Trump Imposes 10% Tariffs on Indian Ocean Islands with Population of Zero

A group of uninhabited volcanic islands near Antarctica in the Indian Ocean, the "Heard and McDonald Islands", have been unexpectedly hit by the latest wave of US trade tariffs announced by President Donald Trump. This decision has led to confusion, because these territories have no population or documented exports. The islands, which are an external territory of Australia, are covered in glaciers and can only be accessed via a two-week boat journey from Perth. A White House document released this week indicates that they will now face a 10% tariff on all goods.

The list also included other Australian territories, like the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island, and Norfolk Island, which faced an even higher 29% tariff, even though their trade ties with the U.S. are very limited. Norfolk Island, with a population of about 2200, had its administrator, George Plant, questioning the official US figures that said the island exported over 650,000 in goods, including 413,000 in leather footwear to the US in 2023. “There are no known exports from Norfolk Island to the United States,” Plant said, calling the figures inaccurate.

Even more confusion arose after the World Bank said that Heard and McDonald Islands sent $1.4 million worth of “machinery and electrical” goods to the US last year. It must be noted that these islands have no infrastructure, no permanent residents, and no human activity for over a decade. It’s left trade experts and observers scratching their heads, wondering what on earth the reasoning was behind those tariffs, especially given the islands' total lack of economic activity. The islands are known for their large population of penguins and endangered bird species.

The White House has yet to address this situation.