Quezon city: Economist and former Albay 2nd District Representative Joey Salceda commended President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s recent visit to the United States, describing it as a significant achievement in securing a comprehensive package of trade, investment, and defense cooperation for the Philippines.

According to Philippines News Agency, Salceda spoke at a news forum in Quezon City, emphasizing that the visit marked a pivotal moment for the country, with parallels drawn to the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA). Salceda, who chairs the Institute for Risk and Strategic Studies (Salceda Research), highlighted the achievement of a JPEPA-style framework with the United States, achieved through early action, diplomacy, and strategic alignment, rather than a formal agreement.

Salceda noted that while the reduction of the tariff from 20 percent to 19 percent received much attention, the broader gains included exemptions for 73 percent of Philippine exports under US Executive Order 14257. This move effectively reduced the country's tariff rate to 6.3 percent, positioning it as the second lowest in the ASEAN region. He clarified that the focus should not solely be on the tariff story, as the President's efforts prevented a full 20 percent tariff through proactive engagement and negotiation. Beyond trade, the visit also secured strategic investments, defense assurances, and collaborations in science and technology.

Additionally, Salceda emphasized a significant diplomatic breakthrough, with United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth affirming that the Mutual Defense Treaty applies to Philippine armed forces, vessels, and aircraft across the Pacific, including the South China Sea. This declaration, according to Salceda, is the clearest expression of the treaty by a US official, removing previous ambiguities and making the commitment explicit.

Addressing concerns regarding a proposed 1 percent remittance tax in the US under Senate Bill 4228, Salceda reassured that exemptions are possible, with the Philippine government actively working to ensure local banks operating in the US qualify for such exemptions. He stressed that resolving this issue requires sustained engagement and technical coordination, which is already in progress.

President Marcos returned from his three-day official visit to Washington, DC, where he met with US President Donald Trump. The visit concluded with over USD21 billion in investment pledges and renewed strategic commitments.