Marilyn Cahatol

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. meets  with U.S. President Donald J. at the White House in Washington D.C., USA on July 22, 2025. Priority issues discussed during the visit include enhancing trade and economic cooperation following the recently imposed 20 percent U.S. tariff on Philippine exports, as well as strengthening the alliance between the two countries. Presidential Communications Office

Article (news)

MARCOS

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:617px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176162525677320250723-marcos-trump-meeting-PCO02610 (1).jpg" style="width:617px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. meets  with U.S. President Donald J. at the White House in Washington D.C., USA on July 22, 2025. Priority issues discussed during the visit include enhancing trade and economic cooperation following the recently imposed 20 percent U.S. tariff on Philippine exports, as well as strengthening the alliance between the two countries. <em>Presidential Communications Office </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is not expected to hold bilateral meetings with US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ meeting in South Korea later this week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Tuesday.</p><p>There is “no scheduled meeting” with either the US President or the Chinese leader, DFA spokesperson Asec. Angelica Escalona said in a Palace briefing. </p><p>“I cannot answer that but what happens in APEC is that they discuss these pressing issues,” Escalona said when asked why the Philippines did not push to hold bilateral talks with either the US or China.</p><p>“I’m sure the issues of the uncertainties brought by the tariffs is discussed among the officials of APEC and also among the private sector,” she said.</p><p>“We are looking at two bilateral meetings but these are being finalized,” she said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/15/marcos-discusses-trade-other-initiatives-with-south-korea-president-in-phone-call-0908">Marcos discusses trade, other initiatives with South Korea president in phone call</a></div><p>Diplomatic sources earlier confirmed that Trump and Xi would meet on the sidelines of APEC 2025 in South Korea, the first time that the leaders of the world’s two largest economies will personally talk since 2019.</p><p>Marcos last met Trump in Washington D.C. in July 2025 to discuss the tariffs imposed against the Philippines, while the Filipino President last met with the Chinese leader in January 2023 to tackle maritime issues between Manila and Beijing in the West Philippine Sea.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/10/28/trade-and-rare-earths-trump-s-deals-on-first-leg-of-asia-tour-0937">Trade and rare earths: Trump&#x27;s deals on first leg of Asia tour</a></div><p>Manila is not expected to raise maritime issues and disputes in the APEC, the DFA spokesperson said.</p><p>“APEC is an economic forum so political and security issues are not tackled… so yung mga issues natin revolve around sustainable development,” she said.</p><div> </div><div><strong>WILL MARCOS JR. MEET WITH NVIDIA’S JENSEN HUANG?</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Marcos is instead expected to focus on economic meetings, including delivering a speech before the APEC CEO Summit as his administration pushes to “establish an artificial intelligent-powered Philippines by 2028,” Escalona said.</p><p>“The president’s participation is centered on advancing the Philippines’ economic interests, forging deeper ties with APEC members and reaffirming our commitment to APEC’s vision of a more open, prosperous and dynamic Asia-Pacific in a rapidly transforming regional landscape,” she said.</p><p>“It’s about aligning this with our national AI strategy… This [event] will help us, the Philippines, take an active part in how AI is used across the region in ways that are friendly, safe, transparent and fair,” she said.</p><p>Escalona, however, declined to mention if Marcos would meet with Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, the world’s largest semiconductor company that is also leading in the graphics processing unit (GPU) and AI markets.</p><p>“I cannot state the names of the business leaders but they are in priority sectors identified by the Philippines,” she said, noting that these key industries include semi-conductors and manufacturing.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/10/27/marcos-says-free-trade-talks-with-south-korea-a-pushback-vs-protectionism-1407">Marcos says free trade talks with South Korea a ‘pushback’ vs global protectionism</a></div><p>Huang’s attendance in this year’s APEC Summit is much anticipated as the Gyeongju meetings focus on digital transformation and how all member economies can benefit from the rapid shift towards AI and automation.</p><p>Marcos, along with other APEC leaders, are expected to sign four key documents including the annual Leaders’ Declaration, as well as joint statements on “AI, demographic change and cultural and creative industries,” the DFA official said.</p><p>Meantime, Marcos Jr. is also slated to attend a Filipino community gathering in Busan, and cap his APEC 2025 trip with a wreath laying and tree planting ceremony at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan “in honor of the 7,420 Filipino soldiers who fought during the Korean War as members of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea,” she said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/10/27/rm-of-bts-set-to-become-first-k-pop-artist-to-be-a-speaker-at-an-apec-summit-1940">RM of BTS set to become first K-Pop artist to be a speaker at an APEC Summit</a></div><p>This will be Marcos&#x27; third time attending the meeting of the Asia-Pacific bloc after he skipped the APEC gathering in Peru last year. </p><p>The APEC is composed of 21 member economies that represent “about 61 percent of the world’s gross domestic product,” according to data from its official website.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i15eqRTddRc?si=lwyE_QfXCrW4uu4h" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is not expected to hold bilateral meetings with US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ meeting in South Korea later this week, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.</p>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is not expected to hold bilateral meetings with US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ meeting in South Korea later this week, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

No scheduled bilateral meeting for Marcos with Trump, Xi on APEC sidelines: DFA

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No scheduled bilateral meeting for Marcos with Trump, Xi on APEC sidelines: DFA

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 28, 2025 12:36 PM PHT

Read More:

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Donald Trump

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