manilastandard.net
@ManilaStandardPH
@mnlstandardph
@manilastandard
@ManilaStandardYT
Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net . For advertisement: email: advertise@manilastandard.net •09173382170 / 85646229
Trump’s 1st new foreign aid: P3b for PH energy, econ plans By Charles Dantes and Rex Espiritu THE US Department of State on Wednesday announced at least P3 billion ($60 million) in foreign assistance funding for the Philippines
to support energy, maritime, and economic growth programs. The announcement came after the meeting between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, D.C.
Next page
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 158 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2025 •
US cuts tariff on PH to 19% Marcos, Trump one step closer to finishing ‘big’ trade deal By Charles Dantes, Ram Superable, Maricel Cruz and Othel Campos
W
ASHINGTON—US President Donald Trump agreed Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time) to reduce tariffs on the Philippines, but only by one percentage point, after what he termed a successful meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Philippines, on the other hand, will extend zero tariff to certain US exports. Welcoming Mr. Marcos to the White House, Trump called him a "very tough negotiator" and said: "We're very close to finishing a trade deal -- a big trade deal, actually." "It’s a lot of income coming in for both groups. And they’re going to get bigger under what we’re doing and what we're proposing," the US president added. In a social media post shortly afterward, Trump said that while the Philippines would open up completely to US goods, he would still impose a 19 per-
Guard man carries a baby in his arms as they evacuate a family to safety yesterday amid rising flood waters in sitio Panda, in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro. A total of 28 families, consisting of 100 people, were taken to the designated Sitio Pandan Evacuation Center by a combined local government and police team. Top inset shows staff of the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) monitoring the movement of storms that are affecting the country. Norman Cruz
Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the White House as both leaders reaffirmed the Philippines–US alliance as ‘ironclad.’ PCO
No qualms about good PH-China ties—Trump US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he has no objection to the Philippines maintaining good relations with China, pointing out that even the US enjoys a “very good relationship” with Beijing. Trump made the remark after reporters asked Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. how Manila intends to navigate its ties with longtime ally Washington and regional economic powerhouse China. “I don’t mind if he gets along with China because we’re getting along with China very well. We have a very
good relationship,” Trump said. “In fact, the magnets—which is a little complex piece of material—are coming out very well. They're sending them in record numbers. We're getting along with China very well, and I don’t mind if the President dealt with China.” President Marcos, for his part, said the Philippines does not need to “balance” its relationships with the U.S. and China, noting that the country follows an independent foreign policy. “We are essentially concerned with the defense of our territory and the exercise of our sovereign rights,” the Philippine president said. “Whether
we do this alone or not, we need to do this with our partners. And again, our strongest partner has always been the United States.” He added that the Philippines is also working to form coalitions and pursue multilateral relations with like-minded nations that adhere to in-ternational law, specifically the Unit-ed Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). “That is how we are guided,” he said. Trump said he has “great respect” for Marcos, and emphasized that the Filipino leader’s dealings with Beijing Next page
Nick Torre ready to rumble against Baste Duterte
PNP Chief Nicolas Torre (AI-generated image)
MOVE over Manny Pacquiao. The Philippines may have a new boxing hero—Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III who has just acceded to a boxing challenge by Davao City acting Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte. Win or lose, it will be a feat for the country’s top policeman, being the first fourstar general to get into the ring against his most vocal critic and detractor. In a talk with reporters at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Torre said the timing was right for Duterte’s challenge, saying Next page
Next page
IN SAFE HANDS. A Coast
THUMBS UP. US President Donald Trump gives a thumbs up sign at the end of his meeting with President
By Rex Espiritu
cent tariff on products from the Southeast Asian country, a major exporter of high-tech items and apparel. "It was a beautiful visit, and we concluded our Trade Deal, whereby The Philippines is going OPEN MARKET with the United States, and ZERO Tariffs," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. Mr. Marcos clarified that not all US exports to the Philippines will enjoy zero tariff. “There were certain markets that they asked to be opened. One of the major areas is automobiles because we have a tariff on American automobiles. We will open that market,” he said.
40k emergency contingent ready to face Dante, Emong’s wrath (OCD) announced Wednesday. OCD Officer-in-Charge Assistant Secretary Raffy N E A R L Y Alejandro said 40,000 emer emersearch, rescue, gency personnel and retrieval are on standby (SRR) assets nationwide as have been mobimobi the Philippines lized, including braces for the NEWS / A3 15,000 troops impact of Ty Tyfrom the Armed phoons Dante Next page and Emong, the Office of Civil Defense
By Rex Espiritu
Ship loaded with fuel sinks off Batangas
Marcos to focus on people’s needs in SONA Acting Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte (AI-generated image)
PRESIDENT Marcos said his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28 is about 80 percent complete and will focus on ongoing social and economic programs amid a changing national landscape.
Speaking to the Philippine media delegation in Washington D.C. on Wednesday (Manila time), Marcos explained that this year’s SONA will differ from previous addresses because Next page