US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that the United States would impose reciprocal tariffs on a select group of Antarctic islands, despite the fact that they are uninhabited.
The Heard and McDonald Islands, known for their remote location and thriving wildlife populations, were among the territories targeted as part of Trump’s broader trade policy push.
During a press conference, Trump used a poster to display the countries and territories affected by the new tariffs, while additional details were provided on printed sheets distributed to reporters. One of the sheets suggested that the Heard and McDonald Islands currently impose a “Tariff to the USA.” of 10%, specifying in small print that this includes "currency manipulation and trade barriers." In response, the US is implementing "discounted reciprocal tariffs" at the same 10% rate.
The White House has not yet issued an official statement on the matter. The Australian Antarctic Division , which oversees the islands, referred inquiries to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade , which had not responded as of publication.
Australia, which has claimed the islands as a territory since 1953, manages them primarily for conservation and research purposes. The region is designated as a World Heritage Site and is covered in glaciers and rocky landscapes, with Heard Island featuring an active volcano. The islands are home to significant populations of penguins, seabirds, and elephant seals.
Beyond the Heard and McDonald Islands, Australia and several of its territories were also affected by the tariff policy. Christmas Island and the Cocos Keeling Islands were hit with a 10% tariff, while Norfolk Island faced a significantly higher 29% tariff.
Under the Antarctic Treaty , Antarctica is designated for peaceful purposes and international scientific cooperation, prohibiting any single country from claiming land on the continent. However, Australia has extended its sovereignty over the surrounding waters by establishing a marine reserve in 2002, later expanding its boundaries in 2023.
Elizabeth Buchanan, a senior fellow at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and an expert on polar geopolitics , questioned the legality of the decision. "One could argue this is in breach of the international Antarctic spirit," she said.
Australia’s Defense Force monitors the waters surrounding the islands as part of Operation Resolute, which covers a vast area, including waters off Christmas, Cocos Keeling, Macquarie, Norfolk, and Lord Howe Islands. The operation is aimed at countering "security threats" such as piracy and pollution.
Although largely uninhabited, the region occasionally receives visits from ships engaged in scientific research, commercial fishing, and tourism, according to the Australian Antarctic Division.
The Heard and McDonald Islands, known for their remote location and thriving wildlife populations, were among the territories targeted as part of Trump’s broader trade policy push.
During a press conference, Trump used a poster to display the countries and territories affected by the new tariffs, while additional details were provided on printed sheets distributed to reporters. One of the sheets suggested that the Heard and McDonald Islands currently impose a “Tariff to the USA.” of 10%, specifying in small print that this includes "currency manipulation and trade barriers." In response, the US is implementing "discounted reciprocal tariffs" at the same 10% rate.
The White House has not yet issued an official statement on the matter. The Australian Antarctic Division , which oversees the islands, referred inquiries to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade , which had not responded as of publication.
Australia, which has claimed the islands as a territory since 1953, manages them primarily for conservation and research purposes. The region is designated as a World Heritage Site and is covered in glaciers and rocky landscapes, with Heard Island featuring an active volcano. The islands are home to significant populations of penguins, seabirds, and elephant seals.
Beyond the Heard and McDonald Islands, Australia and several of its territories were also affected by the tariff policy. Christmas Island and the Cocos Keeling Islands were hit with a 10% tariff, while Norfolk Island faced a significantly higher 29% tariff.
Under the Antarctic Treaty , Antarctica is designated for peaceful purposes and international scientific cooperation, prohibiting any single country from claiming land on the continent. However, Australia has extended its sovereignty over the surrounding waters by establishing a marine reserve in 2002, later expanding its boundaries in 2023.
Elizabeth Buchanan, a senior fellow at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and an expert on polar geopolitics , questioned the legality of the decision. "One could argue this is in breach of the international Antarctic spirit," she said.
Australia’s Defense Force monitors the waters surrounding the islands as part of Operation Resolute, which covers a vast area, including waters off Christmas, Cocos Keeling, Macquarie, Norfolk, and Lord Howe Islands. The operation is aimed at countering "security threats" such as piracy and pollution.
Although largely uninhabited, the region occasionally receives visits from ships engaged in scientific research, commercial fishing, and tourism, according to the Australian Antarctic Division.
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