The Universal Postal Union (UPU) has launched a new global customs and duty solution to help postal operators resume mail service to the United States, following that country’s suspension of its duty-free de minimis exemption on Aug. 29.
Canada is among the 192 UPU member countries represented through the federal government’s Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada department. While not a direct member itself, Canada Post participates in the UPU network as the country’s designated postal operator, using its systems for international mail exchange and customs processing. The new solution is expected to help Canada Post and other postal administrations restore reliable service to U.S. destinations.
The UPU’s latest data shows international traffic to the United States remains sharply reduced. As of Oct. 3, global mail volumes were still down 70.7 per cent compared with levels before the policy change, representing only a modest recovery from the initial 81 per cent drop recorded in late August.
“Postal services are essential,” said Lati Matata, director of the UPU’s Postal Technology Centre. “The UPU is now launching a fully-fledged solution that will allow every postal operator in its network – no matter how big or small – to meet customs requirements to ensure that citizens worldwide, including U.S. citizens, receive their postal items.”
The new system enables postal administrations to calculate, collect and remit required duties to U.S. Customs and Border Protection through the UPU’s existing Customs Declaration System, already used by 176 postal operators. It integrates with a customer-facing interface and provides what the UPU describes as a complete “out-of-the-box” system for international mail processing.
The move follows an initial programming interface launched on Sept. 5, which helped postal operators with counter systems determine duties and taxes at the point of origin. The latest release expands the program to include all UPU member countries, offering a comprehensive framework for international postal operations under the new customs regime.
Established in 1874, the UPU is a specialized United Nations agency that coordinates international postal policy and ensures a global network of up-to-date postal services. It sets the standards for international mail exchanges and provides technical assistance to strengthen the worldwide postal system.