Industry urged to upgrade quality during tariff pause

PRODUCERS have been urged to raise the quality and competitiveness of their products after  US President Donald J. Trump announced a 90-day pause before his reciprocal tariffs take effect, a Palace spokesperson said.

“This presents a better opportunity for our local businesses to improve their products and services for export,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Clarissa A. Castro said at a briefing.

“Negotiations are ongoing, especially with ASEAN countries, for a joint diplomatic outreach to harmonize messaging… This emphasizes diplomatic engagement rather than retaliation,” Ms. Castro said.

Mr. Trump announced a 90-day pause on the tariffs initially announced on April 2, During the pause, all trading partners will be charged a 10% tariff, pending negotiations with delegations sent to Washington..

The US assigned Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries some of the highest tariffs. Cambodia is facing a 49% tariff, followed by Laos (48%), Vietnam (46%), Myanmar (44%), Thailand (36%), Indonesia (32%), Malaysia (24%), and Brunei (24%).

The Philippines faces a 17% tariff, second in the region only to Singapore’s baseline rate of 10%.

In a joint statement, ASEAN economic ministers expressed concern over the imposition of unilateral tariffs by the US but agreed not to impose retaliatory measures.

Last year, the US was ASEAN’s largest source of foreign direct investment and second-largest trading partner.

Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque, who met with the ASEAN economic ministers, said cited the need for a comprehensive impact assessment of the US tariffs on the region.

Last year, the Philippines imported $8.17 billion worth of commodities from the US, and exported $12.14 billion, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported. — John Victor D. Ordoñez