Australia’s remote islands, which do not even have human inhabitants, have been caught up alongside global heavyweights in U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping tariff regime, leaving officials baffled.

Trump also unveiled a hefty 29% tariff on Norfolk Island, a tiny territory with barely any exports about 600 miles off eastern Australia.

Norfolk Island was among dozens of tiny territories which appeared on the same list as China and the European Union as recipients of Trump's highly anticipated tariff regime, even though they do not have a real manufacturing or export industry.

According to U.S. government data, the U.S. has recorded trade deficits with Norfolk Island for the past three years. 

The island exported $300,000 worth of goods to the U.S. in 2022, $700,000 in 2023 and $200,000 in 2024. Its imports from the U.S. stayed at $100,000 in those years.  - report from Reuters