In News:

Donald Trump has imposed a 10% tariff on imports from the Heard and McDonald Islands.

Geographical Context

• Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI) are remote, sub-Antarctic volcanic islands in the southern Indian Ocean, situated:
  • ~4,100 km southwest of Perth (Australia),
  • ~1,600 km north of the Antarctic coast.
• They are one of Australia’s seven external territories, administered directly by the Australian government.

Physical and Ecological Significance

• Volcanically active: Home to Big Ben (2,745 m, Mawson Peak), Australia’s highest mountain outside the mainland and Tasmania.
• McDonald Island has expanded due to recent eruptions in the 1990s and 2000s.
• Only volcanically active sub-Antarctic islands, making them valuable for studying:
  • Earth’s crustal processes,
  • Glacial dynamics,
  • Oceanic and atmospheric changes.
• Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (1997) and classified under IUCN Category Ia (Strict Nature Reserve).

Biodiversity

• Inhabited by marine birds and mammals like:Penguins, elephant seals, and seabirds.
• Notable for being free from invasive species, aiding biodiversity and evolutionary research.
• Largely uninhabited by humans; no known permanent population.

US Tariff Controversy

• The US President (Donald Trump) imposed a 10% tariff on imports from HIMI—despite the islands having no known exports or trade with the US.
• The islands have no recent human presence and are mainly home to wildlife.
• Other Australian external territories targeted by similar tariffs include:
  • Norfolk Island – 29% tariff despite limited economic activity.
  • Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island – 10% tariff.
• The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), including Diego Garcia, also faced a 10% tariff. Diego Garcia hosts a US-UK military base, with no civilian population.