[Text/Observer Network Lin Chenli] On April 2nd local time, Trump's so-called "reciprocal tariff" on the globe has finally been implemented. In his lengthy tariff list, even the "extremely remote" uninhabited islands have not been spared.

According to reports by NBC, Forbes website and other media outlets, in the tariff list released by the Trump administration, the United States will impose a 10% "reciprocal tariff" on remote uninhabited islands such as Heard Island and McDonald Islands.

Geographical location of Heard Island and McDonald Islands Google Maps screenshot

It is reported that Heard Island and McDonald Islands are an overseas territory of Australia located in the Indian Ocean, situated about 3,200 kilometers southwest of Perth, Western Australia, and about 1,600 kilometers from Antarctica. It takes two weeks by boat from the Australian mainland to reach there.

According to information on the Australian government website, these islands are considered one of the most desolate and remote places on Earth. They are uninhabited, with large numbers of seals, penguins, and other birds inhabiting them. This archipelago is also the only known sub-Antarctic island group without any introduced species by humans, making it one of the purest ecosystems in the world.

Heard Island covers an area of approximately 368 square kilometers, with 80% covered by glaciers. The landmass is mainly composed of an active volcano named Big Ben, which stands at 2,745 meters in altitude. Since 2000, it has erupted at least three times. McDonald Island is much smaller, with a total area of only about 2.5 square kilometers, surrounded by some smaller islands.

A group of king penguins standing on the coast of Heard Island, Australia. Australian Antarctic Division

The White House stated that although these sub-Antarctic islands have no obvious import/export business with the U.S., as an overseas territory of Australia, they will also be subject to a 10% tariff.

Reports pointed out that it is unclear how Trump's tariff measures will affect Heard Island and McDonald Islands, since apart from a limited amount of commercial fishing activities within their economic zones by Australia, these islands have no other economic activities.

In addition to this archipelago, many other remote areas have also been subjected to 10% tariffs by Trump, including the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, which have a population of less than 600, the Tokelau Islands, which are part of New Zealand's affiliated territories and have a population of approximately 1,600, as well as the Arctic islands of Svalbard and Jan Mayen in Norway. Among these, Jan Mayen has no permanent residents.

It is understood that Trump's tariff list includes 180 countries and regions worldwide subject to a basic tariff rate of 10%, with dozens of other countries and regions including China subject to higher tariffs on top of the 10%. China's "reciprocal tariff" rate will reach 34%, Vietnam's tariff will be as high as 46%, Thailand's tariff will be 36%, Indonesia's tariff will be 32%, India's tariff will be 26%, Japan's tariff will be 24%, South Korea's tariff will be 25%, and EU countries' tariffs will rise to 20%.

On April 3rd, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce gave a statement regarding the US announcement of reciprocal tariffs, firmly opposing it and stating that China will resolutely take countermeasures to protect its own interests.

The spokesperson said that the US claims it has lost out in international trade and raises tariffs on all trading partners under the pretext of "reciprocity." This approach disregards the balanced results achieved through years of multilateral trade negotiations and ignores the fact that the US has benefited greatly from international trade over the long term. Based on subjective and unilateral assessments, the US has determined what it calls "reciprocal tariffs," which do not conform to international trade rules, seriously harming the legitimate rights and interests of relevant parties, and representing typical unilateral bullying behavior. Many trading partners have already expressed strong dissatisfaction and clear opposition.

The spokesperson said that history shows that raising tariffs cannot solve problems for the US itself; it not only harms US interests but also jeopardizes global economic development and supply chain stability. There are no winners in a trade war, and protectionism offers no way out. China urges the US to immediately cancel its unilateral tariff measures and resolve differences with trading partners through equal dialogue.

This article is an exclusive piece by the Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7488920771436462619/

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