88 postal operators suspend services to US over tariffs: UN

NEW DUTY SYSTEM

The UPU said the US change placed the burden of customs duty collection and remittance on carriers or “qualified parties” approved by US Customs and Border Protection.

“Carriers, such as airlines, signalled they were unwilling or unable to bear this responsibility,” while postal operators had not yet established links to those parties, “causing major operational disruptions”, it said.

The agency said it was working on a “Delivered Duty Paid” system, allowing postal operators to calculate and collect duties from customers at the point of origin. A temporary customs calculator is already available for operators to integrate into retail systems.

LETTER TO WASHINGTON

UPU director general Masahiko Metoki said he had written to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to convey concerns from member states.

Over the past year, inbound mail to the US accounted for 15 per cent of global postal traffic, with 44 per cent coming from Europe, 30 per cent from Asia, and 26 per cent from the rest of the world.

Most of this traffic comprised small packages used for e-commerce, the UPU noted.

Based in Bern, Switzerland, the UPU was established in 1874 and counts 192 member states.