The Philippines is planning to negotiate with Washington to lower tariffs after the United States moved to impose higher 20% duties on goods imported from Manila, its ambassador to the United States said on Thursday.

"America will, once again, build a DOMINANT Copper Industry," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social media platform.

It is a Great Honor for me to send you this letter in that it demonstrates the strength and commitment of our Trading Relationship,” Trump began each of the letters.

Sweeping tariffs set to be imposed by President Donald Trump next month may cast a pall over his top diplomat's first official trip to Asia.

President Trump’s new tariffs are higher than expected for most Asian economies. Moreover, most countries will face additional tariff rates on transshipments.

The global tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump in April triggered “strong” investor interest in the Philippines, which was threatened with a lower levy than most neighbors, a top trade official said.

The Marcos administration is ramping up efforts to forge a favorable trade deal with the United States, as the new import tariffs to be imposed by the Trump government on its trading partners including the Philippines are set to take effect,

Trump and his aides have repeatedly shifted their stance on tariffs in the weeks since the president’s “Liberation Day” announcement.