Trump and Marcos to Tackle Tariffs, China in Crucial White House Talks

President Donald Trump will host Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House today, marking the first meeting with a Southeast Asian leader in Trump’s second term. The talks aim to strengthen US-Philippines ties amid rising tensions with China in the South China Sea and looming US tariffs on Filipino goods.

Marcos, fresh from meetings with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday, emphasized the enduring US-Philippines alliance, a cornerstone for regional security. The leaders will address a potential 20% tariff on Philippine imports, set to take effect August 1 unless a trade deal is reached. Marcos expressed readiness to negotiate a “mutually beneficial” agreement, with Finance Secretary Ralph Recto hinting at zero tariffs on select US goods to secure a deal.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt suggested a trade agreement is under consideration, stating, “Perhaps this will be a topic of discussion.” The leaders will also discuss upholding a “free, open, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific,” with the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty central to countering China’s assertiveness, particularly over the contested Scarborough Shoal.

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Hegseth reaffirmed the US commitment to the treaty, noting its coverage of armed attacks in the Pacific, including the South China Sea, where Chinese coast guard actions have escalated tensions with the Philippines, Vietnam, and others. Marcos thanked the US for supporting Philippine military modernization and joint exercises, vital amid regional threats.

The US continues engaging Beijing to manage differences, as seen in recent talks between Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at an ASEAN forum in Malaysia.

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