Unlikely Tariff Targets: From Abandoned Whaling Stations to Secluded Military Bases on a Deserted Island

Seoul, South Korea — Recently, President Donald Trump announced significant tariffs that are affecting not just large economies but also tiny territories with little to no economic activity. Some of these places might surprise you.

Take the Heard Island and McDonald Islands, for example. These uninhabited Australian territories in the southern Indian Ocean were recently hit with a 10% tariff. According to the CIA World Factbook, they’re mostly ice-covered and described as bleak. The last economic activity there ended in 1877 when seal hunting ceased, leaving the islands virtually untouched since.

Another territory affected is the Cocos Islands, home to around 600 residents. About a third of its exports, mainly ships, go to the US, which are now subject to a 10% tariff. Similarly, the Norwegian island of Jan Mayen, which has no permanent residents, is facing the same tariff, despite having zero economic output listed.

The economic impact doesn’t stop there. Tokelau, a New Zealand territory made up of three atolls, faces tariffs of 10% as well, despite its economy only being about $8 million. With a tiny population of roughly 1,600, they export only about $100,000 worth of goods.

Saint Pierre and Miquelon, a French territory near Canada, is also feeling the pinch with tariffs soaring to 50% on exports like processed seafood. This is strikingly higher than the tariffs France faces as part of the EU—Gallic regions are only facing 20%. The territory is a remnant of France’s past North American holdings and has about 5,000 residents.

Curiously, Lesotho, a small country in Southern Africa, is hit with the same steep 50% tariffs, affecting 20% of its exports to the US, including diamonds and garments. With a population of 2.2 million, the situation there showcases how global trade policies hit vulnerable economies.

In a similar vein, the British Indian Ocean Territory has been targeted with a 10% tariff. This area, home to around 3,000 military personnel at Diego Garcia, sees its main export as fish, although the specifics of who catches or consumes the fish remain vague.

The Marshall Islands, crucial for American military operations but with a relatively small economy of $130 million, also face the new tariffs if exporting to the US. This territory exemplifies how trade policies can intertwine with national defense and security interests.

These tariffs are raising eyebrows for their expansive reach, affecting economies large and small. The nuanced impacts might trigger conversations on international trade policies and their effects on everyday lives, especially in places often overlooked.

For more information about current tariffs and their implications, you can check official reports from the U.S. Trade Representative.

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