Arthur Fuentes

International Container Services, Inc. (ICTSI) port  and terminal in Manila.

Article (news)

MANILA-PORT

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

MANILA – Malacañang on Monday explained the Philippines’ non-inclusion in the United States’ decision to impose zero percent import tariffs in some Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, saying this was to protect industries here in the country.  A Thai news outlet earlier reported that the US granted zero percent import tariffs on select products from Southeast Asian countries, which included Thailand, Cambodia, and Malaysia – a deal supposedly made during the ASEAN Summit.But Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go said the country’s non-inclusion was to “protect several industries in the Philippines.”  This includes, Go said, industries on rice, corn, sugar, and poultry.  “The ASEAN countries opened up their countries, with Cambodia, for example, opening up 100 percent of its country to US food and agricultural and industrial products,” he said.  The US earlier reduced its tariff rates imposed on Philippine exports to 19 percent following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr&#x27;s meeting with US President Donald Trump.  The US is the Philippines&#x27; biggest export market. In 2024, the Philippines exported $12.14 billion to the US, making up 16.6 percent of the country’s total exports that year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. In terms of imports, however, the US was just the fifth largest source of goods imported into the Philippines, at $8.17 billion, far below the $32 billion worth of goods that the country imported from China in 2024.

A Thai news outlet earlier reported that the US granted zero percent import tariffs on select products from Southeast Asian countries, which included Thailand, Cambodia, and Malaysia.

A Thai news outlet earlier reported that the US granted zero percent import tariffs on select products from Southeast Asian countries, which included Thailand, Cambodia, and Malaysia.

Why other ASEAN countries got zero US tariffs but PH got 19 percent

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Why other ASEAN countries got zero US tariffs but PH got 19 percent

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 29, 2025 07:58 PM PHT

|

Updated Nov 01, 2025 01:55 PM PHT

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