The business sector remains optimistic that the United States will further ease tariffs on Philippine exports amid the strong and enduring alliance between the two countries.
Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) president Enunina Mangio said in an interview on the sidelines of the Metro Manila Business Conference 2025 that the business community remains optimistic that ongoing negotiations will lead to reduced US tariff rates for Philippine goods.
“For me, it’s not final yet. Tariff provisions keep changing, but I believe they will go down. We’ve already given so much to the US government. Now it’s time they offer us the same level of consideration,” she said.
She said that while the Philippines is still working on a formal free trade agreement with the US, it has long acted in good faith as a strategic partner and friend, granting the US access and trade advantages across various sectors.
“We are allies. We are not enemies. Our friendship has already reached this level. Surely, that should merit preferential treatment. Let them look at us now as a future partner worthy of fair trade parity,” she said.
Mangio said other ASEAN countries like Cambodia have already secured lower tariffs, and it is only fair for the Philippines, given its close ties with Washington, to receive the same.
The group acknowledged that Philippine economic managers are actively pushing for this agenda behind the scenes.
While business sectors remain hopeful, there are areas that need urgent attention, particularly high logistics costs that continue to weigh down the country’s global competitiveness, the PCCI said.
“Our exporters are serious and committed, but we need to improve our logistics infrastructure to become more competitive. At the end of the day, the Americans are the end-users. If tariffs remain high, they’re the ones who will pay more,” Mangio said.
PCCI said it is also ramping up efforts to position the Philippines as a prime investment hub through a series of international trade missions.
Mangio said the chamber has lined up five more outbound missions this year following successful engagements in Tokyo and Osaka, where four Japanese companies expressed plans to expand in the Philippines.
Upcoming trade missions include stops in Australia, Vietnam, Qatar, Italy and South Korea—where companies have signaled interest in Philippine manufacturing and infrastructure sectors.
Mangio said the group’s global engagements are yielding strong results and fostering new partnerships.
