Tucker Carlson Says Canada Sending Trash to Philippines Is 'Garbage Colonialism'

Tucker Carlson has accused Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of engaging in colonialism over a huge shipment of garbage sent to the Philippines.

The two nations are at a standoff over the waste, which was sent to Manila in more than 100 shipping containers between 2013 and 2014. The garbage was supposed to be made up of recyclable plastic, but when the doors were opened it turned out to be day-to-day waste.

The issue has been simmering for years, but Canada has not taken the waste back. The case made headlines this week after Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte voiced his anger and threatened to start a war over the issue.

Speaking on his Fox News show on Wednesday, Carlson suggested that Trudeau—who he branded "a buffoon" and "fraudulent"—was at fault.

"I was shocked that he would send his garbage to the Philippines—a struggling third-world country needs more Canadian garbage?" the host asked, speaking with Stephen LeDrew who previously served as the president of the Liberal Party of Canada, now led by Trudeau.

"I mean it just seems so insensitive, and that seemed like…a form of colonialism, garbage colonialism," Carlson said. "Why is he sending his hair gel bottles to Manila?" he joked. "It just seems like white privilege to me, I'm just throwing that out there."

The trash was sent to the Philippines by a Canadian company, CBC noted. Trudeau did even come into office until 2015. Though Trudeau's government has thus far failed to take the garbage back, Carlson was incorrect to allege that the prime minister was responsible for the incident.

The recyclable materials industry has grown rapidly in the Philippines, especially after China—previously the main destination for such products—placed a ban on certain imports.

Nations unwilling to deal with their own waste will send tons of plastic garbage to be processed, treated and recycled in poorer nations. LeDrew said this industry allows less developed nations to make "a lot of money," but Tucker simply replied "racism."

This particular Canadian shipment did not contain the recyclable plastics expected. Instead, the 103 containers were filled with household trash, plastic bottles and bags, newspapers, and used adult diapers, ABS-CBN News reported. Though the garbage from at least 26 of the containers has now been buried in a landfill, the rest remains.

In 2016, a Filipino court ruled that the trash should return to Canada, but progress has since stalled. For Duterte, this is unacceptable. "I will not allow that kind of s***," the president—known for his outlandish and offensive statements—said in a press conference Tuesday, claiming Canada had offered to contribute educational grant money to his nation if it accepted the trash.

"I will declare war against them," he told reporters, according to The Guardian. "I will advise Canada that your garbage is on the way. Prepare a grand reception. Eat it if you want to…Your garbage is coming home."

According to ABS-CBN News, Canada's Ambassador to the Philippines John Holmes said: "I won't comment on the specific words of the president or his tone, but I will say this: Our prime minister committed and has recommitted to resolving this issue, including taking the waste back to Canada."