2015-02007. International Product and Price Changes  

  • Start Preamble

    AGENCY:

    Postal ServiceTM.

    ACTION:

    Final rule.

    SUMMARY:

    The Postal Service is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®, to reflect the prices, product features, and classification changes to Competitive Services, as established by the Governors of the Postal Service.

    DATES:

    Effective date: April 26, 2015.

    Start Further Info

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    Paula Rabkin at 202-268-2537.

    End Further Info End Preamble Start Supplemental Information

    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    New prices will be posted under Docket Number CP2015-33 on the Postal Regulatory Commission's Web site at http://www.prc.gov.

    This final rule describes the international price and classification changes and the corresponding mailing standards changes for the following Competitive Services:

    • Global Express Guaranteed ® (GXG ®).
    • Priority Mail Express InternationalTM.
    • Priority Mail International ®.
    • First-Class Package International ServiceTM.
    • International Priority AirmailTM (IPA ®).
    • International Surface Air Lift ® (ISAL ®).
    • Direct Sacks of Printed Matter to One Addressee (Airmail M-bags).
    • International Extra Services:

    ○ Certificate of Mailing.

    ○ Registered MailTM Service.

    ○ Return Receipt Service.

    New prices will be located on the Postal Explorer® Web site at http://pe.usps.com.

    Global Express Guaranteed

    Global Express Guaranteed (GXG) is the Postal Service's premier international expedited product provided through an alliance with FedEx Express ®. The price increase for GXG service averages 7.2 percent.

    The Postal Service continues to provide Commercial Base pricing to online customers who prepare and pay for GXG shipments via USPS-approved payment methods, with variable discounts up to 16 percent off the published retail prices for GXG.

    The Postal Service also continues to offer Commercial Plus pricing price incentives for large volume customers who commit to tendering $100,000 in annual postal revenue from GXG, Priority Mail Express International (PMEI), Priority Mail International (PMI), and First-Class Package International Service (FCPIS ®) via USPS-approved payment methods, with variable discounts up to 24 percent off the published retail prices for GXG.

    Priority Mail Express International

    Priority Mail Express International (PMEI) service provides fast service to approximately 180 countries. A money-back guarantee service (exceptions apply) is available for certain destinations. The price increase for PMEI service averages 6.7 percent. The Commercial Base price and Commercial Plus price for customers that prepare and pay for PMEI shipments via permit imprint, online at USPS.com®, or as registered end-users using an authorized PC Postage vendor will remain a variable discount (based on the item's weight and price group) of up to 13 percent below the retail price for Commercial Base price and up to 25 percent below the retail price for Commercial Plus price.

    The Postal Service continues to offer PMEI Commercial Plus pricing that includes discount price incentives to large volume customers who commit to tendering at least $100,000 in annual postal revenue from GXG, PMEI, Priority Mail International and First-Class Package International Service. The Postal Service will continue to include PMEI in customized Global Expedited Package Services (GEPS) contracts offered to customers who meet certain revenue thresholds and are willing to commit to a larger amount of postal revenue for PMEI and Priority Mail International.

    Priority Mail International

    Priority Mail International (PMI) is a way to send merchandise and documents to about 180 countries. The price increase for PMI service averages 6.8 percent. The Commercial Base price and Commercial Plus price for customers that prepare and pay for PMI items via permit imprint, online at USPS.com, or as registered end-users using an authorized PC Postage vendor will remain a variable discount (based on the item's weight and price group) of up to 13 percent below the retail price for Commercial Base price and up to 21 percent below the retail price for Commercial Plus price. Large volume mailers who commit to tendering at least $100,000 in annual postal revenue from GXG, PMEI, PMI, and First-Class Package International Service may request authorization for Commercial Plus discount prices. The Postal Service will continue to include PMI in customized Global Expedited Package Services (GEPS) contracts offered to customers who meet certain revenue thresholds and are willing to commit to a larger amount of revenue to the USPS® for PMEI and PMI.

    In this filing we are proposing a structural change to create price zones for PMI to Canada. New zoned prices, based on the origin ZIP Code for PMI destined to Canada, will encourage customers to better use our network and Start Printed Page 5684allow us to compete more effectively in major metropolitan markets from which U.S. businesses export and where the Postal Service operates an international gateway (International Service Center).

    An additional classification change is an increase to 66 pounds from 44 pounds for the maximum weight for PMI Country Price Group 17 (Netherlands).

    First-Class Package International Service

    First-Class Package International Service (FCPIS) is an economical international service for small packages weighing less than 4 pounds and not exceeding $400 in value. The pricing structure for FCPIS will continue to be simpler than for some other international products, with one retail price worldwide for 1 to 2 ounces, identical prices for 3 to 4 ounces within each country price group, and identical prices for 5 to 8 ounces within each country price group. The price increase for FCPIS averages 7.2 percent. The Commercial Base price and Commercial Plus price for customers that prepare and pay for FCPIS items via permit imprint or by USPS-approved online payment methods will remain a variable discount (based on the item's weight and price group) of up to 10 percent below the retail price for Commercial Base price and up to 16 percent below the retail price for Commercial Plus price. Large volume mailers who commit to tendering at least $100,000 in annual postal revenue from GXG, PMEI, PMI, and FCPIS may request authorization for Commercial Plus discount prices.

    International Priority Airmail and International Surface Air Lift

    Published prices for the commercial international Shipping Services, which include International Priority Airmail (IPA) and International Surface Air Lift (ISAL), will have an overall price increase of 4.5 percent. The structure of IPA and ISAL price categories will continue to be priced by the worldwide and 19 country price groups and applicable mail shapes (letters and postcards, large envelopes [flats], and packages [small packets and rolls]). These categories correspond to the Universal Postal Convention requirements to use shape-based pricing. For IPA and ISAL, the Postal Service offers incentive pricing through International Negotiated Service Agreements (NSAs).

    International Priority Airmail (IPA) service, including IPA M-bags, is a bulk commercial service that provides rapid and economical worldwide delivery to business mailers for volume mailings of First-Class Mail International postcards, letters, large envelopes (flats), and FCPIS packages (small packets) weighing up to a maximum 4.4 pounds. IPA is dispatched to the destination country where it is entered into the postal administration's air or surface priority mail system for delivery. The overall price increase for IPA service averages 4.5 percent.

    International Surface Air Lift (ISAL) service, including ISAL M-Bags, is a bulk commercial service that provides economical worldwide delivery to business mailers of volume mailings of all First-Class Mail International postcards, letters, large envelopes (flats), and FCPIS packages (small packets) weighing up to 4.4 pounds. ISAL is dispatched to the destination country where it is then entered into the postal administration's surface nonpriority network. The overall price increase for ISAL service averages 4.5 percent.

    Direct Sacks of Printed Matter to One Addressee (Airmail M-bags)

    Airmail M-bags are direct sacks of printed matter sent to a single foreign addressee at a single address. Prices are based on the weight of the sack. The price increase for Airmail M-bags averages 6.8 percent.

    International Extra Services

    Depending on country destination and mail type, customers may add a variety of extra services to their outbound shipments. Prices for some of these extra services are increasing. Also, as a housekeeping measure, we will remove provisions concerning Inbound International Return Receipt and Inbound International Insurance from the Mail Classification Schedule, as these are products offered by foreign postal administrations to their countries' mailers, not USPS mail products.

    For our competitive offerings, we revised the prices for the following international extra services:

    Certificate of Mailing

    The price for Certificate of Mailing will increase 2.5 percent.

    Registered Mail

    The price for Registered Mail will increase 2.2 percent.

    Return Receipt

    The price for Return Receipt for International Mail will increase 2.7 percent.

    Priority Mail Express International Insurance and Priority Mail International Insurance

    The insurance tables for Priority Mail Express International (PMEI) and Priority Mail International (PMI) will be combined into one table to simplify pricing.

    Start List of Subjects

    List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 20

    • Foreign relations
    • International postal services
    End List of Subjects

    The Postal Service hereby adopts the following changes to Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM), which is incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR 20.1. Accordingly, 39 CFR part 20 is amended as follows:

    Start Part

    PART 20—[AMENDED]

    End Part Start Amendment Part

    1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 20 continues to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part Start Authority

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 13 U.S.C. 301-307; 18 U.S.C. 1692-1737; 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 407, 414, 416, 3001-3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3622, 3626, 3632, 3633, and 5001.

    End Authority Start Amendment Part

    2. Revise the following sections of Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM), as follows:

    End Amendment Part

    Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM)

    2 Conditions for Mailing

    * * * * *

    220 Priority Mail Express International

    * * * * *

    222.8 Extra Services—Merchandise Insurance

    [Revise second sentence of 222.8 to read as follows:]

    * * * See Exhibit 322.2 for individual country merchandise insurance limits.* * *

    * * * * *

    230 Priority Mail International

    * * * * *

    232.3 Priority Mail International Medium and Large Flat Rate Boxes

    [Revise next to last sentence about insurance to read as follows:]

    * * * Medium and Large Flat Rate Boxes may be insured—see Exhibit 322.2 for insurance availability and limitations.

    * * * * *

    3 Insurance

    * * * * *
    Start Printed Page 5685

    322 Priority Mail Express International Insurance

    * * * * *

    322.2 Availability

    [Delete last sentence of 322.2 and replace with new sentence about Exhibit 322.2 as follows:]

    * * * See Exhibit 322.2 for availability and insurance limits.

    [Insert new Exhibit 322.2 to read as shown in the table appended to the end of this Federal Register Notice.]

    322.3 Additional Coverage and Fees

    [Revise 322.3 to read as follows:]

    Additional merchandise insurance coverage above $200—up to the maximum amount allowed by the country (see Exhibit 322.2) but never to exceed $5,000—may be purchased at the sender's option. The insurance fee is in addition to postage and other applicable fees. See Notice 123, Price List, for the fee schedule for optional Priority Mail Express International merchandise insurance coverage.

    * * * * *

    323 Priority Mail International Insurance

    * * * * *

    323.2 Availability

    [Replace second sentence of 323.2 to read as follows:]

    * * * See Exhibit 322.2.* * *

    323.3 Coverage and Fees

    [Revise the first sentence of 323.3 to read as follows and delete the second sentence in its entirety:]

    Merchandise insurance coverage—up to the maximum amount allowed by the country (see Exhibit 322.2) but never to exceed $5,000—may be purchased at the sender's option. The insurance fee is in addition to postage and other applicable fees and is based on the insured value.* * *

    * * * * *

    Country Price Groups and Weight Limits

    * * * * *

    [Change the weight for Netherlands Priority Mail International to 66 pounds so that the entry for Netherlands reads as follows:]

    CountryGlobal express guaranteedPriority mail express internationalPriority mail international 1First-class mail international and first-class package international service
    Price groupMax. wt. (lbs.)Price groupMax. wt. (lbs.)Price groupMax. wt. (lbs.)Price groupMax. wt. 2 (ozs./lbs.)
    Netherlands3701766176653.5/4
    * * * * *

    Individual Country Listings

    * * * * *

    Priority Mail Express International (220)

    * * * * *

    [For each country that offers Priority Mail Express International merchandise insurance, replace the fee table with the following:]

    See Exhibit 322.2 for individual country merchandise insurance limits. See Notice 123, Price List, for the fee schedule for Priority Mail Express International merchandise insurance coverage.

    * * * * *

    Priority Mail International (230)

    * * * * *

    [For each country that offers Priority Mail International merchandise insurance, replace the fee table with the following:]

    See Exhibit 322.2 for individual country merchandise insurance limits. See Notice 123, Price List, for the fee schedule for Priority Mail International merchandise insurance coverage.

    * * * * *

    Exhibit 322.2

    Priority Mail Express International and Priority Mail International Merchandise Insurance Limits

    CountryPMEIPMI
    Afghanistann/an/a
    Albania5000n/a
    Algeria5000n/a
    Andorra50005000
    Angola5000n/a
    Anguilla5000415
    Antigua and Barbudan/a60
    Argentina50005000
    Armenia5000875
    Aruba5000830
    Ascensionn/an/a
    Australia50003644
    Austria50005000
    Azerbaijan50002915
    Bahamas50001458
    Bahrain5000n/a
    Bangladesh50005000
    Barbados5000238
    Belarus50001312
    Belgium650650
    Belize50001600
    Benin5000n/a
    Bermuda5000440
    Bhutan500022
    Bolivia5000n/a
    Start Printed Page 5686
    Bosnia-Herzegovina50005000
    Botswana500073
    Brazil50002915
    British Virgin Islandsn/a500
    Brunei Darussalam5000n/a
    Bulgaria50001115
    Burkina Faso5000969
    Burma (Myanmar)n/an/a
    Burundi50005000
    Cambodia5000n/a
    Cameroon5000n/a
    Canada5000675
    Cape Verde5000n/a
    Cayman Islands5000n/a
    Central African Republic5000n/a
    Chad5000185
    Chile5000n/a
    China50001222
    Colombia5000999
    Comorosn/a690
    Congo, Democratic Republic of the5000n/a
    Congo, Republic of the50001685
    Costa Rica5000n/a
    Cote d'Ivoire50005000
    Croatia50005000
    Cuban/an/a
    Curacao (includes Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius)50005000
    Cyprus50005000
    Czech Republic50005000
    Denmark650650
    Djibouti5000880
    Dominica5000n/a
    Dominican Republic5000n/a
    Ecuador5000n/a
    Egypt50001685
    El Salvador5000n/a
    Equatorial Guinean/an/a
    Eritrea5000n/a
    Estonia50002187
    Ethiopia5000n/a
    Falkland Islandsn/an/a
    Faroe Islands50005000
    Fiji5000n/a
    Finland650650
    France650650
    French Guiana50005000
    French Polynesia50004519
    Gabon5000523
    Gambian/an/a
    Georgia, Republic of50001458
    Germany500500
    Ghana5000n/a
    Gibraltarn/an/a
    Great Britain and Northern Ireland650n/a
    Greece650650
    Greenlandn/a5000
    Grenada5000350
    Guadeloupe50005000
    Guatemalan/an/a
    Guinea5000948
    Guinea-Bissau50002915
    Guyana500010
    Haiti5000n/a
    Hondurasn/an/a
    Hong Kong50005000
    Hungary50005000
    Iceland650650
    India50002189
    Indonesia5000n/a
    Irann/an/a
    Iraq5000n/a
    Start Printed Page 5687
    Ireland650650
    Israel5000n/a
    Italy650650
    Ivory Coast (Cote d'Ivoire)50005000
    Jamaica5000n/a
    Japan50005000
    Jordann/an/a
    Kazakhstan50005000
    Kenya5000131
    Kiribatin/an/a
    Korea, Democratic People's Republic of (North Korea)n/an/a
    Korea, Republic of (South Korea)50005000
    Kosovo, Republic ofn/an/a
    Kuwait50002000
    Kyrgyzstan50005000
    Laos5000n/a
    Latvia50001458
    Lebanon5000n/a
    Lesotho5000440
    Liberia5000440
    Libyan/an/a
    Liechtenstein50005000
    Lithuania50005000
    Luxembourg650650
    Macao50004227
    Macedonia, Republic of50002380
    Madagascar5000199
    Malawin/an/a
    Malaysia50001429
    Maldives5000n/a
    Mali5000n/a
    Malta5000n/a
    Martinique50005000
    Mauritania5000635
    Mauritius5000165
    Mexico5000n/a
    Moldova50002915
    Mongolia5000n/a
    Montenegron/a5000
    Montserratn/a2200
    Morocco50005000
    Mozambique5000n/a
    Namibia50004405
    Nauru5000220
    Nepal5000n/a
    Netherlands650650
    New Caledonia50001775
    New Zealand50001025
    Nicaragua5000n/a
    Niger5000n/a
    Nigeria5000n/a
    Norway650650
    Oman5000575
    Pakistan5000867
    Panama5000n/a
    Papua New Guinea5000445
    Paraguay5000n/a
    Peru5000n/a
    Philippines5000n/a
    Pitcairn Islandn/an/a
    Poland50005000
    Portugal650650
    Qatar5000n/a
    Reunionn/a5000
    Romania50005000
    Russia50005000
    Rwanda5000n/a
    Saint Christopher and Nevis5000242
    Saint Helenan/a170
    Saint Lucia5000n/a
    Saint Pierre and Miquelonn/a5000
    Start Printed Page 5688
    Saint Vincent and the Grenadines5000130
    San Marino50005000
    Sao Tome and Principen/a440
    Saudi Arabia5000n/a
    Senegal5000936
    Serbia, Republic of50005000
    Seychelles5000n/a
    Sierra Leone5000n/a
    Singapore50003000
    Sint Maarten50005000
    Slovak Republic (Slovakia)650650
    Slovenia650650
    Solomon Islands5000n/a
    Somalian/an/a
    South Africa5000n/a
    Spain650650
    Sri Lanka500035
    Sudann/an/a
    Surinamen/a535
    Swaziland5000560
    Sweden650650
    Switzerland650650
    Syrian Arab Republic (Syria)5000n/a
    Taiwan50001350
    Tajikistan50005000
    Tanzania5000248
    Thailand50001458
    Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic ofn/an/a
    Togo5000n/a
    Tonga5000515
    Trinidad and Tobago5000n/a
    Tristan da Cunhan/an/a
    Tunisia50003834
    Turkey5000952
    Turkmenistan5000729
    Turks and Caicos Islands650n/a
    Tuvalun/a675
    Uganda5000n/a
    Ukraine50005000
    United Arab Emirates50005000
    United Kingdom (Great Britain and Northern Ireland)650n/a
    Uruguay5000n/a
    Uzbekistan50005000
    Vanuatun/an/a
    Vatican City50002380
    Venezuelan/an/a
    Vietnam5000n/a
    Wallis and Futuna Islandsn/a1615
    Western Samoan/a295
    Yemen5000820
    Zambia5000n/a
    Zimbabwe5000n/a
    * * * * *

    We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 20 to reflect these changes.

    Start Signature

    Stanley F. Mires,

    Attorney, Federal Requirements.

    End Signature End Supplemental Information

    [FR Doc. 2015-02007 Filed 2-2-15; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 7710-12-P

Document Information

Effective Date:
4/26/2015
Published:
02/03/2015
Department:
Postal Service
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Final rule.
Document Number:
2015-02007
Pages:
5683-5688 (6 pages)
Topics:
Foreign relations
PDF File:
2015-02007.pdf
CFR: (1)
39 CFR 20