T---- Tariffs Hit Antarctic Islands Inhabited by Zero Humans and Many Penguins

[usonian]

The Heard and McDonald Islands are among the dozens of targets of Donald Trump's latest round of tariffs. But they have no exports, because no one lives there.

https://www.wired.com/story/trump-tariffs-antarctic-islands-heard-mcdonald/

https://archive.is/8IgBK

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced the US was imposing reciprocal tariffs on a small collection of Antarctic islands that are not inhabited by humans, as part of a global trade war aimed at asserting US dominance. The Heard and McDonald Islands, known for their populations of penguins and seabirds, can only be reached by sea.

Trump announced the countries now subject to tariffs in a Wednesday press conference, using a poster as a prop. Additional countries—including the Heard and McDonald Islands, which are, incidentally, not countries—were listed on sheets of paper distributed to reporters.

One of the sheets claims that the Heard and McDonald Islands currently charge a “Tariff to the U.S.A.” of 10 percent, clarifying in tiny letters that this includes "currency manipulation and trade barriers." In return, the sheet says that the US will charge "discounted reciprocal tariffs" on the islands at a rate of 10 percent.

The islands are small. Their reported 37,000 hectares of land makes them a little larger than Philadelphia. According to UNESCO, which designated the islands as a World Heritage Site in 1997, they are covered in rocks and glaciers. Heard Island is the site of an active volcano, and McDonald Island is surrounded by several smaller rocky islands. The islands are home to large populations of penguins and elephant seals.

[Biophilic]

1. The White House is filled with fucking morons.

It never gets better. It only gets worse. Now we’ve started a tariff war with a bunch of penguins?

[sheshe2]

11. He is just mad at the damn penguins...

...because they wear a tux better than he does!

[usonian]

12. Well, that's not the picture I got.

And there's a lot better penguin.

[sheshe2]

14. Bwahahahahaha.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2. They waddled around and found out.

What’s black and white and red all over?

[GreenWave]

3. Seems like the poo poo king is envious...

it's pink!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. Additionally, the British Indian Ocean Territory, inhabited by soldiers, got dinged by the bright sparks

And you'll never guess the soldiers, ..., well okay, you can. The soldiers are United States of America soldiers and UK soldiers.

[Abolishinist]

5. Looks to me like they're laughing at his outfit!

[surfered]

7. 😁

[surfered]

6. Those thieving penguins have been ripping us off for years.

Even during Trump’s first term because they were smarter than Trump.

[Meowmee]

9. 😹

But they wore a suit and were so respectful... why harm the penguins?

[surfered]

10. Yes , a suit in the White House

[William Gustafson]

16. because thats how they get in... looking all cute and cuddly... then they rip you off and you don't even know it...

little ass holes....

[Meowmee]

18. Those penguins have a nerve 😹

[KT2000]

8. Rachel gave a good summary

of the tariffs that had me laughing. Did you know the tariff on the Falkland Islands is 41%?

[BlueSpot]

13. Every time you think it can't get worse or can't get stupider

It does.

[Hekate]

15. Punishing Penguins in the Snow. Assaulting Atolls with Fish. Vicious Volcanos.

Do you think a couple of staffers made a bet along the lines of: “I’ll bet you he’ll sign anything that gets put in front of him — anything at all. You on?”

[William Gustafson]

17. Hey, listen... those critters that are running around these islands have done nothing to honor the USA...

Why should they get off not paying Tariffs to the great one?... They are lucky that the great one doesn't raise it to 100%, but one of you critters have to take the fall.... so, who is it going to be?... (sarcasm!!)