MANILA — Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said the 19% tariff on Philippine exports to the United States, as recently announced by US President Donald Trump, is not yet final and could still be lowered in future negotiations.

The rate, which takes effect August 1, is lower than the 20% floated earlier this month but higher than the 17% first announced in April. Roque said Philippine and US trade officials are still finalizing the terms of the deal.

“For now, since it was already announced by President Trump, then it’s final. But of course, we’re really hoping we can bring it down,” Roque told reporters.

She added that while Philippine officials are pushing for a lower rate, they cannot make direct demands but are eyeing a potential free trade agreement with the US in the long term.

Despite the 19% tariff on Philippine exports, Roque said the Philippines will not grant blanket concessions in return, particularly to protect sensitive sectors like agriculture.

Agricultural products such as rice, corn, sugar, chicken, pork, and fish are excluded from the trade concessions to shield local producers. This decision stands in contrast to Indonesia’s approach, which secured a similar 19% rate but opened its market more widely to US goods.

“For us, we did not give the agriculture [sector] because it might hurt the farmers… It’s not commensurate to what we’re going to lose,” Roque explained.

The agreement will grant zero tariff to select US goods entering the Philippines — including medical equipment, automotive parts, and soya — that are not manufactured locally. Roque said this move could benefit Philippine industries by lowering input costs without harming domestic producers.

Federation of Philippine Industries chair Elizabeth Lee welcomed the outcome, saying the protection of local industries is “a strong step toward protecting our own industries.”

Roque emphasized that transparency, stakeholder consultations, and activating safeguard mechanisms will be crucial in minimizing any potential adverse impact of the tariff arrangement.

“At the end of the day, we all want growth, but it has to be balanced, fair, and locally anchored,” she said. (PNA)