Nelson Morales

Marcos Jr. departs for official visit to US, meeting with Trump

Article (news)

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752985926536GwRBOfAWgAEr6Zi.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers a statement at the Maharlika Presidential Hangar, Villamor Air Base in Pasay City before he departs for Washington, DC, US, for an official visit from July 20-22, 2025. Harlene Delgado, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers a statement at the Maharlika Presidential Hangar, Villamor Air Base in Pasay City before he departs for Washington, DC, US, for an official visit from July 20-22, 2025. <em>Harlene Delgado, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday departed the Philippines for an official visit to Washington, D.C. in the United States from July 20 – 22 upon the invitation of US President Donald Trump.</p><p>In his departure statement, the President said the visit “builds on the active exchanges” that they have had since the assumption of the new Trump administration.</p><p>He cited the bilateral meetings between former Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the visits to Manila of U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth last March, United States Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard in June and the bipartisan U.S. Congressional Delegations.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/18/marcos-trump-to-discuss-closer-ph-us-ties-on-economic-defense-and-security-matters-1712"><strong>Marcos Jr., Trump to discuss closer cooperation on economic, defense matters<br/></strong></a></div><p>“My visit to Washington, D.C., and most importantly, my meeting with President Trump, is essential to continuing to advance our national interests and strengthening our alliance,” Marcos Jr. said before his departure at the Maharlika Presidential Hangar, Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, Sunday, July 20. </p><p>Marcos Jr. is the first Southeast Asian head of state to be invited to visit the U.S. and to hold a meeting with Trump since he took office this year.</p><p>He added that their delegation will reaffirm the Philippines’ commitment to fostering “long-standing alliances as an instrument of peace and a catalyst of development in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world”.</p><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=ABckyeuug_hJB9Xf"></script><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;GREATER ECONOMIC ENGAGEMENT&#x27;</strong></div><p>“My top priority for this visit is to push for greater economic engagement, particularly through trade and investment between the Philippines and the United States,” the President said.</p><p>“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 noted.</p><p>He said Defense Secretary Gilbert ‘Gibo’ Teodoro as well as the economic team are already in the U.S. for some “groundwork”.</p><p>“They are already there and have been there for a few days to prepare the groundwork for the work that we are doing whilst I am actually there,” he said. </p><p>The commander-in-chief also expects the discussions to focus on security, defense and trade.</p><div><strong>&#x27;TRADE SHOULD BE A PARTNERSHIP&#x27;</strong></div><p>The President is also hopeful for a positive outcome in negotiating the 20 percent tariff  the U.S. has slapped on Philippine exports — up from the 17 percent announced in April.</p><p>“And 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 on the Philippines,” he noted.</p><p>In a separate statement, Sen. Imee Marcos — the President&#x27;s sister — urged him to protect the country&#x27;s national interest in the trade talks.</p><p>“Trade must be a partnership, not a surrender. If we give away our rights today, we sell out the future of every Filipino,” Sen. Marcos said.</p><p>Noting the 20 percent tariff that the US imposed on Philippine exports, she said &quot;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.” </p><p>President Marcos Jr. is also expected to meet with business leaders “to explore business opportunities that will help to grow [the] economy even more”.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P5xzjEcCh-E?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday departed the Philippines for a two-day official visit to Washington, D.C. in the United States upon the invitation of President Donald Trump from July 20 – 22.</p>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday departed the Philippines for a two-day official visit to Washington, D.C. in the United States upon the invitation of President Donald Trump from July 20 – 22.