Security, trade ties top Marcos-Trump talks

President Marcos has arrived in Washington, DC, to begin a three-day official visit centered on strengthening the Philippines' strategic alliance with the United States and pressing for progress on trade, investment, and security cooperation.

- By ARGYLL CYRUS GEDUCOS and RAYMUND ANTONIO

"My visit to Washington, DC, and most importantly, my meeting with President Trump, is essential to continuing to advance our national interests and strengthening our alliance," he had earlier said in his departure remarks at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

"We will reaffirm our commitment to fostering our long-standing alliances as an instrument of peace and a catalyst of development in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world," he added.

President Marcos said he will push for negotiations on a bilateral trade arrangement that can soften the impact of the tariff hike and lay the groundwork for long-term market access.

"I intend to convey to President Trump and his Cabinet officials that the Philippines is ready to negotiate a bilateral trade deal that will ensure strong, mutually beneficial, and future-oriented collaborations that only the United States and the Philippines will be able to take advantage of," he said. "We will see how much progress we can make when it comes to the negotiations with the United States, concerning the changes that we would like to institute, so as to be able to alleviate the effects of a very severe tariff schedule." A Philippine trade delegation led by Trade Secretary Cristina Roque and key negotiators arrived ahead of the President to continue technical talks with US counterparts.

Reaffirming defense ties Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez said the meeting between President Marcos and President Trump will reaffirm the longstanding allies' defense ties, building on the decades-old Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT),.

In a press conference on Sunday, July 20 (US time), Romualdez shared that the planned discussions between the two leaders on their July 22 meeting will center on the agreements under the MDT and continued cooperation with the United States and other like-minded nations on the West Philippine Sea issue.