How Penguins Got Pulled Into a Global Trade War
rip off: to cheat someone, especially by making them pay too much or by treating them unfairly in a deal
The United States recently placed new tariffs on imports from every country in the world. During a speech at the White House, Donald Trump complained about unfair trading relationships. He said, “Taxpayers have been ripped off for more than 50 years, but it is not going to happen anymore.”
Nowhere is safe from the new tax policy, including Heard and McDonald Islands. These small Antarctic islands are home to hundreds of thousands of penguins, but zero humans. Australian trade minister Don Farrell said, “Poor old penguins, I don’t know what they did to Trump…”
CNN’s Jake Tapper asked Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins about the islands. “They had zero imports. They do have a lot of penguins.” said Tapper. “Why are you putting import tariffs on islands that are entirely populated by penguins?”
Rollins struggled to defend the policy. She said, “I mean, come on, whatever. Listen, the people that are leading this are serious, intentional, patriotic.”
Sample sentences
I paid $30 for a sandwich at the airport. What a rip off!
The phone looked new, but it stopped working after one day. I felt completely ripped off.
That hotel charged us extra for towels and Wi-Fi. It was a total rip off.
Read More:
‘Nowhere’s safe’: How an island of penguins ended up on Trump tariff list
‘Whatever’: Trump official pressed on tariffs against islands populated by penguins