Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte says the United States is the first victim of "globalization" and that's why President Donald Trump is pushing back with an "America First" stance.

Duterte made the comments at a business conference on the sidelines of a regional summit. He said the flight of American manufacturing to China after it opened to foreign trade and investment hurt U.S. workers.

Duterte described how reforms launched by Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping in the 1970s led the country to open its once-closed borders to foreign trade and investment. U.S. businesses were eager to take advantage of less expensive labor and lower taxes.

He said, "America was the first victim of globalization and that is why Trump is trying to lure them back and said 'America First.'"