Particle.news
Download on the App Store
6 ARTICLES
·
3h ago

Marcos Prepares for White House Talks on Tariff Relief and Defense Alliance

He aims to secure tariff cuts before an August 1 deadline through leverage from expanded U.S. base access under a long-standing security pact

Image
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr attends the closing ceremony of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits and Handing Over of the ASEAN Chairmanship to Malaysia, at the National Convention Centre, in Vientiane, Laos, October 11, 2024. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (L) and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pose during Hegseth's visit to Malacanang Palace on March 28, 2025, in the Philippine capital, Manila. Marcos will meet President Donald Trump on Tuesday to discuss tariffs and security.
Image

Overview

  • Marcos met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday ahead of his Tuesday White House meeting with President Trump.
  • He is seeking to reduce the U.S. “reciprocal” tariff on Philippine exports from 20% under a bilateral trade pact due by August 1.
  • The tariff increase follows an April warning and addresses a nearly $5 billion U.S. goods-trade deficit with the Philippines in 2024.
  • Manila leverages expanded access to nine Philippine military sites under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement to deepen security cooperation as China steps up its assertiveness in the South China Sea.
  • Philippine trade officials have been collaborating with U.S. counterparts to secure a mutually acceptable and mutually beneficial deal before the August 1 deadline.