This Is Why Duterte Can't Afford to Pick a Fight with the U.S.
- About 35% of Filipinos living abroad reside in America
- Trade between the two countries has climbed 23% since 2010
Obama Cancels Meeting With Duterte After Outburst
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From trade dependence to money from workers abroad, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte can hardly afford to pick a fight with the U.S. given his country’s ties to the world’s largest economy.
Duterte made headlines this week for all the wrong reasons. In his debut on the international stage and just days before he was due to meet President Barack Obama at a regional summit in Laos, Duterte made offensive comments aimed at the U.S. leader that prompted Washington to cancel the meeting.