Trump sets 17% tariff on Philippine goods coming to America
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine exports to America will be slapped with 17 percent tariff starting April 9 as part of the sweeping “Liberation Day” tariff policy announced by United States President Donald Trump.
A table posted by Mr. Trump on Truth Social announced the 17-percent tariff, which is still lower than the 34 percent imposition on goods coming to the country from America.
An annex to a Trump statement issued by the White House, however, indicated a slightly higher tariff rate of 18 percent on the Philippines.
Lower than most of Southeast Asia
Higher tariffs are likewise imposed on most of key Southeast Asian neighbors: Vietnam at 46 percent, Thailand at 36 percent, Indonesia at 32 percent and Malaysia at 24 percent and Cambodia at 49 percent.
Only Singapore will be slapped with just 10-percent tariff — the baseline figure cited by Mr. Trump, who cited an urgent need to “strengthen the international economic position of the United States and protect American workers.”
Trump announced “individualized” reciprocal higher tariff on countries with which the US has the largest trade deficits. All other countries will be subjected to the original 10-percent tariff baseline effective April 5.
“Large and persistent annual U.S. goods trade deficits have led to the hollowing out of our manufacturing base; resulted in a lack of incentive to increase advanced domestic manufacturing capacity; undermined critical supply chains; and rendered our defense-industrial base dependent on foreign adversaries,” Trump said.
Trade deficit
Mr. Trump invoked his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 to “address the national emergency posed by the large and persistent trade deficit.”
Based on data from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), the US incurred a merchandise trade deficit with the Philippines amounting to $4.9 billion in 2024, up by 21.8 percent from the previous year.
Bilateral trade between the two countries totaled $23.5 billion in 2024. US goods exported to the Philippines amounted to $9.3 billion, up 0.4 percent. On the other hand, US imports from Philippines totaled $14.2 billion in 2024, up 6.9 percent.
According to the USTR, which cited the latest available data as of 2022, the Philippines’ average Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) applied tariff rate was 6.1 percent. The Philippines’ average MFN applied tariff rate was 9.8 percent for agricultural products and 5.5 percent for non-agricultural products in 2022.
