Pakistan, April 7 -- The Trump administration is defending its decision to impose tariffs on Heard and McDonald Islands. These remote Australian islands are home only to penguins and seals. The U.S. aims to close what it calls "ridiculous loopholes" in global trade.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick explained that the tariffs prevent countries from using unregulated trade routes. He emphasized the need to include every location to stop potential abuse of the U.S. trade system. Lutnick stated, "The President knows that, he's tired of it, and he's going to fix that."

Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell expressed surprise at the move. He called the decision "clearly a mistake" due to the rushed process. The islands exported only about $1...