Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s adoption of President Donald Trump’s zero tariff on US goods in exchange for a 1% tariff reduction on Philippine goods to the US is “the worst trade deal ever,” progressive groups said.
After Trump’s announcement of the agreement today, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said the deal highlights the grossly unequal master and puppet relations between the two countries.
“The Philippine government must fully disclose the terms of this grossly lopsided ‘deal’ which is really more of an imposition rather than the outcome of any negotiations,” Bayan president Renato Reyes Jr. said.
“Did the Philippine president sell out our economy in exchange for something? For the promise of US military aid perhaps?” Reyes asked.
Marcos Jr. wrapped up his official three-day visit to the US on Tuesday (Washington time) with a meeting with Trump and a press conference with White House correspondents.
Trump in a post described Marcos’ trip as a “beautiful visit” and called his Philippine counterpart a “very good, and tough, negotiator” despite Marcos Jr. agreeing to drop all tariffs on US goods entering the Philippines.
“[W]e concluded our Trade Deal, whereby The Philippines is going OPEN MARKET with the United States, and ZERO Tariffs. The Philippines will pay a 19% Tariff. In addition, we will work together Militarily,” Trump posted.
The trade deal Marcos is coming home with drew questions from progressive groups however who said Marcos made national interest and sovereignty “become that cheap.”
“What did Marcos get for the Philippines to allow zero tariffs on US goods, a move that is detrimental to the Philippine economy and its local producers?” Reyes asked.
“If the ‘iron-clad’ alliance comes with selling out the PH economy in exchange for ‘military aid,’ then that’s not really an ‘alliance’ and that’s not realy ‘aid.’ That’s neocolonialism,” he added.
ACT Teachers Representative Antonio Tinio in a separate statement also denounced the deal he said grants Washington sweeping zero-tariff access to the Philippine market.
Tinio said Marcos has agreed to make the Philippines a no-tariff dumping ground for US automobiles, soy, wheat and pharmaceutical giants.
“This is not diplomacy. This visit has turned out to be a disastrous humiliation ritual where Marcos Jr. surrenders markets and sovereignty while Trump gets to crow about ‘winning,’” Tinio said.
The lawmaker warned that the deal spells the further destruction of domestic industries with Filipino manufacturers in danger of being forced out of the US market, leading to job losses and economic dislocation.
Meanwhile, Filipino-American activists hounded Marcos Jr. throughout his visit in the US, denouncing military proposal such as the US ammunition depot in Subic Bay.
“Such projects only turn the Philippines into the U.S.’ war factory and missile launching pad, and make us a sitting target for hot wars between global superpowers,” commented Tabs Elorde from Malaya Movement USA.
The activists held rallies at the Blair House in time for Marcos Jr.’s meeting with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and visit to the World War II Memorial on Monday.
The activists also held a protest rally at the US Department of State headquarters in Northwest DC, where Marcos Jr. met with secretary Marco Rubio.
Jom Dolor from Migrante USA denounced Marcos Jr.’s refusal to meeting with the Fil-Am community who are “getting disappeared and detained” by Trump’s anti-immigrant arrests throughout the US. # (Raymund B.Villanueva)
