Marcos departs for US visit

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. departed Sunday for a three-day official visit to the United States, where he is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on July 20 to discuss economic, defense and security cooperation. The meeting, set to take place in Washington, marks the first time a leader from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations has met with Trump since his return to office, underscoring the continued strength of U.S.-Philippine relations. A central topic on the agenda is a proposed 20% U.S. tariff on Philippine exports. Marcos is expected to push for a bilateral trade agreement aimed at building a more equitable and future-focused economic partnership. He is joined by a delegation of key Cabinet officials. A caretaker team has been designated to manage government operations during his absence.