Philippines urged to ‘double down’ in talks over 20% tariff with Trump
Trump says the tariff on Philippine exports to the US is necessary to address what he calls Washington’s ‘unsustainable’ trade deficit
Trump announced on Wednesday that the tariff on Philippine exports to the US would be 20 per cent, above the 17 per cent that he had previously threatened to impose.
He said Washington’s trade partners were engaging in unfair trade practices, leading to “unsustainable” deficits that he claimed were threatening US national security. Washington has said that these trade partners are enjoying lopsided access to the US while growing their economic ties with China.
The Philippines was among seven nations targeted in the latest round of tariff notices issued by Washington on Wednesday, alongside Algeria, Brunei, Iraq, Libya, Moldova and Sri Lanka.
“Our relationship has, unfortunately, been far from reciprocal,” Trump wrote in a letter addressed to the Philippine government.
“Tariffs are necessary to correct the many years of the Philippines’ tariff and non-tariff policies and trade barriers, causing these unsustainable trade deficits against the United States.”
He added: “This deficit is a major threat to our economy, and indeed, our national security!”