A coalition of farmers and labor groups has called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to take a firm stand against what they describe as the “unfriendly and bullying tactics” of the United States under President Donald Trump.
In a joint statement, the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) and the National Trade Union Center of the Philippines (NTUC PHL) condemned the Trump administration’s unilateral imposition of a 20 percent tariff on Philippine exports, calling it a contradiction to recent assurances by US officials of their alliance with the Philippines.
“Trump’s tariffs will restrict our agricultural and industrial exports, threaten millions of jobs and livelihoods, and weaken our economic base, ultimately undermining national security,” said FFF chairman Leonardo Q. Montemayor and NTUC PHL president Milagros C. Ogalinda.
They noted that while the 20 percent rate is lower than tariffs imposed on other Asian countries, the impact on Philippine exports and US import costs will still be substantial. In 2024, the Philippines exported $12.12 billion worth of goods to the US, including $6.4 billion in electronics.
The new tariff, set to take effect on August 1, 2025, is expected to raise import costs for US buyers and cause job losses in affected sectors such as electronics, agriculture, and manufacturing. “This is a cause for concern, given geopolitical challenges, economic slowdowns, and possible retaliatory measures from other countries,” the groups said.
