US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has defended President Donald Trump’s recent tariff rollout, including the imposition of 10% fees on uninhabited islands populated by penguins. The Heard and McDonald Islands, located between Australia, South Africa, and Antarctica, were unexpectedly listed as being hit with the tariffs.
Rollins attributed the decision to the US living under a global tariff regime, saying America should not “go first.” When questioned about the arbitrary inclusion of the islands, Rollins replied “whatever,” suggesting that the Trump administration’s intentions are serious.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick argued that any country cannot be left off the list of tariffs, as it creates loopholes for countries to ship through and avoid paying fees. The tariff rollout has sparked controversy, with some analysts warning that manufacturers will pass on costs to consumers, raising prices.
The stock market has taken a significant hit since Trump’s announcement, with the Dow Jones industrial average losing 9.2% in two trading days, followed by declines of 10.5% and 11.4% for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, respectively.
Source: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/06/trump-tariffs-islands-seals-penguins/82963593007