Latest news with #Marcos'
Arab Times
a day ago
- Business
- Arab Times
Trump says US will impose 19% tariff on imports from Philippines
WASHINGTON, July 23, (AP): US President Donald Trump said he has reached a trade agreement with Philippine leader Ferdinand Marcos Jr, following a meeting Tuesday at the White House, that will see the US slightly drop its tariff rate for the Philippines without paying import taxes for what it sells there. Trump revealed the broad terms of the agreement on his social media network and said the US and the Philippines would work together militarily. The announcement of a loose framework of a deal comes as the two countries are seeking closer security and economic ties in the face of shifting geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific region. Marcos' government indicated ahead of the meeting that he was prepared to offer zero tariffs on some US goods to strike a deal with Trump. The Philippine Embassy did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Marcos' three-day visit to Washington shows the importance of the alliance between the treaty partners as China is increasingly assertive in the South China Sea, where Manila and Beijing have clashed over the hotly contested Scarborough Shoal. Trump said on Truth Social that the US would impose a 19% tariff rate on the Philippines, down from a 20% tariff he threatened starting Aug. 1. In return, he said, the Philippines would have an open market and the US would not pay tariffs. Marcos described the lower 19% tariff rate to reporters in Washington as a "significant achievement' in real terms. He said his country was considering options such as having an open market without tariffs for US automobiles, but emphasized details were still left to be worked out. When asked whether the Philippines got the shorter end of the stick, Marcos said, "that's how negotiations go.' Without further details on the agreement, it's unclear how it will impact their countries' economies. Trump wrote that Marcos' visit was "beautiful,' and it was a "Great Honor' to host such a "very good, and tough, negotiator.' Appearing before reporters in the Oval Office ahead of their private meeting, Marcos spoke warmly of the ties between the two nations.
GMA Network
16-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
PH population rose to 112.7M in 2024
The population of the Philippines has increased by more than three million in the last four years, according to the 2024 census data released by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Marcos' Proclamation 973 stated that there were 112,729,484 Filipinos as of July 1, 2024, up 3.69 million from 109,035,343 persons as of May 1, 2020, based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority. Batas Pambansa 72 provides that the final population count shall be considered official for all purposes upon proclamation by the President. Marcos issued the proclamation on July 11. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
16-07-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Marcos gives 50% fare discounts to seniors, PWDs in MRT, LRT
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. on Wednesday led the launch of the 50% fare discount for senior citizens and persons with disability in LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3. The launch was held at the MRT-3 Santolan-Annapolis southbound station. This followed the launching of the 50% train fare discount for students last June, which aims to fulfill Marcos' directives to ease the financial burden of commuters. This project will increase the fare discount by 30% from the statutory discount of 20%.—AOL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
08-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Palace says Marcos already preparing for his fourth SONA
President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. is already preparing for his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28. According to Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro on Tuesday, Marcos is preparing to provide a better report on his projects and accomplishments. No further detail was given by the Palace official. The Philippines National Police (PNP) has said it will take concrete measures to guarantee a peaceful conduct of Marcos' fourth SONA. Asked if the police organization will make adjustments to its preparations considering that there is an ongoing impeachment issue of Vice President Sara Duterte, PNP chief Police General Nicolas Torre III said it depends on the estimate from the intelligence they receive. The Vice President will not be attending Marcos' fourth SONA on July 28, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco earlier said. Velasco had said that more than 200 guests already confirmed their attendance to the SONA. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA Integrated News
The Star
23-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Philippine VP Duterte criticises Marcos for leaning towards US
MANILA: Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte slammed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for leaning towards the US, while signaling openness to friendlier ties with China. Duterte particularly criticised Marcos' move to allow an American missile system on Philippine soil that has angered Beijing, saying Manila has nothing to do with tensions between the US and China. "There is no reason for you to lean towards the US,' she said in a livestreamed speech on Sunday (June 22) before supporters in Melbourne, Australia. The vice president also said the tensions between Manila and Beijing in the South China Sea don't make up the entirety of the relations between the two countries. "You have to always stay in the middle because you are not part of the bigger conflict,' Duterte said. "You are friends with US, yes. You are friends with China, yes. And why not?' Duterte's statements mark her sharpest criticisms yet of Marcos' US-friendly foreign policy stance, at a time when the administration's allies are pushing for her ouster through impeachment proceedings. Her position also echoes that of her father, Rodrigo, who pivoted towards China during his 2016-2022 presidency. Marcos' office has yet to respond to the vice president's remarks. Under Marcos, the Philippines has bolstered longstanding defence ties with the US, expanding access to military bases and allowing the deployment of American weapons. His government has also been more assertive in pushing Manila's claims in the South China Sea, often leading to skirmishes with Beijing in disputed waters. - Bloomberg
