Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr will meet US President Donald Trump in Washington from July 20 to 22, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters at the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers in Kuala Lumpur Friday.
"(We) look forward to hosting the President of the Philippines in Washington in a few days," Rubio told reporters Thursday following his meeting with his Philippine and Japanese counterparts in Kuala Lumpur.
It will be an official working visit for Marcos.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro told a press briefing in Malacanang that she confirmed that Marcos will go to the US on July 20-22.
''But for the details of the meeting, the Department of Foreign Affairs will furnish this,''
said Castro.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro told ANC that ''the issue of tariffs is an issue that will be discussed, among others. It is very important to us. We have already sent negotiators to discuss this issue, I think, just a month ago.''
The visit comes after the Philippines will send a trade delegation to the US next week to continue negotiations with the Trump administration which increased its tariff to the Philippines from the earlier proposed rate of 17 percent to 20 percent. The Philippines is seeking a lower tariff rate. DMS