Overview

• President Trump’s new 10% baseline tariff on all imports to the U.S., including uninhabited territories, officially took effect on April 3, 2025.
• The inclusion of remote regions like Heard and McDonald Islands, with no human population or economic activity, has drawn widespread criticism for its indiscriminate nature.
• Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese denounced the policy, stating, 'Nowhere on Earth is safe,' highlighting concerns over its global impact.
• Economic forecasts for U.S. growth have been downgraded, and the U.S. Economic Policy Uncertainty Index has reached its highest level since the pandemic.
• Environmentalists have raised alarms about the potential implications for pristine ecosystems like Heard and McDonald Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage site.