Surviving the US tariff moves

“Why is America doing this? Has America given up its role as the Godfather of the Free World?”

- DR. JUN YNARES

These are the questions we have been hearing lately, following the move by the United States government to impose a_19 percent tariff on most Philippine goods exported to its country, even as our government agrees to open up our local market to imported, high-value goods coming from that country.

The immediate reaction to the move was surprise and hints of resentment. The US President made the announcement while President Bongbong Marcos Jr. was visiting his country, putting our Chief Executive in an awkward position. His US counterpart called our President a “tough negotiator,” apparently crediting President BBM’s negotiating ability for the one-percent decrease in the tariff being imposed on our exports — down from the originally announced 20 percent.

The initial sentiment was that the Philippines was not treated as a favored friend. There were suggestions that the US seems to have forgotten the historic ties between our two nations. Some said the US President treated us the same way he did countries with no emotional ties to his nation. They wondered why the US is “punishing” the Philippines with such a stiff tariff imposition.