MANILA (July 20) – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. departed for Washington D.C. on Sunday, July 20, for a three-day official visit aimed at securing a bilateral trade deal and strengthening defense cooperation with the United States.
“This is the first visit by an ASEAN head of state under the current U.S. administration,” Marcos said in his departure speech at Villamor Air Base. “My meeting with President Trump is crucial to advancing our national interest and reinforcing our alliance.”
Key discussions will include the proposed 20% U.S. tariff on Philippine exports, which Marcos said his team will seek to ease through negotiations. He emphasized the Philippines’ readiness to pursue a trade agreement that supports strong, mutually beneficial economic ties.
Members of the Philippine defense and economic teams are already in the U.S. to prepare for high-level talks. Marcos is also expected to meet American business leaders to promote investment opportunities in the Philippines.
The President reaffirmed the country’s alliance with the U.S., calling it “an instrument of peace and development in the Asia-Pacific and beyond.”
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, and Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III will serve as caretakers during his absence.
