Duterte, Trump talk trade in bilateral meeting

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte and US President Donald Trump focused on trade during their bilateral meeting in Manila, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Monday.

In their 40-minute meeting, Duterte suggested that a free trade agreement (FTA) be concluded between the US and the Philippines.

"The Philippines expressed a view that they're appreciative of the general system of preference," Roque said.

The Philippines and the US have yet to conclude talks on an FTA but Roque noted that "President Trump said they will study the matter."

Duterte and Trump also noticed that the Business Process Outsourcing industry has advanced in the Philippines.

The two leaders agreed to work on policies to reduce the trade surplus between the two countries.

Trump, on the other hand, singled out the issue in tariffs being imposed on US automobiles. Such tariffs were not being imposed on Japanese cars, Roque said.

Human rights

Despite earlier pronouncements from the White House that Trump will bring up human rights in his meeting with Duterte, the issue did not come up during their talks.

Duterte discussed the drug problem in the Philippines while Trump appeared sympathetic.

"The US President appeared sympathetic and did not have any official position on the matter. He was merely nodding his head, indicating that he understood the domestic problem that we face on drugs," Roque said.

In the past, Trump had wished Duterte's so-called war on drugs to succeed.

In a leaked telephone conversation transcript last May, Trump congratulated Duterte for his administration's crackdown against illegal drugs.

"Many countries have the problem, we have a problem, but what a great job you are doing and I just wanted to call and tell you that," Trump told Duterte.