Camille Naredo

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administers the oath of office to newly appointed Supreme Court Associate Justice Raul Villanueva on Tuesday during a ceremony at Malacañang Palace. Ryan Baldemor, PPA

Article (news)

SC Associate Justice Villanueva

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175301155756320250610-marcos-raul-villanueva-PPA6984.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administers the oath of office to newly appointed Supreme Court Associate Justice Raul Villanueva on Tuesday during a ceremony at Malacañang Palace. Ryan Baldemor, PPA"/>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administers the oath of office to newly appointed Supreme Court Associate Justice Raul Villanueva on Tuesday during a ceremony at Malacañang Palace. Ryan Baldemor, PPA</div>WASHINGTON DC — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. arrived in the United States’ capital on Sunday, days ahead of his tariff and defense discussions with US President Donald Trump, their first official meeting since the American leader returned to the White House for a second term. Shortly after arriving here, Marcos Jr. gathered his Cabinet for a briefing before meeting their American counterparts at the Pentagon on July 21, then to the White House on July 22. “This visit builds on the active exchanges that we have had since the assumption of the new Trump administration,” Marcos Jr. said in his departure statement. “It will enhance our national interests and strengthen our alliance,” he said, noting that he is the first leader from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to be invited to the White House for a meeting in Trump’s second term as US President. Marcos Jr.’s fifth trip to the United States comes weeks after the US announced a 20 percent tariff on its traditional ally, a 3-percentage point increase than the 17 percent tariff initially announced in April. This tariff rate is the second lowest in Southeast Asia with Singapore’s 10 percent tariff being the lowest, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go earlier said. But more than negotiating for a reduced tariff rate, Marcos Jr. and his officials are expected to focus on making several commodities exempted from duties. “We are concerned that the US has decided to impose a 20 percent tariff on Philippine exports,” Go said in an earlier briefing in Manila. “More important than trying to bring down the reciprocal tariffs… Ang mas malaking bagay is if we can sign a free trade agreement or a bilateral comprehensive economic partnership agreement,” he said. Among the goods exempted from tariffs under the current US policy include semiconductors, steel, aluminum, auto parts, copper, lumber, bullion, among others. While semiconductors — the Philippines’ top exports to the US at $6.4 billion in 2024 — are exempted from certain taxes, other top Philippine exports to the US that are still covered by tariffs include apparel, coconut and other agricultural produces. As of 2024, the US listed a $4.9-billion trade deficit with the Philippines, according to data from the Office of the United States Trade Representative. The two countries’ total trade amounted to $23.5 billion last year, but US exports accounted for only $9.3 billion while its imports from the Philippines is pegged at $14.2 billion.<div> </div><div>PENTAGON MEETING </div>Marcos Jr. is also scheduled to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.Malacañang has yet to give specific details about the defense and security discussions between the traditional allies, but the US Congress earlier ordered both the State Department and the Defense Department to study the “feasibility of establishing a joint ammunition and manufacturing storage facility” in Subic. Lawmakers are “concerned with the lack of forward stage ammunition manufacturing facility in the Indo-Pacific,” the US House Appropriations Committee said in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for 2026. Manila said it has yet to receive a formal offer from Washington to establish such a facility, but Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has welcomed the idea. “Any production site na makakatulong sa technological transfers, empleyo, revenue na dito gagawin is welcome, lalung-lalo na kapag mayroon tayong sustainability na magagamit natin ang produkto,” Teodoro said in an earlier interview. “On a purely commercial basis, ito ay defense industry na mag-eempleyo ng Pilipino sa special export processing zone,” he said. Other expected talking points during Marcos Jr.’s stay in Washington DC include cooperation opportunities with several American companies, and extending an invitation for Trump to attend the 2026 ASEAN Summit which the Philippines will host next year.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. arrived in the United States’ capital on Sunday, days ahead of his tariff and defense discussions with US President Donald Trump, their first official meeting since the American leader returned to the White House for a second term.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. arrived in the United States’ capital on Sunday, days ahead of his tariff and defense discussions with US President Donald Trump, their first official meeting since the American leader returned to the White House for a second term.

Marcos Jr. arrives in US to tackle tariffs, defense with Donald Trump

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Nation

Marcos Jr. arrives in US to tackle tariffs, defense with Donald Trump

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 21, 2025 06:52 AM PHT

Read More:

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Donald Trump

United States

retaliatory tariff

politics

ABSNews

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.