Wed Apr 16 07:30:00 UTC 2025: ## US Fighter Jet Deal to Philippines: Tariffs Inflate Costs, Surplus Claimed
**MANILA, PHILIPPINES** – Proposed tariffs on materials used in the construction of US fighter jets destined for the Philippines are expected to significantly increase the overall cost of the deal, analysts warn. While the exact impact remains to be seen, the added expense will further burden an already expensive procurement.
Philippine Representative Martin Romualdez countered this concern, arguing that a US$4.8 billion trade deficit between the US and the Philippines is effectively offset by the fighter jet deal, resulting in a US$1 billion surplus for the United States. He did not, however, address the impact of potential tariff increases on the final cost. The discrepancy between the projected cost increases and the claimed surplus remains a point of contention.
First Piper 