the assertion has no legal basis, China and the Philippines have been involved in a number of clashes in the disputed seas of the South China Sea, which Beijing claims nearly exclusively.
Trump has regularly asked partners why the US should support them in the NATO alliance and questioned them about their military spending.
He has expressed less skepticism on the Philippines. Secretary of State and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth”The exercise of our sovereign rights and the defense of our territory are our primary concerns,” Marcos stated.
“The United States has always been our most dependable, closest, and strongest ally.”
Trump plans to visit China.
Despite an international finding that the assertion has no legal basis, China and the Philippines have been involved in a number of clashes in the disputed seas of the South China Sea, which Beijing claims nearly exclusively.
Trump has regularly asked partners why the US should support them in the NATO alliance and questioned them about their military spending.
He has expressed less skepticism on the Philippines. Trump spent a large portion of the appearance criticizing Barack Obama and Joe Biden, his Democratic predecessors.
“The exercise of our sovereign rights and the defense of our territory are our primary concerns,” Marcos stated.
“The United States has always been our most dependable, closest, and strongest ally.”
Trump plans to visit China.
