Philippine leader heads to Washington for bilateral trade deal

2025-07-20 08:21:35

(MENAFN) Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. departed for Washington on Sunday for a three-day official visit focused on securing a bilateral trade agreement and strengthening defense ties with U.S. President Donald Trump.

This marks Marcos’ fifth visit to the United States and his first since Trump began his second term. A key agenda item is the 20% tariff set to be imposed on Philippine exports to the U.S. in August.

Speaking before his departure, Marcos emphasized that the visit is vital for advancing national interests and reinforcing the longstanding alliance between the two nations. He described the U.S.-Philippine partnership as both a force for peace and a driver of development in the Asia-Pacific and globally.

Marcos said his top priority is enhancing economic cooperation through trade and investment, and expressed readiness to negotiate a bilateral trade agreement that would create “strong, mutually beneficial, and future-oriented” ties.

The Philippines and the U.S. maintain a robust security alliance, anchored in the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.

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