The Philippine delegation to Washington D.C. pushed for the interests of local industries following the US government’s move to impose a 17-percent reciprocal tariff on Philippine exports, the second lowest in Southeast Asia.
The officials expressed confidence on stronger bilateral trade following the high-level meeting with the US Trade Representative that concluded on a constructive note.
Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go, who headed the Philippine delegation, said the discussions “went very well,” stressing that the interests of local industries remained a top priority.
“We made sure to put the welfare of Philippine local industries at the center of our negotiations. We are hopeful that these discussions mark the beginning of a process toward arrangements from both sides that will not only strengthen US-Philippines trade ties but also help diversify our country’s export markets,” Go said.
“Our goal for this meeting is a partnership that benefits both sides and supports the growth of our industries at home,” Go said.
Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque cited the efforts to advance Philippine interests despite competing priorities among nations facing similar challenges.
“We were able to clearly convey to the USTR our local industries’ asks and concerns, and we are hopeful this will yield our desired results,” she said.
The Philippine delegation also included Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez.
The team outlined both the opportunities and challenges posed by the new tariff structure on key export products.