The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said that they don't expect the original imposed tariff of 17 percent by the United States to the Philippines to further increase.

"We're not expecting it to increase further and we hope for it (tariff) to be lowered in the coming months or even weeks", Assistant Trade Secretary Alma Argayoso said at the Kapihan sa Manila Prince Hotel on Wednesday.

United States President Donald Trump imposed a 17 percent reciprocal tariff to the Philippines but he said this will take effect on July 2. This reverted the tariff rates to the original rates of 10 percent.

Argayoso said that in the coming weeks Trade Secretary Cristina Roque and Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs of the Philippines Frederick Go will head to the US to continue the dialogue with the US government to lower the tariff in the Philippines.

"So what we are asking for is to have a free trade agreement with the US... and ideally it would be for all goods and for the whole country", Argayoso added.

She added that if the tariff increases it will affect industries such as the agriculture sector, a lot of employees will lose their job, and the exports will not be competitive.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), electronics continued to be the country’s top export in February with total earnings of $3.52 billion or 56.3 percent of the country’s total exports during the period.

This was followed by other manufactured goods with an export value of $412.60 million (6.6 percent), and machinery and transport equipment with $254.62 million (4.1 percent)". Marie Manalili/DMS