President Donald Trump greeting Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, upon arrival at the White House on July 22, 2025. - AP
MANILA (SCMP): A new trade deal hailed by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr as a “significant achievement” has been slammed by critics at home as the “worst insult” after Manila secured only a one percentage point tariff cut from Washington while granting American goods duty-free access.
Marcos, the first South-East Asian leader to be hosted by President Donald Trump since his return to the White House, visited the US capital from Sunday to Tuesday for a series of talks centred on trade and security.
