A Chinese policy expert has advised the Philippines to maintain strong trade relations with both the United States and China, its two largest trading partners.
“It will be suicidal if you want to be friends with one and an enemy with the other,” said Victor Gao, vice president of the Center for China and Globalization (CCG).
“Being friends with both China and the United States probably will be the best strategy for the Philippines,” he said.
Gao made the comments on Wednesday at the 14th Manila Forum for Philippines-China Relations, held at Shangri-La The Fort. The event was co-organized and co-sponsored by the Association for Philippines-China Understanding (APCU).
Gao urged the Philippines to champion free trade, warning that protectionism could destabilize the global economy. He described Washington’s reciprocal tariff regime as “the wrong war” and said the tariffs are “misguided and harmful,” creating unnecessary strain and weakening confidence in the global trading system.
The Philippines is subject to a 19-percent tariff imposed by the US, effective Aug. 7, 2025. The rate is slightly lower than the 20 percent originally threatened, but higher than the 17 percent the US announced in April.
A US appeals court recently ruled that most elements of the tariff regime were unconstitutional. The Trump administration has since elevated the case to the Supreme Court, which is scheduled to review it in October.
Gao said this development highlights the fragility of US trade policy and its consequences for global markets. He called on ASEAN economies, including the Philippines, to defend open markets.
“The Philippines earns a lot of income through free trade in services,” he said.
“We are all in the same boat. We need to rise up and defend free trade, in both goods and services,” said Go.
