US-PH RELATIONS
Marcos Jr. arrives in U.S. for key meetings with Trump
Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. arrived in the United States on Monday morning, July 21, ahead of crucial meetings with US President Donald Trump aimed at strengthening economic ties and addressing defense and security concerns, including a contentious new tariff rate.
President Marcos’s plane landed at Joint Base Andrews at 2:48 a.m. (Manila time). This visit marks President Trump’s first invitation to a head of state from an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member during his second term, and it will be Marcos’s first official meeting with the US President.
In his pre-departure speech in Manila, President Marcos emphasized the primary objective of his trip: “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 is scheduled to remain in Washington until July 22.
Upon his arrival, President Marcos was set to be briefed by key Cabinet secretaries, including Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Trade Secretary Christina Roque, and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año.
On July 21, the President’s itinerary includes meetings with prominent business leaders, particularly those looking to expand their investments in the Philippines. He is also slated to meet with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The culminating event of the visit will be a meeting at the White House, where President Marcos is expected to negotiate a “mutually beneficial” tariff deal with President Trump. The Republican president initially imposed a 17-percent duty on all goods from the Philippines in April. Following negotiations and a 90-day pause, Trump later set a 20-percent tariff, effective August 1. While this rate is among the lowest in Southeast Asia (after Indonesia’s 19 percent), experts have warned of potential impacts on the electronics, garments, agriculture, and food sectors.
Beyond economic matters, President Marcos is also set to discuss mutual defense and security, as well as issues concerning the West Philippine Sea, with President Trump. Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez stated that discussions would involve “the reaffirmation of all these agreements that we have with the United States specifically surrounding the Mutual Defense Treaty.” Romualdez added that President Marcos “would like to see how we can work with the United States and other countries that have the same mindset as far as the West Philippine Sea is concerned.”
Ambassador Romualdez also mentioned that President Marcos would engage with leaders from the semiconductor industry, a significant sector for Philippine-US economic ties, and other business groups interested in healthcare investments and the development of the Luzon Economic Corridor. However, the controversial US immigration policy under President Trump is not on the agenda, despite concerns for 3,772 Filipinos identified by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement with “final orders of removal.”
The meeting between the two world leaders comes just a week before President Marcos is scheduled to deliver his fourth State of the Nation Address in the Philippines, where he will report on his administration’s achievements and future plans.
