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The Philippines’ Precarious Tightrope Between Trump’s Tariffs and China’s Flood of Cheap Goods

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Louis ‘Barok’ Biraogo

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The Philippines’ Precarious Tightrope Between Trump’s Tariffs and China’s Flood of Cheap Goods

By Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo — April 30, 2025

Factories Shuttered, Dreams Deferred

IN Cebu’s vibrant furniture district, Pilita Castro, a third-generation woodcarver, surveys her workshop with despair. Her intricately carved narra tables, once a local treasure, sit unsold as Chinese imports—priced 30% lower—flood markets. “We’re drowning,” she says, her voice trembling. “My workers, my family—they’re losing everything.” Last year, her small business cut half its staff, echoing the 2,000 factory closures across Southeast Asia tied to Chinese overcapacity.

Contrast Pilita’s plight with Carlo Reyes, a 28-year-old call center agent in Manila’s Quezon City. Carlo thrives in the IT-BPM sector, projected to hit $59 billion by 2028. His steady income fuels dreams of a condo, a world away from manufacturing’s instability. “The work is tough, but it’s my future,” he says, navigating a Digital Cities 2025 app for upskilling courses.

These stories reveal the Philippines’ economic divide in 2025. As U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs—initially 17% on Filipino goods, now paused at 10%—upend global trade, China redirects its industrial surplus to markets like the Philippines. Nomura shows a $34.5 billion surge in Chinese imports in 2024, correlating with sharp manufacturing slowdowns in basic metals, machinery, and furniture. Yet, BusinessWorld argues the Philippines is the “least exposed” to China’s economy, scoring 19 versus Singapore’s 179. The reality is nuanced: while the broader economy holds, sector-specific vulnerabilities crush livelihoods like Pilita’s.

Cheap Chinese goods bring mixed blessings. Disinflation lowers prices for consumers battered by high electricity costs, among ASEAN’s highest. But for manufacturers, it’s ruinous. Nomura links rising Chinese import shares to manufacturing declines, hitting basic metals hardest. Pilita’s workshop isn’t just a business; it’s a cultural legacy, now a casualty of Washington and Beijing’s trade war.

Trapped in a Global Trade Storm

Manila’s factories are battlegrounds in Trump and Xi Jinping’s trade war, but the Philippines’ woes are as geopolitical as economic. Trump’s tariffs, meant to shrink America’s trade deficit, have redirected Chinese exports to emerging markets. Nomura’s Euben Paracuelles warns that a prolonged U.S.-China trade war could deepen Beijing’s import penetration, with $34.5 billion in Chinese imports in 2024—up from $32.5 billion in electronics in 2022—signaling growing dependency. These goods, from steel to furniture, undercut local producers hamstrung by high power costs and a grid 40% owned by China’s State Grid Corporation.

BusinessWorld’s optimism rests on low Chinese FDI and a robust IT-BPM sector, but it ignores the South China Sea, where tensions threaten trade routes vital to Manila’s export-driven growth. The 2023 coast guard ship ramming near Second Thomas Shoal highlights the stakes. If Beijing escalates, as Nomura fears amid a U.S. security pullback, disrupted shipping lanes could spike export costs.

ASEAN could be a lifeline, but it’s divided. While Vietnam and Indonesia impose anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese goods, a unified response stalls. The Philippines, torn between U.S. alliances and China’s economic pull, risks becoming a pawn unless it acts decisively.

Forging a Resilient Future

The Philippines need not be a victim of global rivalries—but survival demands bold action with the urgency of a nation fighting for its economic soul. A comprehensive plan combines immediate protections with forward-thinking reforms, rooted in evidence and human impact.

Short-Term Defenses

First, diversify trade to curb reliance on China’s $34.5 billion import flood. Fast-tracking the UAE CEPA, set to quintuple bilateral trade, could open markets for Filipino electronics and agriculture. The RCEP, effective since 2022, grants tariff-free access to 14 Asia-Pacific nations, cushioning U.S. tariff blows. The Department of Trade and Industry must avoid delays, like RCEP’s 2022 ratification lag, that cost jobs.

Second, protect vulnerable sectors like Pilita’s furniture trade. Subsidies, inspired by Vietnam’s textile support, could cut production costs. Anti-dumping duties, as Indonesia applies to Chinese steel, are urgent. The Philippines imported $4 billion in Chinese steel in 2023, 10% cheaper than alternatives. Sourcing from Japan or South Korea, paired with tariffs, can shield local producers and diversify supply chains.

Long-Term Vision

The IT-BPM sector, Carlo’s anchor, is a growth engine. Targeting 2.5 million jobs by 2028, it’s insulated from trade shocks. The Digital Cities 2025 program, identifying 25 tech hubs, needs scaling. Nomura’s disinflation data supports Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas rate cuts, freeing capital for DICT upskilling initiatives. Better broadband—lagging ASEAN peers—can transform provinces like Iloilo into IT-BPM centers, redistributing wealth beyond Manila.

Supply chain resilience requires infrastructure leaps. Partnerships with Japan and the U.S., like UPS’s $250 million Clark Airport hub, can modernize ports. The U.S.’s $500 million in 2025 military financing signals trust. Redirecting FDI to port upgrades could slash shipping costs, countering Trump’s 10% tariff.

Diplomatically, ASEAN-led mediation is critical. President Marcos’s 2024 missile withdrawal proposal shows pragmatism. Manila should spearhead an ASEAN task force to ease South China Sea tensions, securing trade routes. Bilateral deals with Japan and South Korea, per 2024 MOUs, can diversify electronics supply chains, loosening China’s grip.

Closing

Pilita Castro locks her workshop nightly, unsure if her craft will endure. Carlo Reyes dreams of a tech-driven future. Their paths converge in Manila’s choices. The Philippines can’t stop the U.S.-China trade war, but it can refuse to be its casualty. By diversifying trade, fortifying industries, and betting on tech and alliances, Manila can transform crisis into opportunity. Pilita’s tables and Carlo’s ambitions demand a nation that fights for its people—one policy, one partnership, one resilient step at a time.

Citations:

Louis ‘Barok’ C. Biraogo

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