Latest news with #MutualDefenseTreaty
Int'l Business Times
12 minutes ago
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
Trump Agrees To Small Reduction In Philippine Tariffs
US President Donald Trump agreed Tuesday to reduce threatened tariffs on the Philippines, but only by one percentage point, after what he termed a successful meeting with his counterpart Ferdinand Marcos. Welcoming Marcos to the White House, Trump called him a "very tough negotiator" and said: "We're very close to finishing a trade deal -- a big trade deal, actually." In a social media post shortly afterward, Trump said that while the Philippines would open up completely to US goods, he would still impose a 19 percent tariff on products from the Southeast Asian country, a major exporter of high-tech items and apparel. "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," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. The Philippines was among two dozen economies confronted by Trump with letters this month warning of 20 percent tariffs on all goods coming into the United States as of August 1. The 19 percent rate is still above the 17 percent threatened by Trump in April, when he threatened sweeping global tariffs. The trade rift comes despite increasingly close defense relations between the United States and the Philippines, a former US colony and treaty-bound ally that has seen high tensions with China. The United States last year, under Trump's predecessor Joe Biden, deployed ground-launched missiles in the Philippines. Washington has also eyed ammunition manufacturing in the Philippines, despite the closure in 1992 of the US naval base at Subic Bay due to heavy public pressure. "All of what we consider part of the modernization of the Philippine military is really a response to the circumstances that surround the situation in the South China Sea," Marcos said next to Trump. Trump devoted much of the appearance to attacks on his Democratic predecessors Biden and Barack Obama. "We are essentially concerned with the defense of our territory and the exercise of our sovereign rights," said Marcos. "Our strongest, closest, most reliable ally has always been the United States." China and the Philippines have engaged in a series of confrontations in the contested waters of the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely, despite an international ruling that the assertion has no legal basis. Trump has frequently questioned allies over their military spending, pondering why the United States should defend them in the NATO alliance. He has voiced fewer doubts about the Philippines. Both Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in meetings with Marcos on Monday vowed to honor the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with the Southeast Asian nation. The Trump administration has identified China as the top US adversary but the US president has also boasted of his relationship with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. Speaking alongside Marcos, Trump said he would "probably" visit China at Xi's invitation "in the not-too-distant future." He said of Marcos: "I don't mind if he gets along with China very well, because we're getting along with China very well." Trump added the Philippines had been "maybe tilting toward China" and "we untilted it very, very quickly." "I just don't think that would have been good for you," Trump said. The US president credited himself with the shift, although the turn towards Washington began after the 2022 election of Marcos, before Trump returned to power. Marcos's predecessor Rodrigo Duterte had flirted with closer relations with China and bristled at US criticism over human rights under Biden and Obama. Duterte is facing charges of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court over a sweeping campaign against drug users and dealers that rights groups say killed thousands.
Int'l Business Times
an hour ago
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
Trump Says Confident US To Reach Philippines Trade Deal
US President Donald Trump voiced confidence Tuesday at reaching a trade deal with the Philippines to ease his threatened tariffs as he welcomed his counterpart Ferdinand Marcos to the White House. "We're very close to finishing a trade deal. A big trade deal, actually," Trump said as he met Marcos in the Oval Office. "He's a very tough negotiator. So far we're not there because he's negotiating too tough," Trump said. But Trump, in response to questions, said he believed the two countries would ultimately reach an agreement. "We'll probably agree on something," Trump said in an appearance in which he spent much of his time attacking predecessors Joe Biden and Barack Obama. The Philippines, a former US colony and longtime ally, was among countries confronted by Trump with letters this month warning of 20 percent tariffs on all their goods coming into the United States as of August 1 -- up from a previous threat of 17 percent. The trade rift comes despite increasingly close defense relations between the United States and the Philippines, which has seen high tensions with China. The United States last year under Biden deployed ground-launched missiles in the Philippines. Washington has also eyed ammunition manufacturing in the Philippines, despite the closure in 1992 of the US naval base at Subic Bay due to heavy public pressure. "All of what we consider part of the modernization of the Philippine military is really a response to the circumstances that surround the situation in the South China Sea," Marcos said. "We are essentially concerned with the defense of our territory and the exercise of our sovereign rights," he said. "Our strongest, closest, most reliable ally has always been the United States." China and the Philippines have engaged in a series of confrontations in the contested waters, which Beijing claims almost entirely, despite an international ruling that the assertion has no legal basis. Trump has frequently questioned Western allies over their military spending, pondering why the United States should defend them in the NATO alliance. He has voiced fewer doubts about the Philippines. Both Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in meetings with Marcos on Monday vowed to honor the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with the Southeast Asian nation. The Trump administration has identified China as the top US adversary but Trump himself has also boasted of his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Speaking alongside Marcos, Trump said he would "probably" visit China at Xi's invitation "in the not-too-distant future." He said of Marcos, "I don't mind if he gets along with China very well, because we're getting along with China very well." Trump at the same time said the Philippines had been "maybe tilting toward China" and "we untilted it very, very quickly." "I just don't think that would have been good for you," Trump said of the former tilt. Trump credited his own efforts and faulted Biden, although he appeared to be referring to a shift in the Philippines since the 2022 election of Marcos, who also worked closely with the Biden administration. Marcos's predecessor Rodrigo Duterte had flirted with closer relations with China and bristled at US criticism over human rights under Biden and Obama. Duterte is facing charges of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court over a sweeping campaign against drug users and dealers that rights groups say killed thousands.
Mint
2 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
Trump teases ‘big trade deal' as he welcomes Philippine President Marcos to White House
US President Donald Trump hosted Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House on Tuesday (July 22), as the United States and the Philippines aim to deepen strategic and economic cooperation amid growing regional tensions, particularly with China. Marcos became the first Southeast Asian leader to visit the White House since Trump's re-election. The three-day state visit included meetings with top US officials such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Trump told reporters, 'We're very close to finishing a trade deal — big trade deal, actually,' signaling potential progress on a long-anticipated bilateral agreement. Marcos expressed strong support for the alliance, calling the US-Philippines relationship 'as important a relationship as is possible to have.' When asked about balancing ties between Washington and Beijing, Marcos emphasised Philippine sovereignty: 'There is no need to balance because our foreign policy is an independent one,' he said. 'Our strongest partner has always been the United States.' 'I intend to convey to President Trump and his Cabinet officials that the Philippines is ready to negotiate a bilateral trade deal that will ensure strong, mutually beneficial and future-oriented collaborations,' Marcos said prior to his departure from Manila. Philippine Finance Secretary Ralph Recto indicated the country is open to zero tariffs on certain US goods in exchange for an agreement. In remarks Monday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed US support for the Philippines under the Mutual Defense Treaty. 'Our storied alliance has never been stronger or more essential than it is today,' Hegseth said. 'This pact extends to armed attacks on our armed forces, aircraft or public vessels, including our Coast Guard anywhere in the Pacific, including the South China Sea.' Marcos responded by reaffirming Manila's commitment to the alliance: 'That assurance continues to be the cornerstone of that relationship, especially when it comes to defense and security cooperation.' Tensions in the South China Sea were a key backdrop to the visit. China's coast guard has repeatedly used water cannons on Filipino vessels in disputed waters, drawing international concern. The White House said the Trump-Marcos discussions emphasized a shared vision for a 'free, open, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific.' Hegseth, in a May speech, had warned that 'China poses a threat' and the US is 'reorienting toward deterring aggression by Communist China.' Despite growing friction, the US remains open to dialogue with China. Rubio met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi earlier this month in Kuala Lumpur, where both sides agreed to manage tensions and seek areas for cooperation. Meanwhile, Marcos's meeting with Rubio in Washington reinforced both nations' commitment 'to maintain peace and stability' in the region, according to the State Department.
UPI
3 hours ago
- Business
- UPI
Philippine President Marcos meeting with Trump at White House
July 22 (UPI) -- Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will meet with President Donald Trump at the White House Tuesday to discuss U.S. tariffs and threats from China. The first such meeting by an Association of Southeast Asian Nations head of state with Trump since his return to the U.S. presidency, Marcos is expected to utilize his nation's strong relationship with the United States to improve the trade deal between the two countries. "The purpose of this visit is to further strengthen the Philippines-United States alliance, to proactively engage the U.S. in all aspects of the relations, and seize opportunities for greater security and economic cooperation," said Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Raquel Solano in a press release. The Philippines, one of the many countries who face a tariff hike on Aug. 1, will be subject to a 20% levy as per the letter Trump sent out earlier this month. "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 added. Marcos' visit has also focused on defense and security, which was discussed Monday as he visited the Pentagon. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Marcos, and in a Defense Department press release, it was stated the two "reaffirmed their commitment to the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty and discussed shared security concerns in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as recent advances in the long-standing U.S.-Philippines alliance." "Our storied alliance has never been stronger or more essential than it is today," said Hegseth in the release. "Together, we remain committed to the mutual defense treaty." "And this pact extends to armed attacks on our armed forces, aircraft or public vessels, including our Coast Guard, anywhere in the Pacific, including the South China Sea," continued Hegseth. Marcos also met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said in an X post Monday that they discussed "how the [United States] and the Philippines are strengthening our ironclad Alliance to advance our shared safety, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific." As for any meeting with representatives of the American Filipino community, the press release notes Marcos won't be able to, due to his tight schedule.
News18
5 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
US Pitches Anti-China ‘Shield' With Manila? China ‘Preps Military City', ‘Shadows' NATO Warship
Top US officials promised President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines on Monday that Washington will defend its longtime ally and ramp up military resources aimed at deterring an assertive China. Marcos will meet with President Donald Trump on July 22, who has rattled many European allies by demanding they pay more to be protected as part of Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who have both identified China as a top threat, stated their commitment to the seven-decade treaty with the Philippines as they held separate meetings with Marcos on Monday."Together we remain committed to the Mutual Defense Treaty. And this pact extends to armed attacks on our armed forces, aircraft or public vessels, including our Coast Guard anywhere in the Pacific, including the South China Sea," Hegseth told China is said to be building a sprawling military city in Beijing that spans nearly three miles, as per reports. The upcoming military hub, which US intelligence officials call the 'Beijing Military City', is reportedly being built on 1,500 acres in southwest Beijing. It has caught the eye of the global strategic community, given the alleged secrecy and magnitude of its construction. Reports say that the facility includes a nuclear-proof bunker, prompting speculation that it may serve as a future wartime command centre. Once completed, the 'Beijing Military City' is expected to be ten times the size of the Pentagon, as per reports. n18oc_world n18oc_crux0:00 INTRODUCTION2:40 CHINA Vs NATO IN INDO-PACIFIC?3:45 'TAIWAN, EU FACE THREATS OF EXTERNAL INFILTRATION'5:20 PHILIPPINES' MARCOS TO MEET TRUMP, MESSAGE TO XI?
