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.

President Trump’s approach to setting tariff rates is causing anxiety in the business community, with the trickling flow of letters to trad​e partners exacerbating concerns over hits to the

U.S. President Donald Trump imposed 20% tariffs on all goods imported into the United States from the Philippines, escalating the trade war that was kicked off in April following the “Liberation Day” announcement.

Vice President Sara Duterte said the economic team of the Marcos administration should have prepared for US President Donald Trump's imposition of a higher 20% tariff rate on Philippine goods exported to America as the move was already "expected.

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,

President Trump posted letters to his Truth Social platform Wednesday outlining tariff levels for seven countries. Trump said he would levy 30% tariffs on Libya, Iraq, and Algeria, effective Aug. 1. Moldova and Brunei will get 25% tariffs,

The Philippine government was taken aback by US President Donald Trump’s decision to slap a higher 20% tariff rate on the country’s goods exported to America despite earlier efforts to haggle for lower duties for products imported from Manila.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday escalated his trade offensive by issuing fresh tariff notices to six additional countries - Algeria, Brunei, Iraq, Libya, Moldova, and the Philippines - as part of what he described as a sweeping effort to address "unfair trade imbalances".

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.

Higher tariffs imposed by Trump on Philippine goods may lead to an increase in prices of various Philippine exports, manufacturers said.