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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Marcos arrives in Washington to push for better trade, security ties with US

Marcos arrives in Washington to push for better trade, security ties with US

Published Jul 21, 2025 07:43 am  |  Updated Jul 21, 2025 01:54 pm

At A Glance

  • Marcos' trip — his first to Washington under US President Donald Trump's current term — makes him the first Southeast Asian head of state to be hosted by the American leader since Trump returned to the White House in January.
President Marcos has arrived in Washington, D.C., to begin a three-day official visit centered on strengthening the Philippines’ strategic alliance with the United States and pressing for progress on trade, investment, and security cooperation.
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. is greeted by Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez as he landed at Joint Base Andrews on July 20, 2025, for his three-day official visit to Washington, DC. (Malacañang photo)
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. is greeted by Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez as he landed at Joint Base Andrews on July 20, 2025, for his three-day official visit to Washington, DC. (Malacañang photo)
The presidential aircraft touched down at Joint Base Andrews at 2:48 p.m. on Sunday (US time). Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez and US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson welcomed the Chief Executive on the tarmac.
Marcos’ trip — his first to Washington under US President Donald Trump’s current term — makes him the first Southeast Asian head of state to be hosted by the American leader since Trump returned to the White House in January.
Malacañang has framed the visit as an opportunity to reaffirm the long-standing Philippine-US treaty alliance “built on decades of cooperation and anchored in mutual respect, prosperity, and regional stability.”
Before leaving Manila earlier Sunday, Marcos said addressing the recently imposed 20 percent US tariff on Philippine exports will be a priority in his talks in Washington. The levy was raised from 17 percent and now hangs over billions of dollars in Philippine shipments to the American market.
“My visit to Washington, DC, and most importantly, my meeting with President Trump, is essential to continuing to advance our national interests and strengthening our alliance,” he said in departure remarks at Villamor Air Base.
“We will reaffirm our commitment to fostering our long-standing alliances as an instrument of peace and a catalyst of development in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world,” he added.
President Marcos said he will push for negotiations on a bilateral trade arrangement that can soften the impact of the tariff hike and lay the groundwork for long-term market access.
“I intend to convey to President Trump and his Cabinet officials that the Philippines is ready to negotiate a bilateral trade deal that will ensure strong, mutually beneficial, and future-oriented collaborations that only the United States and the Philippines will be able to take advantage of,” he said.
“We will see how much progress we can make when it comes to the negotiations with the United States, concerning the changes that we would like to institute, so as to be able to alleviate the effects of a very severe tariff schedule,” he added.
A Philippine trade delegation led by Trade Secretary Cristina Roque and key negotiators arrived ahead of the President to continue technical talks with US counterparts.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier said defense and maritime security remain core alliance pillars of Marcos’ trip to Washington, especially amid continued tensions in the West Philippine Sea. Marcos has repeatedly underscored the value of the Mutual Defense Treaty and growing interoperability between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and US forces.
Marcos’ official program runs July 20–22 and includes meetings with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth before his talks with President Trump at the White House.
The meeting between the two presidents is expected to include regional flashpoints, alliance modernization, and cooperation on emerging defense technologies.
Aside from Trump and other US officials, Marcos is also slated to court American investors already exploring or expanding operations in the Philippines.
“We’re interested, of course, in getting these potential investors to invest here in the country,” Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Raquel Solano said ahead of the trip, noting that several US companies on Marcos’ schedule are “already in the process” of bringing capital into Philippine sectors ranging from manufacturing to clean energy.

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