Philippines eyes more US imports to lower US tariff

Neil Jerome Morales, Bloomberg News on Apr 27, 2025

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The Philippines will offer to purchase more farm products from the U.S. as it pushes to reduce a 17% tariff rate imposed on the Southeast Asian nation’s goods, according to Trade Secretary Cristina Roque.

Roque said she’s scheduled to meet with U.S. commerce and trade officials during an April 29 to May 2 trip to the U.S. with Frederick Go, special assistant to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for investment and economic affairs.

“We will try to import more like soybeans, frozen meat, agriculture, (in) higher volume,” Roque told reporters on Friday. Any planned increase in U.S. purchases will have to be balanced with the demand and supply situation in the local agriculture sector, she added.

The U.S. levy on Philippine goods is much lower compared with its Asian neighbors including Vietnam and Thailand. While the Philippines is less dependent on global trade than many peers, the nation’s officials, like their regional counterparts, are seeking talks with the Trump administration to lower them during the ongoing 90-day pause.

The delegation’s goal is to continue the country’s strong relationship with the U.S., get what’s best for the Philippines and bring down tariffs, Roque said. “Once our tariff is lower than our neighboring countries, then that gives us an edge in terms of business to the U.S. in terms of pricing.”

Manila’s trade chief earlier said the government is considering reducing tariffs on U.S. products in response to President Donald Trump’s sweeping levies.

The Philippines was planning to capitalize on the tariffs that are lower than its Asian neighbors and aims to ship more semiconductors, coconut and mango products to the U.S. Finance Secretary Ralph Recto has said the Philippines could expand its share of the U.S. market for garment exports, with major competitors like China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Mexico, and India facing higher levies.