THE United States will impose a 17-percent tariff on Philippine exports beginning April 9, a move that Malacañang downplayed as having only a minimal impact on the country’s economy.
In a press briefing Thursday, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the tariff imposed on the country is way lower compared to other Southeast Asian nations.
“The US government’s decision is part of its economic policies, and we respect that. But at 17 percent, the Philippines has the second-lowest rate among affected countries, so this is not as bad as it may seem,” Castro said, citing the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) assessment.
The US has imposed steeper tariffs on other regional exporters, including Cambodia (49 percent), Vietnam (46 percent), Myanmar (45 percent), Thailand (36 percent), Indonesia (32 percent), and Malaysia (24 percent). Only Singapore will face a lower, baseline tariff of 10 percent.
