Discussions between the two leaders are expected to include trade, tariffs, and regional security.
WASHINGTON—Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday for bilateral talks focused on security and trade.
Before departing for the Philippines on Sunday, Marcos—the first Association of Southeast Asian Nations leader to visit Trump since he returned to the White House in January—said the meeting builds on progress made in the first six months of Trump’s second administration.
“My visit to Washington, D.C., and most importantly, my meeting with President Trump, is essential to continuing to advance our national interests and strengthening our alliance,” Marcos said in a statement.
“During this visit, 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.”
Marcos, who last visited the White House in 2023 to meet with President Joe Biden, listed increased trade and investment as priorities for the Philippines.
“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.
He also plans to meet with business leaders committed to investing in his country, according to a statement from his office.
With trade between the two countries totaling about $23.5 billion in 2024, the United States has a trade deficit of about $5 billion with the Philippines, following a nearly 22 percent increase from the previous year, according to data from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
Topics of interest for the United States are expected to include regional security and economic negotiations, with 20 percent tariffs on products from Southeast Asian set to take effect on Aug. 1.
