Critics slam Marcos-Trump trade deal as one-sided

By Tracy Cabrera

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has announced what he calls a “significant achievement” — a new trade agreement with United States President Donald Trump — but the deal is already facing fierce criticism back home for being heavily lopsided.

Following an earlier trade pact with Indonesia, the Marcos-Trump deal reportedly imposes a 19% tariff on goods exported to the US, to be shouldered by American businesses, while US goods shipped to the Philippines will enter tariff-free. No formal document has been signed or released, and details remain scarce.

“It was a beautiful visit, and we concluded our Trade Deal,” Trump declared, despite the absence of any official signing. The Philippines becomes the fifth country to strike a trade deal with the US in just three months, as nations scramble to meet Trump’s August 1 tariff deadline.

Marcos is also the first Southeast Asian leader to meet Trump during the American leader’s second term, marking what Malacañang hailed as a diplomatic breakthrough. However, critics see things differently.

Lawmakers immediately raised concerns over the unbalanced terms. “Nineteen percent versus zero percent is definitely not the most fair deal between decades-old friends or allies,” one senator lamented. Another lawmaker called the agreement “the worst insult a host can throw at his guest.”

While Trump insists the new deal aligns with his push for “quality over quantity,” analysts point out that his administration has recently shifted to more aggressive trade measures. A sweeping 50% tariff on copper imports and steep hikes on other foreign goods are set to take effect next week unless new agreements are forged.

Despite the uncertainty and lack of specifics, Marcos Jr. is standing by the deal, even as critics urge greater transparency and a reassessment of the country’s trade strategy with long-time partners like the United States.