A group of barren, uninhabited volcanic islands near Antarctica, covered in glaciers and home to penguins, has been swept up in Donald Trump’s trade war, as the US president hit them with a 10% tariff on goods.
Heard Island and McDonald Islands, which form an external territory of Australia, are among the remotest places on Earth, accessible only via a two-week boat voyage from Perth on Australia’s west coast. They are completely uninhabited, with the last visit from people believed to be nearly 10 years ago.
Nevertheless, Heard and McDonald islands featured in a list released by the White House of “countries” that would have new trade tariffs imposed.
The Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said on Thursday: “Nowhere on Earth is safe.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the decision by President Trump to impose a 10% tariff on its ally was ‘not the act of a friend,’ but ruled out reciprocal tariffs against the United States https://t.co/WAB0kkTUBh pic.twitter.com/wV1wWFOOEI
— Reuters (@Reuters) April 3, 2025
Heard Island and McDonald Islands are among several “external territories” of Australia listed separately in the tariff list to Australia, which will see a 10% tariff imposed on its goods.
External territories are part of Australia and not self-governing but have a unique relationship with the federal government.
Source: The Guardian (edited by Al-Manar English Website)
