US to Begin Process of Withdrawal From Universal Postal Union
The State Department will file notice of the U.S.'s withdrawal from the Universal Postal Union, the White House said in an Oct. 17 news release. "This will begin a one-year withdrawal process, as set forth in the UPU Constitution," the White House said. "During this period, the Department of State will seek to negotiate bilateral and multilateral agreements that resolve the problems discussed in the Presidential Memorandum. If negotiations are successful, the Administration is prepared to rescind the notice of withdrawal and remain in the UPU." The action follows a recent State Department report on updating the terms of the UPU that said progress has been slow in making requested changes. President Donald Trump agreed with the State Department's "recommendation to adopt self-declared rates for terminal dues as soon as practical, and no later than January 1, 2020," the White House said. The UPU treaty allows for cheaper postal fees on small packages from China and other countries.
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The National Association of Manufacturers approved of the move, with CEO Jay Timmons saying in a news release: "This outdated arrangement contributes significantly to the flood of counterfeit goods and dangerous drugs that enter the country from China. Manufacturers and manufacturing workers in the United States will greatly benefit from a modernized and far more fair arrangement with China.”