Thread: US announces intent to withdraw from international postal rate system

The Trump administration on Wednesday announced its intent to withdraw from a little-known United Nations agency that governs global postal rates, another move against international institutions the president has long accused of hurting the U.S.
The decision was borne out of frustration with discounts imposed by the Universal Postal Union (UPU) that allow China and some other nations to ship products into the U.S. at cheaper rates than American companies receive to ship domestically.

The administration argues the system undercuts U.S. manufacturers and allows China to flood the market with cheap goods.




"This is a strong action by this administration to fix this flawed system and make it better," said a senior administration official.


A senior administration official said the U.S. hopes to renegotiate the rates, known as terminal dues, but was frustrated with opposition from other nations in the UPU. The withdrawal would not take effect for one year, allowing the U.S. some time to broker a new deal.

MORE. https://thehill.com/homenews/adminis...al-rate-system

The decision was borne out of frustration with discounts imposed by the Universal Postal Union (UPU) that allow China and some other nations to ship products into the U.S. at cheaper rates than American companies receive to ship domestically.

Alternatively the rates American companies are charged to ship domestically are too high.

not defending Trump,

but the Chinese have used this to ship products from Ebay all over the world at some ridiculous prices (like free or 1 USD per item on a 3 USD sale), that really tipped the balance for shipping inexpensive items

Originally Posted by david44

will backfire

The on going story in "never, never keep an agreement" land.