(NewsNation) — President Trump’s tariffs have been far-reaching, but perhaps none more so than 10% tariffs on Heard Island and McDonald Island.
The islands are a territory of Australia and have been since 1947, after initially being under the control of the United Kingdom.
No humans live on the islands, which are located in the Antarctic Ocean and 2,485 miles southwest of Australia.
The implementation of tariffs on the islands did not go unnoticed by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
“It just shows and exemplifies the fact that nowhere on Earth is safe from this,” Albanese said Thursday.
Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell told the taxpayer-funded Australian Broadcasting Corporation that it was “clearly a mistake” by President Trump.
“Poor old penguins, I don’t know what they did to Trump, but, look, I think it’s an indication, to be honest with you, that this was a rushed process,” Farrell said.
Per the World Bank, $1.4 million of “machinery and electrical” goods were exported from the islands to the U.S.
Australia’s other territories, Christmas Island and Cocos Islands, also received the 10% tariffs. Norfolk Island, which has a populace of approximately 2,200 people, was hit with a 29% tariff.
“I’m not quite sure Norfolk Island, with respect to it, is a trade competitor with the giant economy of the U.S.,” Albanese said.