Manila, July 13 -- Farmers group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) on Sunday, July 13, cautioned government trade officials against rushing into a new trade agreement with the United States (US), following the recent imposition of a 20 percent tariff by Washington. "The recent imposition of a 20 percent tariff by the United States has triggered calls, unfortunately, by our trade officials for a comprehensive trade agreement in response," Jayson Cainglet, executive director of Sinag, said in a statement.

He warned that pushing for a deal without addressing its long-term impact on local industries would only repeat past mistakes that harmed domestic producers. "This false narrative-centered around a free trade agreement-appears t...