Lutnick’s reasoning behind Trump ‘penguin tariffs’

Published April 7, 2025 3:42pm ET



President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs should take effect this week. The Heard Island and McDonald Islands, uninhabited territories of Australia, were among the countries and territories affected.

Critics quickly said that the tariffs on the islands would be ineffective, as the islands don’t export to the United States. They mocked the policy as “penguin tariffs” because the islands’ population primarily consists of penguins.

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