Philippine exports continue to demonstrate resilience despite global headwinds, but the tariff actions from the United States pose a serious threat to the country’s trade performance, Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (PhilExport) president Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. said Tuesday.
Ortiz-Luis told the group’s 3rd General Membership Meeting (GMM) that merchandise exports rebounded strongly by 26.9 percent year-on-year in June 2025 to $7.06 billion, led by mineral goods, machinery and transport equipment, gold and coconut oil.
“While the export industry has shown remarkable growth, we are also mindful of the challenges ahead, particularly from tariff actions by the US that cloud the global trade outlook,” he said.
Ortiz-Luis cited a study by the University of the Philippines Center for Integrated and Development Studies (UP CIDS) that warned the Philippines could lose as much as $2.2 billion in export revenues in the latter half of 2025 due to new US tariffs.
Labor-intensive exports, including garments, leather goods, wearables, furniture and corporate-based products, are most at risk, he said.
Ortiz-Luis welcomed the Department of Trade and Industry’s initiatives to cushion the impact on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through loans, market access activities and ongoing negotiations for at least 13 free trade agreements (FTAs) by 2028.
These include deals with the Middle East, the UK, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Canada and entry into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
He also underscored the importance of the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) 2023–2028, which serves as the government’s blueprint to scale up industry clusters, strengthen competitiveness, and address export bottlenecks.
Ortiz-Luis said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s strong backing in his 2025 State of the Nation Address signaled a clear commitment to strengthen exports, particularly in high-value sectors such as electronics, automotive, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, textiles and agriculture.
“Does a silver bullet to exports exist? Yes, but it is forged, not found. It is built on world-class products, smart data, digital tools, efficient trade systems, and, most importantly, partnership and collaboration,” he said.
Despite the risks ahead, he said PhilExport remains committed to helping the industry navigate challenges and ensure the Philippines’ place as a globally competitive export hub.
