As he based his numbers on trade deficits, I wonder what was actually imported from an uninhabited island. Is there a public source where this might stem from?
From the Guardian: "The export figures from Heard Island and McDonald Islands are even more perplexing. The territory does have a fishery but no buildings or human habitation whatsoever.
"Despite this, according to export data from the World Bank, the US imported US$1.4m (A$2.23m) of products from Heard Island and McDonald Islands in 2022, nearly all of which was “machinery and electrical” imports. It was not immediately clear what those goods were.
“In the five years prior, imports from Heard Island and McDonald Islands ranged from US$15,000 (A$24,000) to US$325,000 (A$518,000) per year.”
So my best guess is that someone is running some kind of money laundering scheme involving fictitious imports… I have no idea how this would work, but those figures are insane.
Thanks. I had been guessing it was the cost of the scientific expeditions on this island, paid by an American university or something, and somehow calculated as imports. But yeah, 1.4m$ im machinery and electrics from an uninhabited island indeed smells fishy.
As he based his numbers on trade deficits, I wonder what was actually imported from an uninhabited island. Is there a public source where this might stem from?
He put 10% minimum tariffs on everyone. Somehow they still used “reciprocal” language.
From the Guardian: "The export figures from Heard Island and McDonald Islands are even more perplexing. The territory does have a fishery but no buildings or human habitation whatsoever.
"Despite this, according to export data from the World Bank, the US imported US$1.4m (A$2.23m) of products from Heard Island and McDonald Islands in 2022, nearly all of which was “machinery and electrical” imports. It was not immediately clear what those goods were.
“In the five years prior, imports from Heard Island and McDonald Islands ranged from US$15,000 (A$24,000) to US$325,000 (A$518,000) per year.”
So my best guess is that someone is running some kind of money laundering scheme involving fictitious imports… I have no idea how this would work, but those figures are insane.
The Norfolk Island tariffs are also barking.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/03/donald-trump-tariffs-antarctica-uninhabited-heard-mcdonald-islands
Thanks. I had been guessing it was the cost of the scientific expeditions on this island, paid by an American university or something, and somehow calculated as imports. But yeah, 1.4m$ im machinery and electrics from an uninhabited island indeed smells fishy.
Nice pun
Rip that guy I guess, he’s gotta pay terrifs on that dirty money now
Science. We spend a lot of money on it for science, and they never return any money directly.
Wow what a bunch of freeloaders!
What has science ever done for me?