[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 132 (Friday, July 10, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 37251-37254]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-18433]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 20


Interim Rule for Global Package Link to Germany and France

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Interim rule with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service is amending the rule in the International 
Mail Manual on Global Package Link to Germany and France to add a 
merchandise return service for customers utilizing the GPL service to 
Germany and France.

DATES: The interim regulations take effect as of 12:01 a.m. on July 10, 
1998. Comments must be received on or before August 10, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be mailed or delivered to 
International Business Unit, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza 
SW, room 370-IBU, Washington, DC 20260-6500. Copies of all written 
comments will be available for public inspection and photocopying 
between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Brandt (202) 314-7165.


[[Page 37252]]



SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

    There currently is no method for GPL customers to Germany and 
France to receive return packages beyond traditional means such as 
international mail. In response to requests from these mailers, a GPL 
return service is being established in Germany and France. These 
services will allow GPL customers to receive returns as well as 
advanced data on those returns providing them a means to more 
effectively service their customers.

II. GPL Return Services to Germany and France

A. Qualifying Criteria

    Customers wishing to use the GPL Return Services for Germany and 
France must be a GPL customer to those countries. There may be some 
additional set up requirements as required by the foreign returns agent 
to provide the service. The Postal Service will discuss all set up 
requirements with the mailer prior to establishment of the return 
service.

B. Rates

    The rates for return services are detailed in the Global Package 
Link rate charts in the Individual Country Listings.

III. Conclusion

    Accordingly, the Postal Service hereby adopts the inclusion of 
these new services for GPL on an interim basis, at the rates set forth 
in the schedules below. Although 39 U.S.C. 407 does not require advance 
notice and opportunity for submission of comments, and the Postal 
Service is exempted by 39 U.S.C. 410(a) from the advance notice 
requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act regarding proposed 
rule making (5 U.S.C. 553), the Postal Service invites interested 
persons to submit written data, views, or arguments concerning this 
interim rule.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 20

    International postal service, Foreign relations.
    The Postal Service adopts the following interim amendment to the 
International Mail Manual, which is incorporated by reference in the 
Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR 20.1.

PART 20--[AMENDED]

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

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 39 U.S.C. 401, 404, 407, 408.

    2. Subchapter 620 of the International Mail Manual, Issue 20, is 
amended as follows:

6  Special Programs

* * * * *

620  Global Package Link

* * * * *

626  Services Available

* * * * *


626.2  Merchandise Return Service

* * * * *


626.24  Germany

    A merchandise return service is available to Global Package Link 
mailers to Germany. The return service includes in-country shipping, 
processing, consolidation and international air shipment and delivery 
to the mailers' designated address in the United States. In addition, 
the returns agent will apply for a refund of duties and taxes from 
German Customs. The returns prices, per parcel, are detailed in the 
Global Package Link rate charts in the individual Country Listings.


626.25  France

    A merchandise return service is available to Global Package Link 
mailers to France. The return service includes in-country shipping, 
processing, consolidation and international air shipment and delivery 
to the mailers' designated address in the United States. In addition, 
the returns agent will apply for a refund of duties and taxes from 
French Customs. The returns prices, per parcel, are detailed in the 
Global Package Link rate charts in the individual Country Listings.

                                    Global Package Link to Germany Rate Chart                                   
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Rate all                       Weight not to      Rate all                   
 Weight not to exceed (pounds)      volumes         Returns      exceed (pounds)      volumes         Returns   
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.............................          $10.74          $14.50  36..............          $67.16          $57.00
2.............................           12.35           15.00  37..............           68.77           58.00
3.............................           13.96           17.00  38..............           70.38           59.50
4.............................           15.57           18.00  39..............           71.99           60.50
5.............................           17.18           19.50  40..............           73.60           62.00
6.............................           18.80           20.00  41..............           75.22           63.00
7.............................           20.41           22.00  42..............           76.83           64.50
8.............................           22.02           23.00  43..............           78.44           65.50
9.............................           23.63           24.50  44..............           80.05           66.50
10............................           25.24           25.00  45..............           81.66           67.50
11............................           26.86           26.00  46..............           83.28           68.50
12............................           28.47           27.50  47..............           84.89           70.00
13............................           30.08           28.50  48..............           86.50           71.00
14............................           31.69           30.00  49..............           88.11           72.50
15............................           33.30           31.00  50..............           89.72           73.50
16............................           34.92           32.50  51..............           91.34           75.00
17............................           36.53           33.50  52..............           92.95           76.00
18............................           38.14           35.00  53..............           94.56           77.50
19............................           39.75           36.00  54..............           96.17           78.50
20............................           41.36           37.50  55..............           97.78           79.50
21............................           42.98           38.50  56..............           99.40           81.00
22............................           44.59           39.50  57..............          101.01           81.50
23............................           46.20           41.00  58..............          102.62           83.00
24............................           47.81           42.00  59..............          104.23           84.00
25............................           49.42           43.00  60..............          105.84           85.50
26............................           51.04           44.00  61..............          107.46           86.50
27............................           52.65           45.50  62..............          109.07           88.00
28............................           54.26           46.50  63..............          110.68           89.00
29............................           55.87           48.00  64..............          112.29           91.00

[[Page 37253]]

                                                                                                                
30............................           57.48           49.00  65..............          113.90           92.00
31............................           59.10           50.50  66..............          115.52           93.00
32............................           60.71           51.50  67..............          117.13           94.00
33............................           62.32           52.50  68..............          118.74           95.00
34............................           63.93           54.00  69..............          120.35           96.50
35............................           65.54           55.00  70..............          121.96           97.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                    Global Package Link to France Rate Chart                                    
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Price per piece standard service                   
                 Weight not over (pounds)                  ------------------------------------      Returns    
                                                             <100,000 pieces   >100,000 pieces                  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.........................................................             $6.75             $6.55             $8.00
2.........................................................              8.75              8.49             10.00
3.........................................................             10.75             10.43             12.50
4.........................................................             12.75             12.37             14.50
5.........................................................             14.75             14.31             16.00
6.........................................................             16.75             16.25             17.00
7.........................................................             18.75             18.19             19.50
8.........................................................             20.75             20.13             21.00
9.........................................................             22.75             22.07             22.50
10........................................................             24.75             24.01             23.50
11........................................................             26.75             25.95             25.00
12........................................................             28.75             27.89             28.00
13........................................................             30.75             29.83             29.50
14........................................................             32.75             31.77             30.50
15........................................................             34.75             33.71             31.50
16........................................................             36.75             35.65             35.00
17........................................................             38.75             37.59             36.50
18........................................................             40.75             39.53             37.50
19........................................................             42.75             41.47             38.50
20........................................................             44.75             43.41             40.00
21........................................................             46.75             45.35             41.00
22........................................................             48.75             47.29             42.00
23........................................................             50.75             49.23             43.00
24........................................................             52.75             51.17             44.00
25........................................................             54.75             53.11             45.00
26........................................................             56.75             55.05             46.50
27........................................................             58.75             56.99             47.50
28........................................................             60.75             58.93             48.50
29........................................................             62.75             60.87             49.50
30........................................................             64.75             62.81             51.00
31........................................................             66.75             64.75             52.00
32........................................................             68.75             66.69             53.00
33........................................................             70.75             68.63             54.00
34........................................................             72.75             70.57             55.00
35........................................................             74.75             72.51             56.50
36........................................................             76.75             74.45             57.50
37........................................................             78.75             76.39             58.50
38........................................................             80.75             78.33             59.50
39........................................................             82.75             80.27             60.50
40........................................................             84.75             82.21             62.00
41........................................................             86.75             84.15             63.00
42........................................................             88.75             86.09             64.00
43........................................................             90.75             88.03             65.00
44........................................................             92.75             89.97             66.00
45........................................................             94.75             91.91             67.00
46........................................................             96.75             93.85             68.50
47........................................................             98.75             95.79             69.50
48........................................................            100.75             97.73             70.50
49........................................................            102.75             99.67             71.50
50........................................................            104.75            101.61             73.00
51........................................................            106.75            103.55             74.00
52........................................................            108.75            105.49             75.00
53........................................................            110.75            107.43             76.00
54........................................................            112.75            109.37             77.00
55........................................................            114.75            111.31            78.00 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Discounts: Postage is reduced by the following discounts once the applicable volume thresholds are reached      
  during a 12-month period: over 100,000--Discount 3%.                                                          


[[Page 37254]]

* * * * *
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 98-18433 Filed 7-7-98; 4:36 pm]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P