Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leaves for US for trade talks

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday departed for Washington on a three-day official visit, aiming to push for a bilateral trade agreement and discuss defense collaboration with US President Donald Trump.

Marcos' visit will be his fifth to the US, and will focus on negotiating the 20% tariff imposed on Philippine exports to the US, which is set to take effect in August.

“It is my first visit to Washington following the inauguration of President Trump earlier this year,” Marcos said before departing from the Philippines according to a statement from the Presidential Communications office.

Marcos said the visit and his upcoming meeting with Trump “is essential to continuing to advance our national interests and strengthening our alliance.”

“During this visit, we will reaffirm our commitment to fostering our long-standing alliances as an instrument of peace and a catalyst of development in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world,” he said.

“My top priority for this visit is to push for greater economic engagement, particularly through trade and investment between the Philippines and the United States,” he added.

Marcos said he plans to communicate to Trump and his Cabinet that the Philippines is prepared to discuss a bilateral trade agreement aimed at fostering “strong, mutually beneficial and future-oriented” partnerships.

The Philippines is a traditional ally of the US, and both countries enjoy strong economic and military ties. Their security partnership is based on the 1951 US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.