Howard Lutnick denies use of AI in tariff calculations
- Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick addressed tariff concerns on CBS News regarding territories like Heard Island and McDonald Islands.
- These islands, primarily populated by penguins and void of human presence, have been subjected to 10% tariffs despite having no exports.
- Lutnick concluded that the decision was made to eliminate loopholes and insisted that no artificial intelligence contributed to the tariff list.
The Trump administration's tariffs have drawn widespread scrutiny, especially with the inclusion of remote territories like Heard Island and McDonald Islands, which are uninhabited by humans and known for their penguin population. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick appeared on CBS News, where he responded to questions about these tariffs, clarifying that the administration did not use artificial intelligence tools to compile the list. Despite the absurdity of applying tariffs to areas with no exports to the U.S., Lutnick explained the rationale is to ensure no countries are excluded that could serve as conduit routes for goods. The islands, being home to only penguins and lacking a permanent population, have raised eyebrows and confusion, making Lutnick's claims appear increasingly questionable in light of their geographical and logistical realities. The Trump administration believes that imposing tariffs on a broad range of countries will strengthen domestic manufacturing and reduce the trade deficit, hence he insisted there would be no delays on these tariffs, reinforcing the administration's aggressive trade agenda even against nations with no commercial ties to the U.S.