Logistics solutions provider Airspeed is projecting a 10 percent decline in its export service this year, as prospective buyers of Philippine products are holding off their orders ahead of the reimplementation of the United States’ (US) tariff policy.

Airspeed Group President Rosemarie Rafael said the potential decline is already evident in the several blank sailings from China and the refusal to fulfill previously ordered goods in other parts of the world.

For instance, Rafael said there are foreign clients who are not yet open to accepting their order of furniture and garments from Cebu.

She said this has been going on since March, two months into US President Donald Trump’s second term, when he initially disclosed plans to hike the tariff rates of America’s trading partners.

The following month, Trump implemented this policy, imposing a 10 percent baseline tariff on most countries, alongside the higher reciprocal tariffs.

These higher taxes on foreign-made goods are currently suspended for 90 days until July.

“I'm hoping that other economies will be able to negotiate with the US to really lower down the tariff. Because as you can see, it's not only China that's affected. But other countries that are manufacturing are also affected,” said Rafael in an interview.

She said the Philippines, although facing a relatively low 17 percent tariff rate, is still affected by the protectionist policy.

“We're still on a 90-day grace period but then again, the buyers are on hold or go mood. They really don't know if they're going to push on with the orders they have or not,” the executive said.

As a measure to mitigate the impact of the tariffs, Airspeed is looking to strengthen its ties with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Rafael said a more robust regional cooperation would provide other avenues for logistics to continue thriving.

She said the ASEAN could consider markets such as the Middle East and Africa, while uncertainty still looms over the US and its policies.

“This is an opportunity in adversity wherein people can really look and see how we can build up other markets,” she noted.

Rafaela said that despite the projected slowdown in export services, she said there is a potential that this would not be realized if other markets are tapped.

Nonetheless, she said the tariffs will only affect exports, as the company’s import and domestic services are still performing well.

Airspeed’s domestic demand accounts for 30 percent of its business, while international demand contributes 70 percent.