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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Protect Philippine interests in trade talks with Trump, Imee appeals to Marcos admin

Protect Philippine interests in trade talks with Trump, Imee appeals to Marcos admin

Published Jul 20, 2025 12:25 pm

At A Glance

  • Sen. Imee Marcos urged the Marcos administration to exercise caution and protect the country's national interest in the upcoming trade talks with US President Donald Trump.
Senator Imee Marcos (Facebook)
Senator Imee Marcos (Facebook)

As President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. embarks on a series of high-level meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump, his sister Sen. Imee Marcos urged the Marcos administration to exercise caution and protect the country’s national interest in the discussions. 

President Marcos has departed Manila for Washington in an attempt to engage Trump in trade talks as global tariffs loom.

The US has imposed a 20 percent tariff on Philippine exports, which is higher than the 17 percent initially announced by the Trump administration in April.

“Trade must be a partnership, not a surrender. If we give away our rights today, we sell out the future of every Filipino,” the senator emphasized.

The Philippines, a military and trade ally of the US, has called for a 10 percent rate or at least an improvement on Indonesia’s 19 percent tariff, but the Trump administration chose to impose a 20 percent tariff instead. 

Furthermore, the US has demanded that this agreement may be terminated "if the Philippines enters into a new bilateral free trade agreement or preferential economic agreement with a country of concern" of US.

Sen. Marcos said this “is a patent disregard of our sovereignty and independent right to enter into international agreements.”

The senator also rejected the fact the US constrained the Philippines own domestic economic policies when it required the Philippine government to refrain “from imposing new barriers that provide less favorable treatment to US services suppliers than the treatment afforded to domestic services suppliers.”

Nevertheless, the presidential sister said she is hopeful that Marcos’ visit will seize opportunities for greater security and economic cooperation between the countries.

“As a sovereign country, the tariff agreement with the US should also be reciprocal. The US does not seem to regard us as a sovereign state, nor can we see the value of any so-called treaty allies any longer,” she pointed out.

“No president should sign away our sovereignty—not for gold, not for promises, not for alliances,” the lawmaker added. 

Related Tags

PBBM imee marcos TARIFF Trump administration Marcos administration bilateral meeting bilateral talks
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