Task Force Protests Illegal U.S. E-Waste Imports in the Philippines

• The 'END E-Waste Imports' Task Force is protesting against the Philippines becoming a dumping ground for hazardous foreign electronic waste.
• Investigations revealed 234 containers of suspected e-waste from the U.S. entered Subic Freeport between March 2025 and June 2026, with an additional three blocked recently.
• Advocacy groups are demanding the ratification of the Basel Ban Amendment and a rejection of any bilateral trade deals that would legalize such waste shipments.

The E-Waste Exposé

• The Task Force identified 234 containers of e-waste and plastic waste from the U.S. imported illegally between March 2025 and June 2026.
• On July 22, 2026, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) intercepted three additional containers arriving on the MV Tokyo Express, which were falsely declared as scrap copper.
• Activists cite the Basel Convention, arguing that trade with non-parties like the U.S. is illegal under international law.

Policy and Future Concerns

• The BOC has initiated an Interagency Dialogue involving the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Justice, and other key agencies.
• The Task Force warned that the proposed 'Pax Silica' initiative could facilitate further e-waste influxes under the guise of urban mining or critical minerals recovery.
• Activists urge President Marcos Jr. to prioritize domestic waste management infrastructure rather than allowing foreign business interests to exploit local environmental governance.