Commentary
Their Cars Are Free, Our Products Still Taxed
The Philippines has agreed to remove tariffs on American vehicle imports, a move that signals openness to broader trade, but one that’s also raising questions about fairness and balance.
Under the current deal, the US will lower tariffs on Philippine goods to 19%, just a notch below the 20% previously in place. In exchange, Manila committed to a zero-duty policy on incoming American cars. While this could pave the way for more affordable US vehicles for Filipino consumers, some observers are concerned that the concessions may outweigh the benefits.
Japanese negotiators, for instance, secured a more favorable auto deal — cutting US auto tariffs from 25% to 15%, with no restrictions on import volumes. Meanwhile, Philippine exporters, particularly those outside the electronics sector, will continue to face relatively high US duties.
Economist Michael Ricafort points out that the US remains the country’s top export market, accounting for 17% of total shipments. Although the impact on GDP may be minimal due to the Philippines’ modest export-to-GDP ratio, some local sectors could still feel the pinch.
What’s more, the agreement could have ripple effects on local auto assembly and manufacturing efforts, especially as the Philippines tries to grow its presence in electric vehicles and mobility tech. Giving full access to US carmakers, while admirable for consumer choice, could create tougher competition for local and regional players.
President Marcos has described the deal as a “living thing”, suggesting it may evolve as markets adjust. Still, clarity will be key. Many are waiting on final details, particularly whether electronics exports remain exempt and how other industries will be supported.
There’s also the broader question of whether we are negotiating trade from a position of strength, or a place of accommodation.
While the 19% US tariff is lower than what many ASEAN neighbors face, such as Vietnam at 20%, and Malaysia and South Korea at 25%, the Philippines’ zero-tariff concession stands out. The optics are delicate: we opened our doors wider than most, yet our own exports are still met with significant tariffs.
This doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad deal. It could spark more US investment or deepen economic ties. But it’s fair, and necessary, to ask the question:
Are we protecting the industries that need it most, or giving away too much too soon?
Rockstar Games is building Grand Theft Auto VI around a larger cast of criminals, hustlers, musicians, business operators, police, influencers and street figures across Vice City and the wider state of Leonida.
The story starts with Jason Duval, one of the game’s two lead characters. Jason is the man chasing easy street, but trouble keeps catching up. A former Army man, he now lives in the Leonida Keys and takes odd jobs for local drug runners. His strongest anchor is Lucia Caminos, the person who appears to keep him moving even as crime closes in around them.
Lucia Caminos enters the story fresh out and ready to fight. She is introduced after her release from Leonida Penitentiary, where she served time after fighting for her family. Her father taught her to fight at a young age, and her family history includes a move from Liberty City to Leonida. With Jason beside her, Lucia appears to be chasing a new start, though Vice City rarely gives anyone a clean one.
The cast expands through Brian Heder, the marina man with a side hustle. He is Jason’s landlord and one of the local drug runners in Leonida. By day, Brian operates Brian’s Boat Works and Marina. Behind that legal front, he runs a drug business and hires Jason as extra muscle. His role could pull Jason deeper into the criminal world before the bigger jobs arrive.
Jason’s local circle also includes Cal Hampton, the bar buddy with big suspicions. Cal is Jason’s friend and drinking companion at The Rusty Anchor. Described as casually paranoid and prone to conspiracy theories, he gives GTA VI a natural opening for Rockstar’s usual satire of American culture through Leonida’s Florida-inspired setting.
Vice City’s business and entertainment scene comes through Boobie Ike, the streetwise mogul. Once tied to the streets, Boobie has turned himself into a legitimate entrepreneur with interests in real estate, nightlife and music. His recording studio is part of his push to build Only Raw Records into a larger music empire.
Working with him is Dre’Quan Priest, the dealer eyeing the elite. He is a gangster, drug dealer and businessman who wants to use music as a path into Vice City’s higher circles. His partnership with Boobie Ike and Real Dimez could raise his profile, or drag him into a bigger fight for status and control.
Real Dimez adds street heat and studio buzz to the game’s world. The hip-hop duo, made up of Bae-Luxe and Roxy, started as high school friends before turning street image, social media and music into a career. Their first hit, DWNPLY, gives them momentum as Only Raw Records tries to turn them into breakout stars.
The heist side of GTA VI comes into focus through Raul Bautista, the man who raises the stakes. Raul is a veteran bank robber and one of Vice City’s criminal masterminds. His habit of escalating jobs means his crews often face more danger than planned. If Jason and Lucia are looking for a big break, Raul could offer the kind of score that changes everything, for better or worse.
Beyond the named characters, GTA VI fills Leonida with gangsters, police officers, influencers, gun store owners, partygoers and other residents. Some only appear briefly, but they help build the game’s version of Vice City as loud, risky, watched and ready to explode around Jason and Lucia.
Rockstar has not revealed every role yet, but the known cast already frames GTA VI as more than a return to Vice City. It is a story of partners, operators, performers, hustlers and criminals trying to climb in a place where every break comes with a cost.
Gamers expecting a major price jump for Grand Theft Auto VI got a more measured surprise when preorders opened Thursday.
Rockstar Games and parent company Take-Two Interactive set the standard edition at about $80 in the United States, roughly $10 higher than the usual base price for many premium titles. The Ultimate edition costs $100 and comes with bonus content such as extra weapons and vehicles.
The price eased fears that the long-awaited title could launch at $100 for the base version, following reports that six years of development may have cost up to $2 billion. In Europe, the game is priced at 80 euros, while the UK price is £70. Japan’s PlayStation store lists it at 9,800 yen, with New Zealand and Australia showing similar pricing levels.
The bigger issue for some fans is the lack of a traditional disc. Physical editions sold in stores will include a download code inside the box, which likely means no game data on a disc. Some players said this could weaken or erase the second-hand market for the title. Two independent North American retailers, Video Games Plus and Loot Box Gaming, said they would not sell the game unless a disc version becomes available.
GTA VI is scheduled for release on November 19, unless delayed again. Players who preorder can download the game from November 12, but will only be able to launch it on the official release date.
The game brings players back to Vice City, Rockstar’s fictional version of Miami, inside the Florida-inspired state of Leonida. Its lead characters, Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos, are described as a Bonnie and Clyde-style pair caught in a criminal conspiracy.
Rockstar calls the title its “deepest and most immersive GTA experience yet.” It will be available only on latest-generation PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles, promising higher detail and faster loading than its 2013 predecessor, GTA V.
The stakes are massive. GTA V sold 230 million copies, second only to Minecraft, and analysts expect GTA VI to become one of the biggest entertainment launches in history. Piper Sandler analysts expect around 45 million units to be sold by release.
Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation strengthened its engagement with key government agencies during the Philippine International Motor Show, as the company pushes its role in the country’s automotive manufacturing sector.
MMPC President and CEO Ritsu Imaeda met with Bureau of Customs Port of Batangas District Collector Carmelita Talusan and Department of Trade and Industry Board of Investments Executive Director Corazon Halili-Dichosa during the event.
The meetings focused on MMPC’s continued coordination with agencies involved in trade, investment and industrial development.
MMPC said its partnership with the Bureau of Customs Port of Batangas remains important to its operations. The port serves as a key gateway for the importation of Mitsubishi vehicles and components.
The company also cited its work with the DTI-BOI as part of its long-term commitment to local automotive development. MMPC said this includes support for government electrification programs and plans involving the local production of hybrid electric vehicles.
“Constructive engagement with our government stakeholders remains important as we continue to contribute to the growth of the Philippine automotive industry,” Imaeda said.
He said the company values discussions with government partners as it looks for ways to support shared economic and industrial goals.
MMPC operates a 23-hectare manufacturing plant in Sta. Rosa, Laguna with a maximum production capacity of 50,000 units. The company locally manufactures the Mirage, Mirage G4 and L300.
