A high-level economic delegation from the Philippines had “productive and positive” talks with United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington DC over the weekend, the Philippine embassy in the US said.
The meeting came as the Philippines sought to negotiate the paused 17 percent reciprocal tariff imposed on the country by US President Donald Trump.
Before the meeting, Trade Secretary Cristina Aldeguer-Roque said the government aims to bring down the tariff rate on Philippine goods to “zero tariff.”
She, however, declined to give an update on the meeting, saying an official statement will be released “very soon.”
“Both countries agreed to undertake concrete steps in recognition of the complementary nature of our economies and the strategic value of our alliance,” the Philippine Embassy said in a brief statement following the meeting
Aside from Roque, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go also led the delegation.
Both sides expressed optimism about the future of the Philippine-US trade and investment relations, especially in the context of “economic security and fair, balanced, and reciprocal trade,” the embassy said.
The embassy said both sides welcomed the “positive outcome of the discussions” and underscored the importance of an “economically and strategically strong partnership” between the two states.
Trump announced a 90-day pause on the higher reciprocal tariffs the US imposed on most countries on April 9, but the blanket 10 percent duty on all its trading partners remains. With Othel Campos