Trump’s tariffs target island of penguins, but Russia faces no new trade rules

Aside from climate change and pollution, penguins are now facing one more threat from humanity: President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

Aside from climate change and pollution, penguins are now facing one more threat from humanity: President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

Trump on Wednesday announced expansive tariffs on more than 180 countries and regions to retaliate against what he characterized as unfair trade practices by other countries.

While Vladimir Putin’s Russia was left out of the long list, Trump slapped 10% tariffs on Heard Island and McDonald Islands, a mostly barren, tiny outpost largely populated by penguins.

The island group is located in the middle of the Antarctic Ocean and remains among the world’s most remote places where no humans live. Administered by the Australian government as an external territory, the island group covers 140 square miles, is about 2,400 miles southwest of mainland Australia, and requires a two-week sail for a visit.

A waddle of King penguins on the shores of Heard Island.Matt Curnock / Australian Antarctic Division“It just shows and exemplifies the fact that nowhere on Earth is safe from this,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters Thursday, calling Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs “not the act of a friend.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/trump-trade-war-penguin-tariffs-islands-antarctica-rcna199652

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