Philippine Goods to Face New 19% US Tariff, Trump Announces

US President Says Trade Agreement Includes Military Cooperation 

American President, Donald Trump, has announced a new 19% tax on imports from the Philippines. The announcement came hours after he hosted Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House. He shared the news on social media, calling the meeting a success. “It was a beautiful visit and we concluded our trade deal,” he wrote. 

He said the agreement includes the Philippines dropping duties on American products and stepping up military cooperation with the US. However, he did not provide any more details regarding the trading terms. So far, the Philippine government has not confirmed the deal from their side. 

Higher Than Earlier Threats, Uncertainty Remains 

Trump’s 19% tariffs are higher than the 17% rate he originally proposed in April and just below the 20% he warned of in a recent letter to the Philippines. If implemented, it would mark one of the highest duties on Philippine goods in recent times. 

The Philippines is not among the US top trading partners around the world, but still sent about $14.2 billion worth of goods to the country last year. These exports included electronics clothing, car parts, and coconut oil. 

The news is a part of Trump’s border push to rework trade deals around the world with different countries. Since first announcing new global tariffs in April, the President has been talking with multiple countries, including China, the UK and Indonesia. He has made agreements with some and many of the deals  still remain unresolved.

Global Response and Growing Concerns 

The tariff announcements have already created unease in global markets. Countries, like Canada and members of the European Union agreement, are in talks with America but have not reached agreements. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday said that negotiations were “complex” and warned that his country would not agree to a bad deal. 

Meanwhile, American companies are beginning to feel the pressure. General Motors reported losing over $1 billion in just three months due to rising costs caused by the tariffs. Stellantis, maker of Jeep, also said it lost over $300 million.

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