[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 138 (Tuesday, July 18, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44438-44447]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-18075]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 20


Global Package Link

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Interim rule and request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Postal Service is adopting changes to Global Package Link 
(GPL) service. Expansion of the service is planned to the European 
Union (EU) countries as well as expansion to Australia. Rates are being 
increased 5 percent for existing GPL services with a 15 percent 
increase to the oversize GPL package service to Japan.
    There are several new fees that will be added to GPL. There will be 
a fee schedule for data exceptions. Customers will be charged when they 
fail to provide usable data needed to process GPL. In addition, there 
will be a new fee of $250 per hour for providing assistance in 
establishing necessary data links with GPL, for assistance in updating 
its manifesting systems, and for providing harmonization services 
needed to utilize GPL's Customs Preadvisory System. These new fees for 
service will allow the customer to access expertise quickly and for a 
reasonable charge thus making it easier for them to use GPL.
    There will also be a new surcharge of $11 per piece when customers 
fail to meet the requirement of mailing a minimum of 10,000 packages to 
any combination of GPL destination countries per year. They will also 
be required to use the premium service where available. Any existing 
customers that have been using GPL for over a year will be reviewed and 
also subject to the surcharge if applicable.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The interim rule is effective 12:01 a.m. EST, August 6, 
2000. Comments must be received on or before September 7, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be mailed or delivered to the 
Manager, International Business Results, Room 370-IBU, International 
Business, U.S. Postal Service, Washington, DC 20260-6500. Copies of all 
written comments will be available for public inspection between 9 a.m. 
and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, in International Business, 10th 
Floor, 901 D Street, SW, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Michelson, (202) 268-5731.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Global Package Link service is an 
international mail service designed for companies sending merchandise 
packages to other countries. To use GPL, a customer must send at least 
10,000 packages per year of mailing and agree to link its information 
systems with the Postal Service so that certain information about the 
contents of the customer's packages can be extracted for operational, 
customs clearance, and other purposes.
    The Postal Service is proposing to add new features to GPL that 
will enhance its value to customers. The weight and size limits for 
items sent to Argentina are being increased. The weight limit is 
increased to 70 pounds from 44 pounds for both premium and standard 
services. The maximum size is increased to 60 inches in length and 108 
inches in length and girth combined.
    Service is being extended to Australia. Service to Australia 
includes premium and standard service. The maximum weight is 66 pounds 
for both premium and standard services. The maximum size limit for 
premium items is 36 inches maximum length and a maximum length and 
girth combined of 79 inches. The maximum size limit for standard items 
is 42 inches maximum length and a maximum length and girth combined of 
79 inches.
    The rates for service to Australia are:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Premium    Standard
             Weight not over  (pounds)                 ($)        ($)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.................................................      16.00      10.50
2.................................................      20.00      14.00
3.................................................      24.50      18.00
4.................................................      29.00      22.00
5.................................................      33.00      25.50
6.................................................      37.50      29.50
7.................................................      42.00      33.00
8.................................................      46.00      27.00
9.................................................      50.50      40.50
10................................................      55.00      44.50
11................................................      59.00      48.50
12................................................      61.00      50.00
13................................................      63.00      51.50
14................................................      67.00      55.00
15................................................      71.00      58.50
16................................................      75.00      62.00
17................................................      79.00      65.50
18................................................      83.00      69.00
19................................................      87.00      73.00
20................................................      91.00      76.50
21................................................      95.00      80.00
22................................................      99.00      83.50
23................................................     103.00      87.00
24................................................     107.00      90.50
25................................................     111.00      94.00
26................................................     115.00      97.50

[[Page 44439]]

 
27................................................     119.00     101.00
28................................................     123.00     104.50
29................................................     127.00     108.00
30................................................     131.00     111.50
31................................................     135.00     115.00
32................................................     139.00     118.50
33................................................     143.00     122.00
34................................................     147.00     125.50
35................................................     151.00     129.00
36................................................     155.00     132.50
37................................................     159.50     136.00
38................................................     163.50     139.50
39................................................     167.50     143.00
40................................................     171.50     146.50
41................................................     175.50     150.50
42................................................     179.50     153.50
43................................................     183.50     157.00
44................................................     187.50     160.50
45................................................     191.50     164.00
46................................................     195.50     164.00
47................................................     199.50     171.00
48................................................     203.50     178.00
49................................................     207.50     178.00
50................................................     211.50     181.50
51................................................     215.50     185.00
52................................................     219.50     188.50
53................................................     223.50     192.00
54................................................     227.50     195.50
55................................................     231.50     199.00
56................................................     235.50     202.50
57................................................     239.50     206.00
58................................................     243.50     209.50
59................................................     247.50     213.00
60................................................     251.50     216.50
61................................................     255.50     220.00
62................................................     259.50     223.50
63................................................     263.50     227.50
64................................................     267.50     230.00
65................................................     271.50     234.00
66................................................     275.50     237.50
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Postal Service is extending service to all countries in the EU. 
Under this service, packages will be transported to Great Britain for 
customs clearance. Once cleared, the packages will be delivered to the 
other countries in the EU with no further customs clearance required. 
There are two rate groups. Rate Group 1 includes Ireland, Belgium, The 
Netherlands, Denmark, France, and Germany. Rate Group 2 includes 
Luxembourg, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Austria, Finland, and 
Sweden. The rates for this service are as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Group 1    Group 2
             Weight not over (pounds)                  ($)        ($)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.................................................      13.25      21.50
2.................................................      15.00      23.25
3.................................................      16.50      24.75
4.................................................      18.00      26.25
5.................................................      19.75      28.00
6.................................................      21.25      29.50
7.................................................      22.75      31.00
8.................................................      24.50      32.50
9.................................................      26.00      34.50
10................................................      27.50      35.75
11................................................      29.25      37.25
12................................................      30.75      39.00
13................................................      32.25      40.50
14................................................      34.00      42.00
15................................................      35.50      43.75
16................................................      37.00      45.25
17................................................      38.50      46.75
18................................................      40.25      48.50
19................................................      41.25      50.00
20................................................      43.25      51.50
21................................................      45.00      53.25
22................................................      46.50      54.75
23................................................      48.00      56.25
24................................................      49.75      58.00
25................................................      51.25      59.50
26................................................      52.75      61.00
27................................................      54.50      62.50
28................................................      56.00      64.25
29................................................      57.50      65.75
30................................................      59.25      67.25
31................................................      60.75      69.00
32................................................      62.25      70.50
33................................................      64.00      72.00
34................................................      65.50      73.75
35................................................      67.00      75.25
36................................................      68.50      76.50
37................................................      70.25      78.50
38................................................      71.75      80.00
39................................................      73.25      81.50
40................................................      75.00      83.25
41................................................      76.50      84.75
42................................................      78.00      86.25
43................................................      79.75      87.75
44................................................      81.25      89.50
45................................................      82.75      91.00
46................................................      84.50      92.50
47................................................      86.00      84.25
48................................................      87.50      95.75
49................................................      89.25      97.25
50................................................      90.75      99.00
51................................................      92.25     100.50
52................................................      93.75     102.00
53................................................      95.50     103.75
54................................................      97.00     105.25
55................................................      98.50     106.75
56................................................     100.25     108.50
57................................................     101.75     110.00
58................................................     103.25     111.50
59................................................     105.00     113.25
60................................................     106.50     114.75
61................................................     108.00     116.75
62................................................     111.25     117.75
63................................................     111.25     119.50
64................................................     112.75     121.00
65................................................     114.50     122.50
66................................................     116.00     124.25
67................................................     117.50     125.75
68................................................     119.25     127.50
69................................................     120.75     129.00
70................................................     122.25     130.50
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The rates for oversized packages to Japan are increased 5 percent. 
These packages, which are too large for delivery by Japanese postal 
authorities, are tendered to a private delivery firm for delivery. The 
rates for this service are as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Weight not over  (pounds)                    Rates  ($)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..........................................................        28.75
2..........................................................        32.25
3..........................................................        36.00
4..........................................................        39.50
5..........................................................        44.25
6..........................................................        49.00
7..........................................................        52.50
8..........................................................        57.25
9..........................................................        60.50
10.........................................................        63.00
11.........................................................        65.50
12.........................................................        68.75
13.........................................................        71.25
14.........................................................        74.00
15.........................................................        76.00
16.........................................................        78.50
17.........................................................        81.25
18.........................................................        83.25
19.........................................................        86.50
20.........................................................        88.50
21.........................................................        90.50
22.........................................................        92.50
23.........................................................        94.75
24.........................................................        96.75
25.........................................................        98.75
26.........................................................       101.00
27.........................................................       103.00
28.........................................................       105.00
29.........................................................       107.25
30.........................................................       108.25
31.........................................................       110.25
32.........................................................       112.50
33.........................................................       114.50
34.........................................................       116.50
35.........................................................       118.50
36.........................................................       120.75
37.........................................................       121.75
38.........................................................       122.75
39.........................................................       126.75
40.........................................................       129.00
41.........................................................       132.00
42.........................................................       135.00
43.........................................................       138.75
44.........................................................       140.00
45.........................................................       143.50
46.........................................................       147.75
47.........................................................       150.00
48.........................................................       152.75
49.........................................................       155.00
50.........................................................       158.00
51.........................................................       161.50
52.........................................................       164.00
53.........................................................       167.50
54.........................................................       169.50
55.........................................................       173.50
56.........................................................       176.25
57.........................................................       178.75
58.........................................................       181.00
59.........................................................       185.50
60.........................................................       187.50
61.........................................................       189.00
62.........................................................       193.75
63.........................................................       196.00
64.........................................................       199.00
65.........................................................       202.50
66.........................................................       208.00
67.........................................................       210.00
68.........................................................       213.75
69.........................................................       216.75
70.........................................................       219.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Postal Service is increasing the rates of all existing GPL 
services by 5 percent. Japan rates are also being

[[Page 44440]]

announced for parcels weighing up to 66 lbs. Rates for each country are 
as follows:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR18JY00.000


[[Page 44441]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR18JY00.001


[[Page 44442]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR18JY00.002


[[Page 44443]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR18JY00.003

    The Postal Service is introducing storage and other charges for GPL 
items tendered when the data required from the mailer is not sent, is 
incomplete or corrupt, or otherwise cannot be processed due to the 
mailer's fault. The lack of correct data causes significant operational 
problems and requires that packages be stored and rehandled. Such 
storage and rehandling results in additional costs, which are caused by 
the mailer. The Postal Service will charge fees for modifying corrupt 
data files sent by the mailer so that the mailer's packages can be 
processed and delivered. The Postal Service will charge a fee of $.30 
per package for

[[Page 44444]]

storage, $1.50 for each data exception, and $50 for each file 
modification.
    The Postal Service is establishing a new surcharge for customers 
not mailing at least 10,000 packages per year. If a mailer does not 
send 10,000 packages, combined volumes to GPL destination countries, in 
any year of mailing, an $11 per package surcharge will be applied. The 
mailer will also be required to use only the premium service level. The 
Postal Service will review a mailer's volume annually after its first 
complete year of mailing, based on the previous 13 complete accounting 
periods of mailing. The surcharge will be effective 30 days thereafter. 
In addition, the Postal Service is invoking the standard for bulk 
mailings such that GPL mailers will be required to send a minimum of 
200 pieces or 50 pounds per mailing.
    The Postal Service is revising the customs clearance service 
procedures to specify information a mailer must or may provide. The 
existing fee of $1.25 for each item harmonized is being replaced with a 
new fee structure. Before customs clearance services are initiated, the 
Postal Service will provide the mailer with a binding proposal stating 
the number of hours required to complete the service and the total fee 
for the service calculated on an hourly basis at $250 per hour. In 
addition, the existing harmonization of 2,500 free items in the first 
year of using GPL is changed to 2,500 annually. The current fee and 
customs clearance service causes additional costs to be incurred by the 
Postal Service and causes uncertainty among mailers in their not 
knowing the fees they will be charged. The Postal Service is also 
instituting a fee for assisting mailers in establishing an electronic 
data interchange or for manifesting GPL packages. Prior to providing 
such assistance, the Postal Service will provide the mailer with a 
binding proposal stating the number of hours that will be required to 
complete the assistance and the total fee for the assistance calculated 
on an hourly basis at $250 per hour.
    Although the Postal Service is exempted by 39 U.S.C. 410(a) from 
the advance notice requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act 
regarding proposed rulemaking (5 U.S.C. 553), the Postal Service 
invites public comment at the above address.
    The Postal Service is amending Subchapter 620, ``Global Package 
Link,'' and the appropriate Individual Country Listings, International 
Mail Manual, which are incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal 
Regulations. See 39 CFR 20.1.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 20

    Foreign relations, incorporation by reference, international postal 
services.

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. The International Mail Manual is amended to incorporate program 
changes to Subchapter 620, ``Global Package Link'', as follows:

620  Global Package Link

* * * * *

621.3  Availability

    GPL service is available only to Argentina, Australia, Austria, 
Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Finland, France, 
Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, 
The Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, and Great Britain.

622  Qualifying Mailers

622.1  General

622.11  Qualifications

    To qualify for GPL service, a mailer must:
    a. Send a minimum of 200 pieces or 50 pounds per mailing.
    b. Electronically send required parcel information to the Postal 
Service.
    c. Meet the general and specific preparation requirements for each 
country.
    d. Designate the Postal Service as its carrier of choice to each 
country for which it uses GPL service.
    e. Enter into a service agreement with the Postal Service.

622.12  Service Agreement

    Each service agreement must contain the following:
    a. If a mailer does not send 10,000 packages, combined volumes to 
GPL destination countries, in any complete year of mailing, an $11 per 
package surcharge will be applied as stated in 623.444.
    b. The mailer's commitment to provide the required information and 
a statement of what, if any, optional information it will provide under 
626.422.
    c. The mailer's intention, if desired, to use the electronic data 
interchange or manifesting assistance technical support service under 
622.23.

622.13  Wholesaler Service Agreements

    Each wholesaler must enter into the service agreement for 
wholesalers.

622.2  Linking Information Systems

622.21  General

    The mailer must be able to electronically send parcel information 
to the Postal Service so that (1) the Postal Service and the mailer can 
exchange data transmissions concerning the mailer's packages and (2) by 
scanning the mailer-provided barcode on each package, the Postal 
Service can extract, on an as-needed basis, the following information 
about the contents of each package to produce necessary customs forms 
and package labels and to provide tracking and tracing:
    a. Order number.
    b. Package identification number.
    c. Delivery option used for package if more than one level of 
service is available.
    d. Buyer's name and address.
    e. Recipient's name, address, and post code.
    f. Total weight of package.
    g. Total value of the package's contents.
    h. Total number of items in each package.
    i. Numbers of each item in package.
    j. SKU or key word description of each item.
    k. Value of each item.
    l. Country of origin of each item (for mailings to Germany and 
France, unless mailed using Global Package Link-Europe, and Canada, 
Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Australia, China, Hong Kong, and 
Singapore).
    m. Buyer's national identification or import number, where required 
by law (Brazil, Mexico).
    n. Postage and handling charge per order.
    o. Buyer's telephone number at delivery address (required for 
Mexico only).

622.22  Fees for Exceptions

    If the mailer does not meet the requirements in 622.21 such that 
when its packages are processed at a GPL processing facility and it has 
failed to transmit package data or the data is not complete or is 
corrupt or otherwise prevents the Postal Service from processing 
packages, the Postal Service will charge the following fees for 
modifying corrupt data files sent by the mailer so that the mailer's 
packages can be processed and delivered:

[[Page 44445]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Data exception                            Fees
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individual package lacks data to         $.30 per package for storage,
 process.                                 per calendar day, for every
                                          package that the Postal
                                          Service is unable to process.
                                                       Plus
                                         $1.50 per data exception scan.
No data file sent by the mailer........  $.30 per package for storage,
                                          per calendar day, for every
                                          package listed in the postage
                                          statement for that mailing.
File sent by the mailer is corrupted...  $50.00 per file modification.
                                                       Plus
                                         $.30 per package for storage,
                                          per calendar day, for every
                                          package listed in the postage
                                          statement for that mailing.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    If data exceptions cannot be resolved within 5 business days, the 
associated packages will be returned to the mailer at a rate of $5 per 
package. These fees will be deducted from the mailer's CAPS account, 
and the Postal Service will send the mailer a monthly notice of these 
charges.
* * * * *

622.23  Payment of Fees for Technical Support Services for 
Electronic Data Interchange Linkage and Manifesting

    622.231. The Postal Service will provide, at no cost to the mailer, 
general technical advice to assist the mailer in establishing 
electronic data interchange links required in 622.21 and documentation 
and manifesting required in 623.43.
    622.232. The Postal Service will provide the mailer, if desired, 
specific technical advice including but not limited to technical 
direction and support to establish such links or manifesting system 
changes in accordance with a binding written proposal prior to 
commencing with the technical support services. The proposal will state 
the number of hours needed to provide the technical support at the rate 
of $250 per hour. The Postal Service will charge the amount stated in 
the proposal, unless the mailer materially changes the nature and scope 
of the technical support provided.
    622.233. The mailer will pay the Postal Service for such technical 
support in the manner and the time agreed to by the mailer in the GPL 
Service Agreement.
* * * * *

623  General

* * * * *

623.2  Customs Documentation

    Customs documentation will be produced by the Postal Service from 
data transmitted by the mailer.

623.3  Size and Weight Limits

623.31  Weight

    The weight limits for GPL service are 70 pounds for Argentina, 
Chile, China, and Germany; 66 pounds for Australia, Brazil, Canada, 
Japan, Singapore, Great Britain, and countries in the EU; 64 pounds for 
Mexico; 55 pounds for France; and 44 pounds for Hong Kong. Oversize 
service is available to Japan. To use the GPL premium oversize service, 
the mailer must select it when choosing the class of service and use 
the corresponding GPL premium oversize rate chart.

623.32  Size

    All GPL packages must be large enough to accommodate the necessary 
labels and customs forms on the address side. The maximum length of GPL 
packages is 60 inches. The maximum length and girth combined is 108 
inches.
    GPL premium packages to Japan, with the length more than 60 inches, 
up to a maximum length plus girth of 108 inches, must be mailed as GPL 
premium oversize. To use the GPL premium oversize service, the mailer 
must select GPL premium oversize service when selecting the class of 
service and use the corresponding GPL premium oversize rate chart. GPL 
premium packages longer than 60 inches, up to length plus girth of 108 
inches, will be returned to the mailer for remailing if GPL premium 
oversize service is not selected.
    Exceptions: Maximum size for Germany is length 47 inches, height 23 
inches, and width 23 inches; for Japan standard packages weighing less 
than 1 pound, the maximum length is 24 inches with a combined maximum 
length, depth, and height of 36 inches; maximum size for Australia for 
premium items is 36 inches maximum length and a maximum length and 
girth combined of 79 inches and for standard items is 42 inches maximum 
length and a maximum length and girth combined of 79 inches.
* * * * *

623.4  Postage

* * * * *

623.444  Surcharge

    If a mailer does not send 10,000 packages of combined volumes to 
GPL destination countries in any year of mailing, an $11 per package 
surcharge will be applied. The mailer must use the premium level of 
service for all packages in any year it does not mail 10,000 GPL 
packages. The Postal Service will review a mailer's volume annually 
after its first complete year of mailing, based on the previous 13 
complete accounting periods of mailing. The surcharge will be effective 
30 days thereafter.

626  Services Available

626.1  Delivery Options

    Delivery options vary according to destination country, as set 
forth below.

626.11  Premium Service

    Premium service is available to all countries except France and 
countries in the EU. Packages sent through premium service are 
transported to the destination country by air where they receive 
special handling and expedited delivery. The mailer can track premium 
service packages through the GPL website as well as reports of delivery 
performance furnished to the mailer in the formats and at the 
frequencies agreed upon by the Postal Service and the mailer.

626.12  Standard Service

    Standard service is available to Argentina, Australia, Canada, 
France, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, and Great Britain. Packages sent 
through standard service are transported to the destination country by 
air (or a combination of air/ground to Canada) for delivery. The mailer 
can track standard service packages through dispatch from the GPL 
processing facility for Japan and through delivery for Great Britain, 
Singapore, and Canada. In Mexico, standard service provides for 
customer pick up of parcels at selected secured customer service 
centers with tracking to pick up.
* * * * *

626.2  Merchandise Return Service

626.21  Japan

    Merchandise return service is available from Japan. The mailer or 
the recipient is responsible for returning merchandise to the 
designated Japanese return center where packages will be opened and the 
contents consolidated for return to the United States. The mailer will 
receive a daily electronic notification of returns. Returned 
merchandise will be shipped to the mailer on a mutually agreed-upon 
schedule.

626.211  Merchandise Return Reply Service

    The mailer may use merchandise return reply service (MRRS) to pay 
the

[[Page 44446]]

postage of its customers' return of merchandise to the return center in 
Japan. For each package using MRRS, the mailer will be charged the 
postage for getting the package from the customer to the return center 
and a handling fee of $1.50.
* * * * *

626.22  Great Britain and the European Union

    A return merchandise service is available to mailers that mail GPL 
shipments to Great Britain and the EU. The returns agent will open and 
inspect the contents of each box and process for return to the United 
States. The returns agent may apply for a refund of duties and taxes 
from Great Britain customs. The packages will then be sent to the 
mailer's designated center for returns in the United States. The return 
prices per parcel are detailed in the GPL rate charts in the Individual 
Country Listings.
* * * * *

626.3  Insurance and Indemnity

* * * * *

626.322  Mexico, Great Britain, and Countries in the EU

    Packages sent through standard service to Mexico, Great Britain, 
and countries in the EU are insured against loss, damage, or rifling at 
no additional cost. Indemnity payments are subject to the provisions of 
DMM S500. Standard service packages are not insured against delay in 
delivery. Neither indemnity payments nor postage refunds will be made 
in the event of delay.
* * * * *

626.4  Customs

626.41  Customs Forms

    All necessary customs forms are automatically generated by the 
Postal Service's GPL computer system. The Postal Service will print the 
necessary customs forms and affix them to the mailer's packages after 
it scans the mailer-printed barcode on each package and correlates the 
barcode with the package-specific information transmitted 
electronically.

626.42  Customs Clearance

    The customs preadvisory system (CPAS) electronically collects 
package-specific data to facilitate customs requirements in the 
destination country. For all destination countries except China, Japan, 
Hong Kong, and Singapore, CPAS electronically advises agents in the 
destination country of the contents of each package and determines the 
duties and taxes for each item in the package. Recipients of 
merchandise must designate the Postal Service and its agents as the 
recipients' agents for customs clearance.

626.421  Customs Clearance Services

    CPAS determines the applicable duties and taxes due in each 
destination country for each item based upon the international 
Harmonization Tariff Schedule (HTS) code assigned to each item mailed 
in a package. The Postal Service will provide the destination country 
customs agency with the HTS codes and applicable duties and taxes for 
each item.

626.422  Information Provided by the Mailer

    Prior to the first mailing, the mailer must provide to the Postal 
Service the following required information electronically (preferred) 
or printed copy and may provide the following optional information 
concerning the merchandise it will be sending:
    a. Required information:
    1. SKU and product name and description.
    2. Country of origin of each item (required for all countries 
except Japan and GPL-EU countries).
    3. Product composition and characteristics.
    4. Catalog or product information sheets.
    b. Optional information:
    1. Existing full or partial HTS code for each item.
    2. Customs description of each item.
    3. The number of SKU items to be assessed duties and taxes.
    4. Digitized pictures (for Europe).
    5. Country of origin of each item for Japan and GPL-EU countries.

626.423  Payment of Customs Clearance Services Fees

    a. In each calendar year, the Postal Service will assign, at no 
cost to the mailer, the HTS code and applicable duties and taxes for 
2,500 items. For all additional items, the Postal Service will charge 
the mailer for this service in accordance with a binding written 
proposal provided to the mailer prior to commencing the customs 
clearance service. The Postal Service will base its estimate upon 
whether and to what extent the mailer provides the required and 
optional information in 626.422. The proposal will state the number of 
hours needed to complete the customs clearance service process before 
the first mailing. The Postal Service will charge the amount in the 
proposal unless the mailer fails to provide the information it promised 
or the number of items assessed duties and taxes differs from the 
number estimated by the mailer. In that event, the Postal Service will 
charge the mailer for the number of hours needed to complete the 
customs clearance process at the rate of $250 per hour.
    b. If the customs clearance process has not been previously 
completed prior to a mailing, the Postal Service will provide one hour 
of customs clearance services each month at no additional charge. If 
the customs clearance process for such items takes more than one hour 
per month and the Postal Service has completed the process for more 
than 2,500 items, the Postal Service will charge the mailer for the 
number of hours needed to complete the customs clearance process at the 
rate of $250 per hour.
    c. The mailer will pay the Postal Service for these services in a 
manner and within the time agreed to by the Postal Service and the 
mailer in the GPL Service Agreement.

626.43  Payment of Customs Duty

626.431  All Countries Except China, Japan, Hong Kong, and 
Singapore

    For all countries except China, Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore, 
the Postal Service will arrange payment of customs duty on behalf of 
the recipient at the time the merchandise enters the country of 
destination. Any banking costs or foreign exchange fees applicable to 
the customs payments will be charged to the mailer. The Postal Service 
will notify the mailer electronically of the amount of duty and fees 
paid, and the mailer will reimburse the Postal Service in a manner and 
within a time agreed between the mailer and the Postal Service. Because 
of the need to have funds available for customs at the time of 
clearance in Brazil, Chile, and Mexico, mailers must make an advance 
deposit prior to the first mailing to cover anticipated duties and 
taxes in addition to postage. For subsequent mailings, this account 
must be replenished by the mailer after the actual amount of duties and 
taxes are assessed. The mailer is responsible for collecting duties and 
taxes from the recipient. (This can be done when payment for the order 
is made.) For Mexico, GPL mailers will pay customs the day after the 
shipments arrive in customs, through a preauthorized automated 
clearinghouse debit program (ACH). GPL mailers must agree to allow the 
Postal Service to debit their designated bank account through the ACH 
debit program to pay these charges.

[[Page 44447]]

626.432  China, Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore

    In China, Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore any customs duties and 
fees will be collected from the recipient at the time of delivery.

Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 00-18075 Filed 7-17-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P