The Philippines has halted electronic waste imports from the United States, responding to concerns over shipments entering via the Subic Bay freeport. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources announced on September 22 that customs officials are enforcing existing Basel Convention rules, which prohibit e-waste imports from countries not party to the treaty, including the U.S.
Michael Drake Matias of the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau stated that waste shipments from all non-party countries are no longer permitted at Philippine ports. It is unclear if this intensified restriction addresses enforcement issues in the Subic Bay freeport, stemming from a 2025 court ruling that impacted pre-shipment controls.
Source: Mongabay