'Zero tariff' confusion plagues US-PH deal

The Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) has called on the government to fully disclose the details of its recent tariff negotiations with the United States (US) due to conflicting statements and widespread speculation.

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In a statement on Friday, July 25, Raul Montemayor, FFF national manager, said there have been divergent accounts of the agreement reached between Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and US President Donald Trump during their meeting on July 22, 2025.

Trump initially announced on social media that the Philippines would go “OPEN MARKET with the United States, and ZERO Tariffs. The Philippines will pay a 19 percent Tariff.”

However, President Marcos later clarified in a press briefing that the zero-tariff rate would apply only to select US imports like automobiles, pharmaceuticals, soya, and wheat.