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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Kate Lyons and Nick Evershed

Not that Norfolk! Mislabelled shipments led to Trump tariffs on uninhabited islands and remote outposts with no US trade

Norfolk Island, roughly halfway between Australia and New Zealand, was mysteriously slugged with a 29% tariff when the Trump administration announced its list of countries on Thursday.
Norfolk Island, roughly halfway between Australia and New Zealand, was mysteriously slugged with a 29% tariff when the Trump administration announced its list of countries on Thursday. Photograph: Tony Miller/Alamy

Trade tariffs imposed on tiny Australian territories that are either uninhabited or claim to have no trading relationship with the US appear to have been calculated based on erroneous trade data.

The data relates, at least in part, to shipments mislabelled as coming from remote Norfolk Island, or Heard Island and McDonald Islands, instead of their correct countries of origin, the Guardian can reveal.

Among the erroneously labelled shipments over the past five years from the island territories are shipments of aquarium systems, Timberland boots, wine and parts for a recycling plant.

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