President Marcos is set to travel to Washington, D.C., from July 20 to 22, Malacañang confirmed Friday, July 11, as both countries continue high-level discussions on economic and security cooperation.

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said this after United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday that President Marcos will head to the US “in a few days.”

In a press briefing, Castro confirmed that the trip will happen, but did not expound as details were still being finalized.

Speaking to international press in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Rubio said the US looks forward to hosting the Philippine leader following what he described as “excellent” trilateral engagements with Japan and the Philippines.

“We have a great relationship with Japan and the Philippines, and work very closely with them on the economic corridor, on maritime security, and territorial integrity — and continue to build upon that partnership,” he said.

“We look forward to hosting the president of the Philippines in Washington in a few days,” he added.

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said they are working with the US State Department to "finalize the details of the visit" and will share more information once these are finalized.

Before this announcement, Special Assistant to the President on Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go and other members of Marcos’ economic team said they are scheduled to fly to the US next week for talks with American counterparts on tariffs and broader economic cooperation.

Rubio reaffirmed the US administration’s broader trade strategy, describing the new reciprocal tariffs, including a 20 percent rate imposed on Philippine exports, as part of President Donald Trump’s “rebalancing of trade.”

“This is an effort to rebalance that at a global scale,” he said, adding that some countries, including those in Southeast Asia, may end up with more favorable rates than others.

The US official emphasized that negotiations remain ongoing with several countries, and that the “door always remains open to adjustments” if agreements are reached.

“We are actively in conversations with multiple countries that are represented here on ways to make even further progress,” Rubio said.

On Thursday, Go said the government was concerned with Trump’s decision to hike the tariff on Philippine goods to 20 percent from 17 percent. He, however, acknowledged this was still the second-lowest tariff rate in the region, next to Singapore’s 10 percent.

Go pointed out that key exports — such as semiconductors — are currently exempted. The Marcos administration has made clear its intent to negotiate a bilateral economic agreement or free trade deal with Washington.

Meanwhile, Rubio highlighted the strategic importance of Southeast Asia, saying the region will be “the center of economic growth” in the 21st century.

“The history of the 21st Century will largely be written in the Indo-Pacific and particularly in Southeast Asia,” he said.

He added that Southeast Asia is a part of the world where over 6,000 American companies have invested.

“These are important partnerships, both economic and defense cooperation partnerships that we’re not going to abandon and walk away from,” he said.

“We’re going to continue to build on them. We think it’s that important,” he added.