The new tariff rates threatened in the letters Trump shared Wednesday are similar to those he announced on what the White House dubbed “Liberation Day” in early April.

By Danial Azhar KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) -Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr will meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington this month, Manila's top diplomat said on Friday, with an increased trade tariff on one of Washington's top defence allies set to be discussed.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met his Japanese and Philippine counterparts in a meeting Thursday on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ annual ministerial meetings in Malaysia. The U.S., Japan and the Philippines have been building a trilateral bloc to broaden security and economic cooperation.

The Philippine government is viewing with concern the higher-than-expected 20-percent reciprocal tariff to be imposed by the United States starting next month, as announced by the Trump administration on Thursday.

The move by US President Donald Trump to impose a higher-than-expected tariff on the Philippines signals his unwavering determination to pressure Washington's trade partners to do their part in reducing the US deficit in tandem with its intensifying rivalry with China,

It shows that personal grudges rather than simple economics are a driving force in the U.S. leader’s use of tariffs.

In a letter to Brazilian President Lula da Silva, Trump declared a 50% tariff on all imports from Brazil, warning that any retaliatory tariff increases would be added to the initial 50%.

The Marcos administration is ramping up efforts to forge a favorable trade deal with the United States, as the new import tariffs to be imposed by the Trump government on its trading partners including the Philippines are set to take effect,