Norfolk is a small island in the Pacific Ocean between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia and is an outer area of ​​Australia. This small island with 2,000 inhabitants is among the tens of small areas that appeared on the list of countries in which Donald Trump imposed duties yesterday, along with the Herd and McDonald islands in Antarctica, which are administratively owned by Australia.

For Richard Cottle, owner of a cement company in Norfolk, one may be the explanation of US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose 29% of exports: “It was just a mistake.”

Although the volcanic island of the Pacific Ocean exports seeds of the plant mainly to Europe, worth less than $ 1 million a year, its 2,188 inhabitants faced the news of the imposition of US duties with a mix of surprise.

“Norfolk island is a small dot in the world,” Cottle commented. “We don’t export anything.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanesi told reporters that the country did better than the EU and China, as Trump imposed only 10%duties on Australia. However, he could not explain what happened to Norfolk island.

“The last time I looked at the island of Norfolk belonged to Australia,” he told ABC television. The separate, higher duties announced by Trump for the island “were rather unexpected and a little curious,” he added.

“Will Norfolk’s products be taxed with 29%duties? There are no products, so there will be no impact, “commented Guy Duncan owner.

“They probably don’t even know where the island of Norfolk is. It is probably a mistake, “he added.

According to data from the US government, the US has recorded a trade deficit with Norfolk island for the last three years. The island exported $ 300,000 to the US in 20022, $ 700,000 in 2023 and $ 200,000 in 2024. Its imports from the US were kept in $ 100,000 in those three years.

Norfolk imports from the US reached their highest level in 2020, when the island introduced products worth $ 11.7 million and exported nothing.