Trump's Tariffs on Remote Territories Draw Global Criticism

New U.S. trade policy imposes sweeping tariffs on nearly all foreign countries, including uninhabited islands and key U.S. allies, sparking confusion and backlash.

President Trump announced a sweeping 10% tariff on nearly all foreign countries, including remote and uninhabited territories like Heard Island and McDonald Islands and Christmas Island.
Norfolk Island, an Australian territory with a population of just over 2,000, was hit with a disproportionately high 29% tariff, raising questions about the policy's rationale.
The British Indian Ocean Territory U.S. military base on Diego Garcia, was also targeted despite its lack of significant trade activity, highlighting potential diplomatic implications.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the tariffs as 'totally unwarranted,' with local officials expressing confusion over the inclusion of territories with minimal or no U.S. trade.
Speculation has emerged that errors in classifying territories, potentially linked to unique internet domains, may have contributed to the seemingly arbitrary tariff designations.