Live updates: Trump will meet with the Philippines leader to talk tariffs and China
Associated Press22 hrs
Trump Announces US-Philippines Trade Deal
Above: U.S. President Donald Trump (right) and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House on July 22, 2025. Image copyright: Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-Trump narrative
Trump's trade deals, especially with Asia-Pacific nations, are making the United States economically stronger at home and stronger against China geopolitically. As China loses its economic power over the United States, it loses its leverage when deciding whether to attack Taiwan. In just six months, Trump has repositioned America as the world's leading economic and military powerhouse.
Anti-Trump narrative
Trump's tariffs have hidden costs, like falling imports that limit consumer choices and raise prices for goods that aren't produced in the United States. Reduced variety and quality from disrupted supply chains erode economic freedom, quietly straining budgets for those least equipped to cope. Any success can be attributed to companies preparing short-term precautions as they await a potential policy reversal.