15 July 2025 – FARMERS AND WORKERS GROUPS URGE PBBM TO RESIST TRUMP’S BULLYING TACTICS A coalition of farmers and workers’ groups called on President Marcos, Jr. to take a firm stand against what it called “the unfriendly and bullying tactics of the United States – a supposedly close friend and ally – under President Trump”.

PRESS RELEASE
July 15, 2025

FARMERS AND WORKERS GROUPS URGE PBBM TO RESIST TRUMP’S BULLYING TACTICS

A coalition of farmers and workers’ groups called on President Marcos, Jr. to take a firm stand against what it called “the unfriendly and bullying tactics of the United States – a supposedly close friend and ally – under President Trump”.

According to the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) and the National Trade Union Center of the Philippines (NTUC PHL), Trump’s unilateral imposition of 20% on Philippine exports “renders hollow the recent assurances of top US officials such as State Secretary Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Rubio that the US maintains an ironclad commitment to its defense, security and economic alliance and partnership with the Philippines”.

“By impeding our agricultural and industrial exports, Trump’s tariffs will curtail jobs and incomes for millions of Filipinos and weaken and country’s economic base. This will – in turn – undermine our national security”, said Leonardo Q. Montemayor, FFF Chairman, and Milagros C. Ogalinda, NTUC PHL President. The union officials said that the 20% tariffs, while lower than other Asian countries, will have substantial effects on Philippine exports and US import costs and prices.

In 2024, Philippine exports to the US totaled $12.12 billion, heavily dominated by electronic products valued at about US$6.40 billion and including integrated circuits, and related components. Other major exports are machinery, fats/oils, leather goods, and agricultural products. Although the Philippines had an over-all trade surplus of $4.9 billion over the US, the latter enjoyed a $1.95 billion advantage in agricultural trade.

“The 20% US tariff, effective August 1, 2025, will raise costs substantially for US importers, eroding the relative competitiveness of Philippine exports, decreasing demand, and leading to job losses in US-oriented Philippine sectors – primarily electronics, fats and oils, leather apparel, furniture, and agriculture. This is a cause for concern, given geopolitical challenges, global economic slowdown and uncertainties, disruptions in international supply chains and shipping, and probable retaliatory measures from other countries.,” Montemayor and Ogalinda declared.