Sen. Juan Miguel ‘Migz’ Zubiri — Photo from Senator Migz Zubiri/Facebook
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government should appeal for better tariff arrangements with the United States and use the “treaty ally” card to seal such a deal, according to Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri.
Zubiri, in an online interview on Friday, expressed dismay over the trade deal between Manila and Washington, asking the administration to ask for “better arrangements” with its ally.
“We’re hoping that the administration — as we said yesterday — we’re urging the administration to use that card, that we are treaty allies. We have to get better arrangements or at least better treatment from a fellow treaty ally,” said Zubiri.
“As we said yesterday, if America goes to war, the Philippines will make sacrifices, because under the Mutual Defense Treaty, when they go to war, we go to war. We are included and we will help them,” he added.
US President Donald Trump on July 9 released an updated tariff rate for the Philippines, Brunei, Algeria, Libya, Iraq and Moldova, detailing tariff rates ranging from 20 percent to 30 percent that would take effect on August 1.
READ: Unlike most peers, Philippines seen to benefit from US tariff concessions
For the Philippines, the tariff rate on Philippine products exported to the US was set at 20 percent, which is notably higher than the 17 percent rate announced by Trump in April.
But after a meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Trump agreed to reduce tariffs on the Philippines, only by one percentage point from 20 percent to 19 percent.
Zubiri pointed out that the Philippines “did not get any additional concession” for it being a treaty ally to the US.
“So what we’re asking from the government now is that they should play that card — that we are mutual defense treaty allies — and get us a better deal. Because our manufacturing sector is suffering, and our exports to the US are at a disadvantage,” said Zubiri.
Despite the 19 percent tariff imposed by the US on exported goods from Manila, the Philippines is still going “open market with the US” imposing “zero tariffs.” /das
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.
