Donald Trump’s latest tariff expansion has reached the ends of the Earth – literally. The former president’s new 10% import taxes now include Australia’s Heard and McDonald Islands in Antarctica, despite the territories having no human population or significant trade. The only potential “importers” affected would be penguins and seals, assuming they start ordering goods from Amazon.
This peculiar policy decision has sparked both confusion and comedy across the internet. “Did the penguins say thank you even once?” joked one Reddit user, referencing previous Trump administration diplomatic gaffes. Others speculated about escalating tensions with the Antarctic wildlife community, with one commenter warning, “Remember what happened with Wallace and Gromit?”
While Canada and Mexico avoided these particular tariffs due to ongoing negotiations, the inclusion of these barren islands raises eyebrows. Measuring just slightly larger than Philadelphia combined, the territories represent perhaps the most puzzling target in Trump’s trade agenda. As social media users continue roasting the policy, one thing becomes clear: in modern politics, truth continues to be stranger than fiction.
