Wars do not understand names, and commercials much less. In that crazy Tariff race in which the United States seems to have signed up to all directions, it has been encountered, for example, with Diego García Island. The rate imposed is not surprising if it were not, in reality, an atolón that serves as a secret basis for … Washington. There is much more, because Trump has also imposed tariffs on islands that lack human population or, in the best case, to penguin communities.
An unusual ad. It happened a few hours ago and you have hardly been able to escape the news: in the presentation of the Liberation Day RatePresident Donald Trump surprised the entire planet by including in his list of commercial sanctions to territories that lack significant economic activity or even stable population. In the Official White House List Virtually irrelevant enclaves appear in international trade that, however, will be subject to taxes of up to 50%, generating astonishment due to the lack of apparent economic criteria in their selection.
In a ceremony at the White House, Trump showed a large poster that detailed alleged commercial barriers imposed on the United States, inexplicably including a list that we go on to detail.
Heard Islands and McDonald. It is probably the first time that many hear about them. It has its logic. These remote islands are external territories of Australia located in the Indian Ocean, to more than 4,000 km of perthand known only for its glaciers, colonies of penguins and elephant seals.
Cataloged as Unesco World Heritage, have been affected with a 10% tariff. The islands, described by CIA itself As a “desolate” territory and “covered in 80% per ice”, they do not register economic activity since 1877, when the extraction of marine elephant oil ceased and were abandoned by their only inhabitants, former seal hunters.
Coconut Islands and Jan Mayen: Microterritories. Another Australian enclave included is the archipelago of The coconut islandsinhabited by about 600 people, whose exports (mainly ships) depend by 32% on the US market, and now face A 10% tariff.
At the opposite end of the world, Norwegian island of Jan Mayena former shog station without permanent residents and with economy absolutely nilit has also been reached by the same tax, despite its commercial insignificance. In fact, Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has already expressed his bewilderment And concern by stating that “no place on earth is safe,” underlining the absurd nature of including territories without real productive capacity.
Diego García
Tokelu, Saint Pierre and surrealism. Of all the taxes announced, we are facing the More bleeding example. Tokelauan autonomous territory of New Zealand made up of three atolls and a population of 1,600 people, whose modest economy is 8 million dollars with exports of just $ 100,000, now they must pay 10% upon entering the United States.
But the most drastic case is that of Saint Pierre and Miquelona tiny French territory near Newfoundland, one with just 5,000 inhabitants, whose exports of seafood and crustaceans now face A 50% tariffexceeding even 20% applied to the rest of France under the rules of the European Union.
The example of Lesoto. For its part, Lesothoan African country without even exit to the sea and with an economy oriented to exports of diamonds, textiles and wool, will suffer a 50% tariffs about 20% Of their shipments that go to the United States, which represents a very hard blow for its fragile economy of 900 million dollars annually.
The key to understanding the varapalo of these micro nations is How has calculated United States tariffs. It is not that the tariffs that these territories have over Washington, but of their commercial surplus with the United States. In this way, yes, let’s say that Lesoto sells it only and exclusively an African fruit to Washington, and does not buy anything (or almost nothing) back, the African country is a huge surplus over the United States, although it is obviously not to “take advantage” of them. Well, as tariffs have calculated them by dividing surpluses by total exports to the United States, they make a tremendous hole.
Plot Twist: Allied bases. We said it at the beginning. The United States has even shot at the foot by adding tariffs to enclaves where they basically operate, in some cases, as in Diego Garcíawith Secret military basesor with relevant territories for American national security. For example, the British Indian Ocean Territorywhere joint military bases are located, shared by the United Kingdom and the United States, will face 10% tariffdespite the fact that their only population is … American military and contractors.
The same happens with Marshall Islandsthat in addition to hosting the American base of Kwajalein For ballistic tests, they are under the formal defense of Washington through a free association agreement. Their exports, although they do not have the United States as the main destination, will also be subject to an additional 10%.
Without clear economic criteria. In summary, the announced tariff pack seems to affect indiscriminately to Territories without weight In the commercial balance or even Without any economy. Far from focusing only on great powers, the measure reaches uninhabited islands, islets with penguins, own military bases and forgotten enclaves, generating confusion and questioning the logic behind the commercial strategy of the Trump administration.
Plus: The real impact of these rates in some cases will be null, but in others, Like Saint Pierre and Miquelon Or the same Lesoto, could cause disproportionate consequences for extremely tiny or simply dependent economies.
Image | Australian Antarctic Division, Wikimedia
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