What Marcos Got From His Meeting With President Trump
The United States has announced that it will lower its tariff rate for the Philippines from 20 percent to 19 percent. In exchange, the Philippines will open its market to the U.S. and some U.S. goods like automobiles will have a zero tariff rate.
This is what U.S. President Donald Trump posted on his social media platform after meeting Philippine President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. at the White House. Marcos confirmed this in a media briefing and immediately assured the public that the deal would benefit the Philippine economy. 'Now, one percent might seem like a very small concession,' he said. 'However when you put it in real terms, it is a significant achievement.'
The Philippine ambassador to the U.S. added that the tariff reduction announcement would lead to more trade negotiations. 'The lowering of tariff to 19 percent is a good deal for the moment, but there is still more that we can do and that there will still be more discussions ahead,' he said.
The Philippines was initially given a 17 percent tariff rate before Trump raised it to 20 percent. Marcos flew to the U.S. with the intention of negotiating for a better trade agreement by banking on the good relations of the two countries.
Since becoming president in 2022, Marcos has allowed the establishment of four more U.S. military facilities in the Philippines under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). He has expanded the joint military exercises involving the U.S. and its allies in the region. He also agreed to the deployment of U.S.-made Typhon and other missile systems in the Philippines. Before the Marcos-Trump meeting, Philippine defense officials reported the establishment of a U.S. naval repair facility in Palawan province and an ammunition factory at Subic Bay, a former U.S. military base.
News of the results of the trade negotiations angered several Philippine legislators. Act Teachers Partylist Representative Tonchi Tinio described Marcos's trip to the U.S. as a 'disastrous humiliation ritual.' Senator Ping Lacson said 'it is the worst insult that a host can throw at his guest.' He added, 'it is time for us to look for other trade partners.'
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri compared the one percent tariff rate reduction to the more favorable terms Japan got from Trump. 'If the United States truly sees us as a treaty ally, we should be accorded the same level of mutual respect in trade policy,' he said.
He also mentioned that Indonesia was given a similar trade concession. 'We have a similar trade arrangement with Indonesia, which is not even a treaty ally and does not host U.S. forces or EDCA sites,' he said in a statement. 'The least we could have done was to negotiate terms on par with what Japan enjoys, a fellow U.S. treaty ally.'
Senator Francis Pangilinan is worried that the zero tariff for U.S. goods will gravely affect local producers. 'If implemented without careful consideration, a zero tariff policy will disadvantage our farmers and fisherfolk, and put in peril our work toward food security and national development.'
But House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, a cousin of Marcos, enjoined the public to rally behind the gains made by the president. 'Access to the U.S. market is a game-changer,' he asserted. 'What matters is that President Marcos secured a seat at the table, and the terms of engagement can be shaped from here.'
Marcos' arrival statement mentioned the trade and security deals he clinched in the U.S., including investment pledges that would create jobs and livelihood opportunities, but there was no mention of the tariff rate reduction and the zero tariff he offered to the United States. Perhaps details of the trade negotiations and other important matters that transpired during his meeting with Trump will be released in the next few days, leading up to his fourth state of the nation address on July 28.
It is not just the tariff deal that Marcos has to explain to the public. The more serious problem facing the country at the moment is the flooding disaster in the capital region and nearby provinces. Several cities are still submerged in floods, with disgruntled citizens asking about the flood control projects mentioned by Marcos in his state of the nation address last year.
Marcos was unable to directly oversee the disaster response of the government in the past few days since he was on an official visit to the United States to meet with Trump. Some critics are wondering if the trip he made was really worthwhile since he got a measly tariff deal despite giving away substantial concessions.
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