Senator Rodante Marcoleta has raised alarm over what he called the Philippines’ “disadvantageous position” in its economic and security relations with the United States, following a recent meeting with visiting U.S. Senator Rick Scott.
📷: Senator Rodante Marcoleta, Facebook
In a televised interview on Saturday, Marcoleta disclosed that he directly pressed Scott—an influential Republican and ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump—on the meager concessions given to Manila under Trump’s reciprocal tariff scheme.
“Sa reciprocal tariffs, parang nadehado kami,” said Marcoleta, chair of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship.
He explained that while the Philippines received only a 1-percent tariff discount, other ASEAN neighbors enjoyed major reductions. Indonesia dropped from 32 percent to 19 percent, while Vietnam saw a drastic cut from 46 percent to 20 percent.
“Kasi kahit na binigyan nyo kami ng discount, isang percentage point lang ang ibinigay nyo sa amin,” he emphasized.
Marcoleta also hit the Philippines’ decades-old security pact with Washington.
“Sabi ko, security allies kami pero ang pinirmahan nating Mutual Defense Treaty hanggang ngayon, walang naging advantage sa amin yun,” he said.
The senator further blasted the U.S. policy of applying uniform tariff cuts across all nations, saying it ignores the Philippines’ distinct economic vulnerabilities—particularly its semiconductor export sector, which continues to bear the brunt of the unequal arrangement.