Trump’s Global Tariff Plan Even Affects Remote Antarctic Islands
Like many countries around the world, U.S. President Donald Trump’s global tariff plan has affected even two small and desolate islands in Antarctica, home only to penguins and seals.
The Heard and McDonald Islands, located southwest of Australia, span an area of 4,000 kilometers. Reaching these islands requires a seven-day boat trip from the Australian city of Perth. No humans have visited these islands for the past decade.
Australia’s Trade Minister, Don Farrell, told ABC that these tariffs are “clearly a mistake.”
“Poor penguins, I don’t know what they did to Trump, but it really seems like this is the result of haste.”
President Trump introduced his new import tax plan on Wednesday, claiming that U.S. products face unfair trade barriers globally.
Other Australian Regions Affected by the Tariffs
Trump has also placed tariffs on other Australian regions, including Norway’s Svalbard Islands, the Falkland Islands, and the British Indian Ocean Territory.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday, “This shows that no one on earth is safe from it.”
Heard Island and Its Trade Connections
Heard Island is covered in ice and barren, with no human population. It is home to Australia’s largest and most active volcano, “Big Ben,” and several glaciers.
Mike Coffin, a researcher from the University of Tasmania, has visited the area seven times for scientific research and believes no large-scale exports come from this island to the U.S.