President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will become the first ASEAN head of state to meet with US President Donald Trump since the latter’s return to the White House, with trade tariffs expected to take center stage in their bilateral talks on July 22, Malacañang said in a news release.
The high-level meeting, set at the White House during Marcos’s official visit to the United States from July 20 to 22, underscores the continued strength of Philippines-US relations and the Marcos administration’s push to secure more favorable economic and security outcomes for the country.
In a pre-departure briefing on Friday, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary Raquel Solano said the leaders’ discussions will focus on bolstering economic ties and addressing the proposed 20-percent US tariff on Philippine exports.
“We hope, of course, to arrive at a bilateral trade agreement or a deal on reciprocal trade that is mutually acceptable, mutually beneficial for both our countries,” Solano said, emphasizing the administration’s aim for a constructive and balanced outcome.
“The purpose of this visit is to further strengthen the Philippines-United States alliance, to proactively engage the US in all aspects of the relations, and seize opportunities for greater security and economic cooperation,” she added.
Beyond trade, the two leaders are also expected to tackle regional security, including enhanced defense cooperation and maritime security, amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.
During his three-day US visit, Marcos will also engage with key business leaders to promote investment opportunities in the Philippines. On July 21, he is scheduled to hold separate meetings with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
President Marcos will conclude his trip with a press briefing for the Philippine media before departing Washington on July 22. The DFA confirmed that due to scheduling constraints, he will be unable to meet with the Filipino community during this visit.
Joining the President in his US delegation are DFA Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Trade Secretary Cristina Roque, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, Acting Presidential Communications Secretary Dave Gomez, Special Assistant for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go, and Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez.
