US announces postal treaty pull-out
By Wu Lejun
People's Daily app
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UPU building UPU credit.JPG

Universal Postal Union (UPU) Headquarters in Berne, Switzerland. (Photo: UPU)

Washington (People's Daily) - The Trump administration announced its intent to withdraw from the Universal Postal Union on Wednesday.

The postal body, a group within the United Nations, oversees international shipping rates. Trump has long accused the treaty of hurting the US. A senior Trump administration official said they hope to renegotiate rates, known as “terminal dues,” but remains frustrated over opposition from other member nations

The withdrawal would take at least a year to implement, which gives the US time to broker a new deal.

Founded in 1874, the postal body covers 192 member states. The group sets the fees postal services charge when delivering mail and packages from foreign carriers.

For decades, developing nations have paid lower shipping rates than their wealthier counterparts. The administration wants to move to a system of "self-declared rates" that would allow the US Postal Service (USPS) to set its own prices for shipping international packages of all sizes.

Trump issued a memorandum in August calling for the modernization the UPU’s monetary reimbursement model and for better enhancements on the security and safety of international mail.