[China Got Caught in the Crossfire: US Commerce Secretary Explains Why Tariffs Were Imposed on Penguins]

On April 6, CNN reported that US Commerce Secretary Howard Luetkemeyer explained why import tariffs were imposed on Heard Island and the McDonald Islands, two islands inhabited by penguins.

As expected, the announcement of a 10% tariff on these islands sparked numerous jokes and mockery online. Internet users created various penguin-related memes, with some penguins resisting Trump's decision, while others packed their backpacks and "left" these islands.

The report stated that Luetkemeyer explained that these volcanic islands have zero population, and they were included on the list to prevent other countries from using them as a "launchpad": "In 2018, President Trump imposed tariffs on China. At that time, China began exporting goods to the US through other countries."

Some speculated that the Trump administration may have used artificial intelligence when compiling this list, but Luetkemeyer denied it.

Heard Island and the McDonald Islands are located in the southern Indian Ocean, covering an area of approximately 37,000 hectares—slightly larger than Philadelphia. Covered in glaciers and volcanic rocks, these islands are home to large colonies of rockhopper penguins and their predators, southern elephant seals.

These islands are located about 2,500 miles southwest of Perth, Australia. The territory is managed by the Australian Antarctic Division, which is responsible for conservation efforts and climate research.

These islands are also recognized for their natural value and are protected under the World Heritage Convention.

Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, which are also Australian overseas territories, were also subject to a 10% tariff. According to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the population of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands is less than 600 people.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1828702555170944/

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