EDCA for Everyone, Tariffs for the Sucker: How the U.S. Rewarded Its Most Loyal Lapdog

Uncle Sam’s Good Boy Gets a Tariff Bone While Neighbors Feast on Boeing Bucks

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

GOOD boy, Philippines—sit, stay, roll over. You gave the U.S. bases, blood, and blind loyalty for 70 years. Reward? A 19% tariff bone tossed at your feet. Meanwhile, Thailand wags in with $20 billion in treats, and poof—zero tariffs, belly rubs, the whole kennel. Guess loyalty only counts when it comes with a check.

This isn’t an accident. It’s transactional diplomacy at its bitterest. And the Philippines? Collateral damage in the game of great powers.

The $20 Billion Tariff Ticket: How Thailand Bought VIP Access

Let’s begin with the elephant in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit room: Thailand. According to IDNFinancials and Nation Thailand, Bangkok inked a Reciprocal Trade Framework Agreement—a fancy name for “pay-to-play.”

$20 billion in U.S. purchases: Boeing jets, corn, natural gas, and “farm goods.”

Translation: They bought their 0% tariff.

Malaysia? Zero-rated entry for aerospace, pharmaceuticals, palm oil, cocoa, and rubber. Cambodia? Quietly bundled in under “strategic diversification.”

And the Philippines? Left holding the 19% bill.

Even if a prior July 2025 deal existed under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and U.S. President Donald Trump, it secured no exemptions. While Thai mangoes glide in duty-free, our electronics, garments, processed tuna, and coconut products face a 19% tax on being America’s oldest ally in Asia.

Sarcastic salute: What a brilliant way to reward loyalty—tax the faithful, pamper the bidders.

**Loyal Lapdog Taxed 19%, Stray Neighbors Fed Zero-Tariff Treats**

Why Us? The Three Ugly Truths Behind the Tariff Snub

1. Diplomatic Fumble: We Didn’t Bring a Big Enough Check

Thailand wrote a $20 billion IOU. We didn’t.
Was Manila too proud? Too broke? Or simply outmaneuvered in the backrooms of Kuala Lumpur?

2. Strategic Blackmail: The Tariff as a Military Leverage Tool

The U.S. may be using the 19% rate as silent pressure—not for trade, but for Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) expansion, intelligence sharing, or distancing from China.

“Want zero tariffs? Give us another base in Batanes.”

3. Cold Calculation: Why Bribe the Already Loyal Dog?

We’re already in the U.S. camp—EDCA sites from Luzon to Palawan, joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea.
Why pay extra when you can squeeze for free?

Meanwhile, domestic U.S. politics cheers: Trump touts “wins” at the summit, feeding Iowa farmers and Boeing execs while our semiconductors take the hit.

“Ironclad Alliance”? More Like Iron-Fisted Hypocrisy

Washington loves to preach about our “ironclad alliance”—nine EDCA sites, Balikatan exercises, mutual defense pacts.

Then stabs us with a 19% tariff dagger.

This isn’t partnership. This is asymmetric exploitation.

U.S. Motives?

Economic: Plug trade deficits with Thai cash, diversify supply chains from China.
Geopolitical: Bind ASEAN states with golden handcuffs—zero tariffs for compliance.
Domestic: Political theater—Trump’s “America First” scoreboard glows with red-state wins.

Philippine Pain?

Jobs lost: Thousands in export zones—Cavite, Cebu, Davao.
GDP drag: 1–2% hit from lost U.S. market access.
Supply chain flight: Factories relocate to zero-tariff Thailand and Malaysia.
Geopolitical fallout: We look weak. China smirks. ASEAN unity cracks.

This 19% isn’t just a trade tax—it’s a 19% tax on Philippine sovereignty.

Manila’s Menu of Misery: Fight, Fold, or Flee?

Option 1: Fold Like Thailand — Buy Your Way In

Offer U.S. defense gear, agriculture, or energy purchases for sectoral exemptions.
Upside: Fast relief.
Downside: Vassal state syndrome—billions spent, sovereignty sold, opposition howling “traitor.”

Option 2: Fight at the WTO — Rules Over Realpolitik

File a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute claiming Most Favored Nation (MFN) violations.
Upside: Dignified, rules-based.
Downside: Takes 3–5 years. Exporters die waiting.

Option 3: Pivot Hard — China, EU, Japan, Anyone But Uncle Sam

Accelerate Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), EU FTA talks, Japan EPA upgrades.
Upside: Long-term resilience.
Downside: China’s “help” comes with strings—U.S. may slap higher tariffs in revenge.

Option 4: ASEAN Unity Play — Good Luck Herding Cats

Push a bloc statement on “fair treatment.”
Reality check: Thailand and Malaysia already cashed their checks. They’re not giving them back.

Barok’s Battle Plan: A Three-Phase National Survival Strategy

Phase 1: EMERGENCY SHIELD (0–3 Months)

Targeted Bailouts: Tax holidays, wage subsidies, retraining for electronics, garments, and agro-exporters.
Carve-Out Blitz: Lobby U.S. Congress and diaspora for product-specific exemptions (mangoes, medical inputs).

Phase 2: SMART SQUEEZE (3–12 Months)

Reopen Talks — But With Teeth: Offer measured, pre-planned purchases (e.g., U.S. Coast Guard cutters) only in exchange for zero-rated electronics and food.
ASEAN Pressure Play: Demand a “transparency and fairness” declaration at the next summit.
WTO Sword of Damocles: Prepare a complaint—use as leverage, not litigation.

Phase 3: FORTRESS PHILIPPINES (12+ Months)

Diversify or Die: Fast-track FTAs with EU, India, Japan; lure FDI into high-value niches (BPO+, specialty foods).
Upgrade Nation: Invest in ports, power, skills—make exports tariff-proof.
Public War Cry: Frame this as a sovereignty fight. Rally farmers, workers, youth. Shame the U.S. in global media.