Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump this week, aiming to secure a more favorable trade deal as Manila approaches a critical deadline on 1 August.
Marcos will be the first Southeast Asian leader to meet Trump in his second term, following recent trade deals with regional partners Vietnam and Indonesia, where Trump pushed for tough terms despite the strategic importance of these alliances.
Marcos has expressed hopes that the discussions will cover both security and trade, particularly in light of the U.S.'s imposition of tariffs on Philippine imports. The Philippines faces a $5 billion trade deficit with the U.S., and Trump has increased the tariff threat from 17% to 20%. Despite similar challenges faced by other U.S. allies in Asia, experts believe Marcos may secure a better deal than Vietnam and Indonesia, with a possible agreement involving lower tariffs.
Marcos, who arrived in Washington over the weekend, has already met with key U.S. officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He is set to meet Trump at the White House, where he will also engage with U.S. business leaders invested in the Philippines. The visit is expected to focus on strengthening economic ties and defense cooperation, with Manila seeking a more advantageous trade deal and continued support amid rising tensions in the South China Sea and Taiwan.
Philippine officials aim to seal a mutually beneficial trade agreement, reinforcing their defense relationship with the U.S., as Marcos looks to position the Philippines as a more economically robust ally in the Indo-Pacific.
U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to make the Strait of Hormuz part of U.S. territory have been mocked by Iran's Deputy Foreign Ministe...
At least 20 people have been killed after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off eastern Indonesia early on Saturday, ...
The United Nations has urged sustained international engagement with Afghanistan five years into Taliban rule, warning that restrictions on women a...
Flights at Catania airport in Sicily will remain suspended until early Friday as ash from Mount Etna continues to disrupt air travel, following hundreds of cancellations and diversions over the past week.
Hundreds of flights have been cancelled or rerouted at Catania Airport over the past week as ash from Mount Etna’s ongoing eruption continues to disrupt air travel in Sicily.
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz remains under its control, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of “total control” over the strategic waterway and insisting it will not reopen until Washington fulfils its commitments under an interim deal.
The U.S. will impose unprecedented measures on Iran in order to economically isolate the country, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said.
One person has been killed and six others injured after an explosion at a petroleum storage facility at the Port of Rotterdam, prompting an investigation into the cause.
At least 20 people have been killed after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off eastern Indonesia early on Saturday, triggering small tsunami waves and dozens of aftershocks, officials say.
Jason Arday, the former University of Cambridge professor at the centre of a plagiarism row, has been found dead. He was appointed Cambridge's youngest ever Black professor in 2023, but quit on 5 August, after being accused of lifting passages from his PhD from the work of other academics.
Wildfires across England and Wales have reached their highest level on record, according to the National Fire Chiefs Council, as firefighters struggle to contain outbreaks following a spell of extreme heat.
A federal court has allowed the Trump administration to move forward with ending temporary immigration protections for Somali nationals living in the United States, a decision that could leave more than 1,000 people vulnerable to deportation.
Iran and Afghanistan are seeking closer cooperation in agriculture, livestock and irrigation during a three-day Iranian ministerial visit to Kabul, as both sides look to strengthen trade and rural economies.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment