Trade Secretary Cristina Roque and Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go will leave for the United States on Tuesday to discuss the possible lowering of the 17 percent reciprocal tariff imposed by President Donald Trump.
While in the US, Roque and Go will meet with the US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to discuss a possible Philippine-US Free Trade Agreement.
In an interview with reporters Monday, Roque said they were willing to offer greater market access for key US goods to lower reciprocal tariff rates.
The reciprocal tariff from the US is at 10 percent. Trump imposed a 90-day suspension in the implementation of its additional reciprocal tariff over 10 percent for all countries except China.
Palace Press Officer and Undersecretary Claire Castro said they are banking on the country's long history of alliance with the US.
"Let's just look again at what will be good for the Philippines and of course, in our relationship with the US. That is what we will hope for," she said. DMS