President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the United States and the Philippines have reached a new trade agreement, following a high-profile meeting at the White House with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The deal will slightly lower U.S. tariffs on Filipino goods, while eliminating tariffs for American exports to the Philippines.
Trump shared details of the agreement on his Truth Social platform, calling it a step toward deeper economic and military cooperation between the two longtime allies. “We will work together militarily,” he added, without elaborating on specific plans.
Strengthening Ties Amid Geopolitical Shifts
The visit by Marcos—his second to Washington as president—comes at a time of mounting geopolitical tension in the Indo-Pacific region. China’s increasingly aggressive actions in the South China Sea, including repeated confrontations near the disputed Scarborough Shoal, have pushed the Philippines closer to the U.S., its oldest treaty ally in the Pacific.
Ahead of the meeting, Marcos’ government indicated it was open to removing tariffs on select U.S. products in exchange for more favorable terms. While full details of the agreement have yet to be released, Trump said the U.S. would impose a 19% tariff on Filipino goods—down from a planned 20% starting August 1—and that U.S. exports would be tariff-free.
“The visit was beautiful,” Trump wrote online. “It was a Great Honor to host such a very good, and tough, negotiator.”
A Focus on Regional Security
Marcos’ three-day trip included meetings with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. On Monday, during a visit to the Pentagon, Marcos reaffirmed the strength of the U.S.-Philippine defense alliance, calling it “the cornerstone” of their relationship.
Joint military exercises and U.S. support for modernizing the Philippine armed forces have intensified since Hegseth’s March visit to Manila. “We need this support in the face of the threats our country is facing,” Marcos said, in a pointed reference to Chinese actions in the South China Sea.
Beijing, for its part, issued a warning. “Whatever cooperation the U.S. and the Philippines have, it should not target or harm any third party,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, cautioning against increased tensions in the region.
China Looms Large
Asked about balancing relations between Washington and Beijing, Marcos responded firmly: “There is no need to balance, because our foreign policy is independent. Our strongest partner has always been the United States.”
Trump echoed that sentiment, saying he respects Manila’s right to engage with China. “Do whatever you need to do,” Trump told Marcos. “Your dealings with China wouldn’t bother me at all.”
Despite growing tensions, the U.S. has kept diplomatic channels open with Beijing. Rubio recently met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a regional forum in Kuala Lumpur, where both sides agreed to seek areas of cooperation while managing their differences.
Trump’s Off-Topic Comments
During the Oval Office photo opportunity, Trump briefly veered off-topic when asked about his Justice Department’s decision to interview Jeffrey Epstein’s former girlfriend. He used the moment to repeat false claims about the 2020 election and the Russia investigation, while also lashing out at former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
“After what they did to me—whether it’s right or wrong—it’s time to go after people,” Trump said.
Despite the detour, the overall visit underscored the strategic significance of the U.S.-Philippines alliance as both countries navigate an increasingly complex Indo-Pacific landscape.
