HEADLINES: Trade deal cuts US tariffs by only 1% | July 24, 2025

Good day. Here are the stories of The Manila Times for Thursday, July 24, 2025.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Wilcon Depot, The Philippines’ leading home improvement and construction supplies retailer—your Trusted Building Partner.

READ: Trade deal cuts US tariffs by only 1%

UNITED States President Donald Trump agreed Tuesday to cut tariffs on goods imported from the Philippines, but only by 1 percentage point, from 20 percent to 19 percent, in exchange for zero tariffs on some products from the United States, following what he said was a successful meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Welcoming Marcos to the White House, Trump called him a “very tough negotiator”. In a social media post shortly afterward, Trump said that while the Philippines would open up completely to US goods, he would still impose a 19-percent tariff on products from the Southeast Asian country, a major exporter of high-tech items and apparel. The Philippines was among two dozen economies confronted by Trump with letters this month warning of 20-percent tariffs on all goods coming into the United States as of Aug. 1. The 19-percent rate is still above the 17 percent threatened by Trump in April, when he threatened sweeping global tariffs. In a press conference with Philippine media, Marcos said the zero tariff would only be imposed on certain products, such as automobiles. Marcos also said that under the trade deal, the Philippines agreed to increase its imports from the US.

READ: PH braces for effects of 2 storms

THERE is a possibility that two storms will hit the country at the same time, as Tropical Depression Dante has maintained its strength while the low pressure area off Cagayan intensified into a tropical depression, the state weather agency said. Signal No. 1 was raised over seven provinces in Luzon due to Tropical Depression Emong, which may make landfall on Friday, the weather bureau said Wednesday. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said affected provinces include Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, the northern and western portions of Pangasinan (Dasol, Burgos, Agno, Bani, Bolinao, City of Alaminos, Mabini, Anda, Labrador, Sual, Binmaley, Dagupan City, Lingayen, Bugallon, Infanta, Sison, Mangaldan, San Fabian, San Jacinto and Pozorrubio), Apayao, Abra and Benguet. Moving westward, Emong had maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph, Pagasa said. Due to its interaction with Tropical Storm Dante, Emong was forecast to move generally southwestward on Wednesday evening while looping over the West Philippine Sea on Thursday, Pagasa said. The tropical depression will make landfall over Ilocos Sur, La Union or Pangasinan on Thursday evening or early Friday morning. There was a likelihood that Emong would further intensify and may reach a severe tropical storm category before making landfall.

READ: DPWH calls for dredging, drainage system rehab

THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has recommended dredging Metro Manila’s surrounding major river channels and rehabilitating its drainage systems to prevent widespread flooding. Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan said on Wednesday that the major rivers around Metro Manila were 70 percent silted while the drainage systems can no longer carry the large volume of water brought by heavy rains.

READ: Marcos on Remulla’s casual style: Just chill

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. came to the defense of Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla after the latter drew flak online for his informal way of announcing class and work suspensions on social media. Speaking to the Philippine media delegation before leaving Washington, D.C., on Wednesday (Manila time), Marcos said he was not bothered with how Remulla delivers the message, as long as the message gets across.

BUSINESS: ADB cuts PH forecasts amid global headwinds

Headlining business, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has trimmed its growth projections for the Philippines in line with a reduced outlook for Asia-Pacific growth given rising global uncertainties. uncertainties. Gross domestic product (GDP) growth is expected to hit 5.6 percent this year, slowing from 5.7 percent in 2025, instead of expanding by 6.0 percent. A rebound to 5.8 percent was forecast for 2026, but this is also lower than the previous projection of 6.1 percent. This year’s outlook falls within the government’s 5.5- to 6.5-percent target while that for 2026 is below the 6.0- to 7.0-percent goal. Both were lowered last month from 6.0-6.5 percent and 6.0-8.0 percent, respectively.

SPORTS: Chua essays dominant start in World Pool

Over to sports, Filipino cue artist Johann Chua essayed a dominant start at the World Pool Championship in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday afternoon in Manila. Coming off a Knight Shot Open conquest in Dubai last week, Chua dominated home bet Mohamed Al-Balkhi, 9-0, to advance to the second round of the Crown Jewel of Nineball. Chua expressed dissatisfaction with his performance, though, saying that he’s just gotten more breaks of the match than he played well.

READ: Opinion and editorial

Antonio Contreras and Danton Remoto are today’s front page columnists. Contreras talks about the notion that crying for the poor is actually protecting the rich in disguise, while Remoto talks about the postcolonial Filipino.

Today’s editorial looks into a dismissed memo from the Department of Trade and Industry. Read more in the paper’s opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.

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