- The Philippines seek an exemption from the US tariff, citing other nations’ claims of semiconductor trade exemptions.
- Frederick Go says tariff policy details remain unclear; lobbying efforts to protect semiconductor exports are ongoing.
- Semiconductors form a large share of Philippine exports; 100% tariff could severely hurt the sector.
The Philippines will push for an exemption from the United States’ planned 100% tariff on semiconductor imports, citing similar exemptions reportedly granted to other countries, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (SAPIEA) Secretary Frederick Go said Monday.
Go noted that the announcement by US President Donald Trump regarding the 100% tariff remains in a “gray space” as officials await further clarification.
“We’ve also noted that some countries are claiming that their semiconductor exports will be exempted, so we are still seeking clarification from the USTR side,” Frederick Go said during the EJAP Economic Forum 2025 in Manila. “We are lobbying that our semiconductor exports likewise be exempted if there is such, but we still have to schedule a call or meeting with them to clarify this matter,” he added.
Trump’s announcement last week specified that the tariff would not apply to companies manufacturing in the US or those that have already committed to doing so.
“So far, everything, let’s just say almost everything you hear is a media announcement, so whatever you hear in media, we’re reading at the same time… To my knowledge up to today, I don’t know if any country has actually signed an agreement,” Go said.
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Before Trump’s latest statement, electronics and semiconductors were not included in his reciprocal tariff directive, Frederick Go noted.
Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Inc. (SEIPI) president Dan Lachica earlier warned that a 100% tariff could have a “devastating” impact on the country’s semiconductor manufacturing sector.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the US was the nation’s top export destination in 2024, accounting for 16.6% or $12.14 billion of the total $73.27 billion export receipts. Electronic products were the top export at 53.4% or $39.09 billion, with semiconductors making up 39.8% or $29.17 billion of the total.