By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will express his intent for “greater” security and economic relations between the Philippines and the United States during his trip to Washington, D.C., the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Friday.
“The purpose of this visit is to further strengthen the Philippines-United States alliance, to proactively engage the U.S. in all aspects of the relations and seize opportunities for greater security and economic cooperation,” DFA Assistant Secretary for American Affairs Raquel Solano said in a Palace press briefing.
“We will continue to underscore that for the Philippines to be a truly strong partner for the United States, we need to be stronger economically as well,” she added.
Marcos will embark on an official visit to Washington D.C. from July 20–22, upon the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump. He is the first ASEAN head of state to be invited to the US and hold a meeting with Trump since the latter assumed office in January this year.
The visit came as the negotiations between the Philippines and the U.S. on the 20% tariff imposed by the Trump administration on Philippine exports are underway.
“Marcos also aims to discuss the tariff rate that will be levied on Philippine exports starting Aug. 1,” Solano said.
“Right now, there is a team, Filipino group of Philippine trade officials who are in Washington, D.C., and they’re conducting these negotiations. And we hope, of course, to arrive at a bilateral trade agreement or a deal on the reciprocal trade that is mutually acceptable, mutually beneficial for both our countries,” she said.
Asked if a free trade agreement is still on the table for the total elimination of tariffs, Solano said the government is hopeful that the two nations would arrive at a “mutually acceptable” trade deal.
West PH Sea, other ‘issues of common concern’
Solano said Marcos and Trump are expected to discuss closer cooperation in economic, defense, and security matters of common interest.
She said the two leaders are also set to discuss the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue, as well as other regional and international issues of common concern.
“Well, in the agenda of the meetings, there’s going to be an exchange of views on regional issues and concerns. So ultimately, this issue on the West Philippine Sea would be discussed,” Solano said.
“And as to the possible agreements, well, we’re hoping to secure the assistance or support of the US government in enhancing the capabilities of our AFP and the Coast Guard in terms of the capabilities of our armed forces,” she added.
Other meetings
Aside from a bilateral meeting with Trump, Marcos is also scheduled to meet with U.S. State Secretary Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Solano said.
Solano said several U.S. businesses have also made a request for a meeting with Marcos to discuss investment opportunities in the Philippines.
She refused to divulge the names of the companies seeking a meeting with Marcos but assured that “they are in line with the priorities of the Philippine government with respect to the promotion of our development objectives.”
“The objective of the visit is also to strengthen economic cooperation with the U.S., and these meetings with the business leaders are part of it. So, we are interested, of course, in getting these potential investors to invest here in the country. And actually, these companies that I mentioned earlier are already in the process of investing in the Philippines,” she said.
Marcos, however, would not be able to meet with the Filipino community in the U.S., considering his “very short visit,” Solano said.
