Washington: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday departed for Washington on a three-day official visit, aiming to push for a bilateral trade agreement and discuss defense collaboration with US President Donald Trump. Marcos' visit will be his fifth to the US, and will focus on negotiating the 20% tariff imposed on Philippine exports to the US, which is set to take effect in August.

According to Anadolu Agency, Marcos stated before departing from the Philippines that this visit is his first to Washington following the inauguration of President Trump earlier this year. He emphasized that the meeting with Trump is crucial for advancing national interests and strengthening the alliance between the two countries.

During the visit, Marcos plans to reaffirm the commitment to fostering long-standing alliances, which serve as an instrument of peace and a catalyst for development in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. He highlighted that his top priority is to push for greater economic engagement, particularly through trade and investment between the Philippines and the United States.

Marcos intends to communicate to Trump and his Cabinet that the Philippines is ready to discuss a bilateral trade agreement aimed at fostering strong, mutually beneficial, and future-oriented partnerships. The Philippines, a traditional ally of the US, maintains strong economic and military ties with the country. Their security partnership is founded on the 1951 US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.