PH envoy says 19% tariff by Trump still 'subject to review'
In a radio interview, Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez said bilateral talks will take place in Manila 'in the next couple of days' to finalize a trade deal.
'There's still room for negotiations,' Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez said in an interview on dzRH radio.
Romualdez said US trade officials will be in Manila for a 'continuing meeting' with Philippine counterparts "hopefully within the next couple of days" to discuss the tariffs.
'We will clarify exactly what we need to finalize in our agreement,' he said.
Lawmakers on Wednesday raised concerns about the new Philippines-United States trade deal, which imposes a 19% tariff on Philippine products entering the US against zero tariffs for at least some American exports to the Philippines.
The deal was announced by Trump during Marcos' visit to the White House early Wednesday Philippine time.
The new agreement reduces the earlier announced tariff for the Philippines of 20% by one percent. Marcos, who called the deal a "significant achievement," stressed that not all US goods will enjoy zero tariffs.
When asked if the deal was more favorable to the US, Marcos replied, 'That's how negotiations go. Why the tariff went up from 17% to 20% is internal to the US government." —VAL, GMA Integrated News
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