The imposition of a 50 percent tariff on copper by the US may force local producers to find alternative markets to offset potential losses and adjust to anticipated global price volatility, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau said.

INVESTORS will likely continue to trade cautiously this week as they monitor US trade policy developments and await fresh economic data.

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.

Stock investors are pinning their hopes on US President Donald Trump pulling out another reverse card, this time for his tariff policies on the Philippines, to push the local market back on the win track.

The Philippines is concerned about the United States' decision to impose 20% tariffs on Philippine exports but will continue to negotiate, its economic affairs minister said on Thursday.

India could pose stiff competition to Sri Lanka and the Philippines for nearly a fifth of their exports to the United States as both countries are facing high import duties under new US trade arrangement,

The Philippine economy is likely to be resilient to higher US levies but faces the risk of lower foreign investments amid the global uncertainty, according to S&P Global Ratings.

Countries like the Philippines and Singapore could benefit from tariff concessions if negotiations with the Trump administration progress favorably, according to Dutch financial giant ING Bank, which flagged the building pressure on Asian economies facing higher-than-expected post-Liberation Day tariffs.