Trump tariffs a remote, penguin-inhabited island in the Indian Ocean

National Post Canada ^ | April 03, 2025 | Chris Knight

[Red Badger]

Heard and McDonald Islands are home to birds, while Jan Mayen has only the occasional human presence

When the White House published a complete list of its reciprocal tariffs — running over several pages and naming close to 200 countries and territories — it was topped by China, a country of more than 1.4 billion people and home to the second largest economy in the world, after the United States. Its reciprocal tariff rate was 37 per cent.

But scroll to the bottom of the list and you’ll find some lesser known parts of the world that have also been slapped with reciprocal tariffs. Raising eyebrows (and perhaps ruffling a few feathers) are Heard and McDonald Islands, which are listed at 10 per cent, the lowest rate offered by the Trump administration.

Article content That tariff will be hard to collect, however, since the islands are uninhabited, save by seals, penguins and other birds. They are also one of the most remote places on Earth; though owned by Australia since 1947, they are roughly 4,000 kms from Australia and an almost equal distance from Madagascar. The nearest mainland is Antarctica, and that’s some 1,600 kms away.

[Cronos]

How is life in central Venezuela?

Did you get deported to Ciudad Bolivar, central_venezuela?

[proxy_user]

How do you know about my Friday old-men group? That’s us!

[Verginius Rufus]

It wouldn't be worth the transportation costs for an Australian to use the Heard and McDonald Islands to evade tariffs...since Australia has the same rate.

Heard Island, by the way, was named for an American, the first person known to have seen the island.

[Red Badger]

They would not have to actually go there, just use the address..........