Senatorial aspirant Ka Leody De Guzman is calling on the Philippine Senate to take urgent action in response to the recently imposed 17% tariff hike by the United States on Philippine exports, emphasizing that the legislative body must reassess all foreign treaties—particularly economic ones—following the elections.
“The approval of treaties between the Philippine government and other countries falls under the authority of the Senate,” he said. “The Senate’s top agenda after the elections should be to review all economic agreements before entering negotiations regarding the new tariffs imposed by the United States, in order to protect the interests and welfare of Filipino workers and citizens.”
De Guzman pointed to the shifting global landscape, particularly after the return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency. “With Trump’s victory, the ‘tariff war’ between countries has returned,” he noted. “The difference now is that it has caused a major blow to the global stock market.”
He explained that the damage extends far beyond financial markets. “It’s not just the gamblers in the ‘casino economy’ who are affected. The global supply chains, currency values, and even national debts are now under pressure,” he said.
According to De Guzman, the Philippines’ blind acceptance of the 1990s-era zero-tariff policies has led the country to become heavily dependent on global value chains. “Almost everything we consume is imported,” he said. “We’ve focused on exporting raw and semi-processed materials, while also exporting our own workers, because labor migration has become our largest industry.”
With escalating international tensions, De Guzman warned that Filipinos who rely on imported basic goods could face severe consequences. “If things get worse, our people could be left on the edge of hunger and poverty,” he warned, referencing growing concerns about a potential global recession or even conflict.
He is urging the Senate to re-evaluate all existing treaties—economic and military—to prepare the country for the worst. “We must strengthen our local industries and agriculture to meet our basic needs,” he stated. “We should revise existing agreements to secure essential imports like oil, while also developing alternative energy sources for power and transportation.”
De Guzman challenged fellow senatorial candidates to take a stand on Trump’s tariff policies and stressed the need to uphold the country’s independent foreign policy. “We must stop being subservient to the United States, the G7, or even China and Russia’s BRICS++ bloc,” he said.
“We need a Senate capable of steering the country through turbulent global conditions,” he added. “We need senators who genuinely care about the people’s welfare—not clowns from elitist dynasties who only know how to exploit public funds to cling to power.”
