Trump Tariffs Even Hit Uninhabited Islands Near Antarctica

US President Donald Trump announced a new set of tariffs on Wednesday, and the list of countries affected also includes Heard and McDonald Islands, an external Australian territory a little less than 1,000 miles north of Antarctica. The remote UNESCO World Heritage-listed Australian territory was included in the list of baseline 10% taxes on US imports.

“Nowhere on earth is safe," said Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese following the tariff announcement. It is worth mentioning that Heard Island and McDonald Islands are among the world's most isolated places, accessible only via a two-week boat trip from Perth on Australia’s west coast. Travellers also need a permit to visit the Heard and McDonald Islands, which is home to a large population of penguins .

According to The Guardian, both regions are among several “external territories” of Australia listed separately in Trump's tariff list to Australia. External territories are part of Australia and not self-governing but have a unique relationship with the federal government, the report added. Such territories included on the White House list were the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island and Norfolk Island. Reciprocal tariffs of 29% were levied on Norfolk Island, a small territory about 600 miles off eastern Australia.