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Trump Tariff deal is unfair to Philippines [View all]
Trump does not negotiate, he bullies. His dealings more resemble an Al Capone protection racket. A 19% Tariff on Philippine goods and a 0% on American goods is a humiliation to a steadfast US Asian ally.
The Philippines has a Value Added Tax (VAT) of 12%. Everyone has to pay that, including importers. A fair deal would have been a 15% Tariff on Philippine exports to America and a 3% Tariff on American goods coming to the Philippines. That would amount to recognizing the VAT as a Tariff and reciprocating the 3% in order to get to that 15%
An unfair deal in the Philippines, or involving any ally, makes the existing Democratic government vulnerable and susceptible to an anti-American opposition party coming to power.
1 replies
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