MANILA – Philippine officials will fly to the US next week to discuss with their counterparts the 20 percent tariff imposed by the Trump government on Philippine exports, higher than the 17 percent announced last April.
The tariff rate will be in effect starting Aug. 1, 2025.
Trade Secretary Cristina Roque, in a briefing on Thursday, said she has yet to meet other trade and economic officials to discuss how they will negotiate tariff issues.
She declined to elaborate on their next move, saying they only received the letter from the US government regarding the tariff rate earlier in the day.
“Even the US is open for negotiation, so let’s see what happens when we get there. And let’s see what will happen when we convene,” she said.
“As we mentioned in our statement, the 20 percent rate is the second lowest. But we will have to talk about it.”
In a statement, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it is “concerned” about the tariff rate imposed on Philippine exports, “notwithstanding our efforts and constant engagement.”
Despite this, the statement said the government “remains committed to continuing negotiations in good faith to pursue a better and more comprehensive bilateral trade agreement.”
“We recognize the concerns of the United States regarding trade imbalances and its desire to strengthen domestic manufacturing. However, global supply chains are deeply interconnected, and unilateral trade impositions will have adverse effects to the global economy. Thus, we believe in the need for constructive engagements to address trade issues,” it added. (PNA)