Trump Hits Penguin-Inhabited Islands with Tariffs

Not even the penguins are exempt from Donald Trump’s tariffs.

On the 3rd of April, the President unveiled a fresh strategy, which involves imposing a common 10% tax on goods brought into the US, and increased taxes for numerous specific nations.

Among the locations subject to the proposed import tariffs are Heard Island and McDonald Islands, situated close to the Arctic region and belonging to Australia. These remote islands are currently devoid of human inhabitants due to their active volcanoes, and reaching them requires a two-week voyage by boat from Perth.

According to the Australian Antarctic Program’s website, Heard Island has seen approximately 240 visits since its first landing in 1855, which were all from the shore. Additionally, only two landings have ever occurred on McDonald Island – once in 1971 and again in 1980.

As a passionate admirer, I can’t help but imagine the potential impact of a 10% tariff on all imports to the U.S. in 2024, with the total value equaling zero. It seems this policy will only resonate with the resilient penguins and seals who inhabit these small, enchanting territories, as they continue to thrive amidst such economic changes.

Yet, it’s not just these islands dealing with Trump’s tariffs. Similarly affected is Jan Mayen Island, a volcanic Norwegian landmass devoid of human inhabitants. Instead, its polar bear residents will be the unwitting observers of this new policy.

Currently, the Falkland Islands, an overseas territory of the United Kingdom situated in the Atlantic Ocean, is home to approximately 3,200 people and nearly a million penguins. At present, this isolated group of islands is confronting tariffs amounting to 41%. In contrast, Britain itself encounters tariffs of just 10%.

Located as an additional Australian territory, home to roughly 2,000 residents – the Norfolk Island – encounters significantly increased taxes, boasting a staggering 29% hike compared to the mainland.

Anthony Albanese, the Australian Prime Minister, said he wasn’t clear about what Norfolk Island mainly sells to the U.S. or why it was specifically targeted, but it has been. He added that Norfolk Island, given its size compared to the U.S., is unlikely to be a significant trading rival, yet this incident demonstrates that no place in the world is immune to such events.

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2025-04-03 20:48