[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 240 (Thursday, December 13, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 64353-64357]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-30626]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 20


International Mail Postal Rates

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: The Postal Service, after considering the comments submitted 
in response to its request published in the Federal Register on October 
16, 2001 (66 FR 52555-52560), for comments on proposed changes in 
international postage rates, hereby gives notice that it is 
implementing the proposed rates.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12:01 a.m., Sunday, January 13, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Walter J. Grandjean at (703) 292-3579.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 16, 2001, the Postal Service 
published in the Federal Register a notice of proposed changes in 
international postage rates (66 FR 52555-52560). The Postal Service 
requested comments by November 15, 2001, and by that date received two 
comments. Both were from the same publisher using the publishers' 
periodical rates.
    Both commenters stated that if the rates were to be implemented in 
January 2002, not enough time would be allowed to change software, 
either company specific proprietary or industry-wide software. Both 
suggested that the rates not be implemented before March 31, 2002, at 
the earliest. Both stated that implementation concurrent with the 
domestic rates in R2001-1 would be appropriate. One commenter noted the 
dramatic increase in some rate cells for items to Mexico and questioned 
why these rates would be higher than rates to more distant countries.
    The Postal Service understands that many mailers will be required 
to make software changes. The Postal Service itself must make changes. 
However, the Postal Service believes that it has provided adequate time 
for mailers to make changes given that notice of the proposed change 
was given on October 16, 2001.
    Rates are based on the cost of providing service to the countries 
in a rate group. Where there is more than one country in a rate group, 
the costs are an average. Where there is a single country in a rate 
group, the rate reflects the cost of providing service to that country. 
The publishers' periodical rates to Mexico are currently higher than 
the rates to Canada and all other countries. Separating the rates for 
all other countries into three rate groups does not alter the costs of 
providing service to Mexico. It should be noted that while the first 
two weight increments for Mexico increased by 25 percent, this is a 
smaller increase than the increases for the same weight increments for 
rate groups 3, 4, and 5. The rate increase for Mexico is not out of 
line with the overall increase to other countries.
    After reviewing and considering the comments received, the Postal 
Service adopts the following postage rates and amends the International 
Mail Manual (IMM), which is incorporated by reference in the Code of 
Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR 20.1.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 20

    Foreign relations, 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 (IMM) is amended to incorporate 
the following postage rates:

                  International Priority Airmail Rates
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Drop
          Rate group              Per piece     shipment    Full service
                                    rate        per pound     per pound
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 (Canada)....................         $0.28         $2.60         $3.60
2 (Mexico)....................          0.12          4.60          5.60
3.............................          0.25          4.00          5.00
4.............................          0.25          5.50          6.50
5.............................          0.12          4.85          5.85
6.............................          0.12          4.75          5.75
7.............................          0.12          6.25          7.25
8.............................          0.12          7.25          8.25
Worldwide.....................          0.20          7.00          8.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                      International Surface Air Lift Rates
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Full service per     Direct shipment per    ISC drop shipment
                                     Per piece          pound                 pound               per pound
             Rate group                 rate   -----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Regular     M-bag     Regular     M-bag     Regular     M-bag
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 (Canada).........................      $0.28      $3.05      $1.50      $2.55      $1.50      $2.05      $1.40
2 (Mexico).........................       0.12       4.35       1.60       3.85       1.60       3.35       1.50
3..................................       0.25       3.40       1.75       2.90       1.75       2.40       1.50
4..................................       0.25       3.75       2.50       3.25       2.50       2.75       2.50
5..................................       0.12       4.65       2.25       4.15       2.25       3.65       2.00
6..................................       0.12       4.55       2.25       4.05       2.25       3.55       2.00
7..................................       0.12       4.65       2.50       4.15       2.50       3.65       2.25
8..................................       0.12       6.50       3.25       6.00       3.25       5.50      3.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: M-bags are subject to the minimum rate for 11 pounds.


[[Page 64354]]


                                          Publishers' Periodical Rates
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   Rate group 4
                                   Rate group 1    Rate group 2                     (Australia,
      Weight not over (oz.)          (Canada)        (Mexico)      Rate group 3     Japan, New     Rate group 5
                                                                                     Zealand)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...............................           $0.45           $0.60           $0.60           $0.60           $0.60
2...............................            0.51            0.75            0.71            0.71            0.74
3...............................            0.57            0.90            0.82            0.82            0.88
4...............................            0.63            1.05            0.93            0.93            1.02
5...............................            0.69            1.20            1.04            1.04            1.16
6...............................            0.75            1.35            1.15            1.15            1.30
7...............................            0.81            1.50            1.26            1.26            1.44
8...............................            0.87            1.65            1.37            1.37            1.58
12..............................            1.15            2.13            1.81            1.81            2.02
16..............................            1.43            2.61            2.25            2.25            2.46
20..............................            1.59            3.09            2.69            2.69            2.90
24..............................            1.75            3.57            3.13            3.13            3.34
28..............................            1.91            4.05            3.57            3.57            3.78
32..............................            2.07            4.53            4.01            4.01            4.22
36..............................            3.87            5.01            4.45            4.45            4.66
40..............................            3.99            5.49            4.89            4.89            5.10
44..............................            4.11            5.97            5.33            5.33            5.54
48..............................            4.23            6.45            5.77            5.77            5.98
52..............................            4.39            6.93            6.21            6.21            6.42
56..............................            4.55            7.41            6.65            6.65            6.86
60..............................            4.71            7.89            7.09            7.09            7.30
64..............................            4.87            8.37            7.53            7.53           7.74
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$0.25 per pound discount for drop shipments tendered at the New Jersey International and Bulk Mail Center.


                                               Country Rate Groups
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Rate Groups
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                             Country                                                                Publishers'
                                                                        IPA            ISAL         periodicals
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afghanistan.....................................................               8                               5
Albania.........................................................               5               5               5
Algeria.........................................................               8               8               5
Andorra.........................................................               3                               3
Angola..........................................................               8               8               5
Anguilla........................................................               6                               5
Antigua and Barbuda.............................................               6                               5
Argentina.......................................................               6               6               5
Armenia.........................................................               8                               5
Aruba...........................................................               6               6               5
Ascension.......................................................               5                               5
Australia.......................................................               4               4               4
Austria.........................................................               3               3               5
Azerbaijan......................................................               8                               5
Bahamas.........................................................               6                               5
Bahrain.........................................................               8               8               5
Bangladesh......................................................               8               8               5
Barbados........................................................               6                               5
Belarus.........................................................               5                               5
Belgium.........................................................               3               3               3
Belize..........................................................               6               6               5
Benin...........................................................               8               8               5
Bermuda.........................................................               6                               5
Bhutan..........................................................               8                               5
Bolivia.........................................................               6               6               5
Bosnia-Herzegovina..............................................               5                               5
Botswana........................................................               8                               5
Brazil..........................................................               6               6               5
British Virgin Islands..........................................               6                               5
Brunei Darussalam...............................................               7                               5
Bulgaria........................................................               5               5               5
Burkina Faso....................................................               8               8               5
Burma (Myanmar).................................................               8                               5
Burundi.........................................................               8                               5
Cambodia........................................................               7                               5
Cameroon........................................................               8               8               5
Canada..........................................................               1               1               1
Cape Verde......................................................               8                               5

[[Page 64355]]

 
Cayman..........................................................               6                               5
Central African Republic........................................               8               8               5
Chad............................................................               8                               5
Chile...........................................................               6               6               5
China...........................................................               7               7               5
Colombia........................................................               6               6               5
Comoros Islands.................................................               8                               5
Congo (Brazzaville), Republic of the............................               8                               5
Congo (Kinshasa), Democratic Republic of the....................               8               8               5
Costa Rica......................................................               6               6               5
Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast).....................................               8               8               5
Croatia.........................................................               5                               5
Cuba............................................................               6               6               5
Cyprus..........................................................               8                               5
Czech Republic..................................................               5               5               5
Denmark.........................................................               3               3               3
Djibouti........................................................               8                               5
Dominica........................................................               6                               5
Dominican Republic..............................................               6               6               5
Ecuador.........................................................               6               6               5
Egypt...........................................................               8               8               5
El Salvador.....................................................               6               6               5
Equatorial Guinea...............................................               8                               5
Eritrea.........................................................               8                               5
Estonia.........................................................               5                               5
Ethiopia........................................................               8               8               5
Falkland Islands................................................               6                               5
Faroe Islands...................................................               5                               3
Fiji............................................................               7               7               5
Finland.........................................................               3               3               3
France (Includes Corsica & Monaco)..............................               3               3               3
French Guiana...................................................               6               6               5
French Polynesia (Includes Tahiti)..............................               7                               5
Gabon...........................................................               8               8               5
Gambia..........................................................               8                               5
Georgia, Republic of............................................               8                               5
Germany.........................................................               3               3               3
Ghana...........................................................               8               8               5
Gibraltar.......................................................               3                               3
Great Britain and Northern Ireland..............................               3               3               3
Greece..........................................................               3               3               3
Greenland.......................................................               3                               3
Grenada.........................................................               6                               5
Guadeloupe......................................................               6                               5
Guatemala.......................................................               6               6               5
Guinea..........................................................               8                               5
Guinea-Bissau...................................................               8                               5
Guyana..........................................................               6               6               5
Haiti...........................................................               6               6               5
Honduras........................................................               6               6               5
Hong Kong.......................................................               7               7               5
Hungary.........................................................               5               5               5
Iceland.........................................................               3               3               3
India...........................................................               8               8               5
Indonesia (Includes East Timor).................................               7               7               5
Iran............................................................               8               8               5
Iraq............................................................               8                               5
Ireland.........................................................               3               3               3
Israel..........................................................               3               3               3
Italy...........................................................               3               3               3
Jamaica.........................................................               6               6               5
Japan...........................................................               4               4               4
Jordan..........................................................               8               8               5
Kazakhstan......................................................               8                               5
Kenya...........................................................               8               8               5
Kiribati........................................................               7                               5
Korea, Dem. People's Rep. of (North)............................               7                               5
Korea, Republic of (South)......................................               7               7               5
Kuwait..........................................................               8               8               5

[[Page 64356]]

 
Kyrgyzstan......................................................               5                               5
Laos............................................................               7                               5
Latvia..........................................................               5                               5
Lebanon.........................................................               8               8               5
Lesotho.........................................................               8                               5
Liberia.........................................................               8                               5
Libya...........................................................               8                               5
Liechtenstein...................................................               3               3               3
Lithuania.......................................................               5                               5
Luxembourg......................................................               3               3               3
Macao...........................................................               5                               5
Macedonia, Republic of..........................................               5                               5
Madagascar......................................................               8               8               5
Malawi..........................................................               8                               5
Malaysia........................................................               7               7               5
Maldives........................................................               8                               5
Mali............................................................               8               8               5
Malta...........................................................               8                               5
Martinique......................................................               6                               5
Mauritania......................................................               8               8               5
Mauritius.......................................................               8               8               5
Mexico..........................................................               2               2               2
Moldova.........................................................               8                               5
Mongolia........................................................               7                               5
Montserrat......................................................               6                               5
Morocco.........................................................               8               8               5
Mozambique......................................................               8               8               5
Namibia.........................................................               8                               5
Nauru...........................................................               7                               5
Nepal...........................................................               7                               5
Netherlands.....................................................               3               3               3
Netherlands Antilles............................................               6               6               5
New Caledonia...................................................               7                               5
New Zealand.....................................................               4               4               4
Nicaragua.......................................................               6               6               5
Niger...........................................................               8               8               5
Nigeria.........................................................               8               8               5
Norway..........................................................               3               3               3
Oman............................................................               8               8               5
Pakistan........................................................               8               8               5
Panama..........................................................               6               6               5
Papua New Guinea................................................               7               7               5
Paraguay........................................................               6               6               5
Peru............................................................               6               6               5
Philippines.....................................................               7               7               5
Pitcairn Island.................................................               7                               5
Poland..........................................................               5               5               5
Portugal (Includes Azores & Madeira Islands)....................               3               3               3
Qatar...........................................................               8               8               5
Reunion.........................................................               8               8               5
Romania.........................................................               5               5               5
Russia..........................................................               5               5               5
Rwanda..........................................................               8                               5
Saint Christopher (St. Kitts) and Nevis.........................               6                               5
Saint Helena....................................................               8                               5
Saint Lucia.....................................................               6                               5
Saint Pierre & Miquelon.........................................               6                               5
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines................................               6                               5
San Marino......................................................               3                               3
Sao Tome and Principe...........................................               5                               5
Saudi Arabia....................................................               8               8               5
Senegal.........................................................               8               8               5
Serbia-Montenegro (Yugoslavia)..................................               5                               5
Seychelles......................................................               8                               5
Sierra Leone....................................................               8                               5
Singapore.......................................................               7               7               5
Slovak Republic (Slovakia)......................................               5                               5
Slovenia........................................................               5                               5
Solomon Islands.................................................               7                               5

[[Page 64357]]

 
Somalia.........................................................               8                               5
South Africa....................................................               8               8               5
Spain (Includes Canary Islands).................................               3               3               3
Sri Lanka.......................................................               8               8               5
Sudan...........................................................               8               8               5
Suriname........................................................               6               6               5
Swaziland.......................................................               8                               5
Sweden..........................................................               3               3               3
Switzerland.....................................................               3               3               3
Syria...........................................................               8               8               5
Taiwan..........................................................               7               7               5
Tajikistan......................................................               8                               5
Tanzania........................................................               8               8               5
Thailand........................................................               7               7               5
Togo............................................................               8               8               5
Tonga...........................................................               7                               5
Trinidad and Tobago.............................................               6               6               5
Tristan da Cunha................................................               8                               5
Tunisia.........................................................               8               8               5
Turkey..........................................................               5               5               5
Turkmenistan....................................................               5                               5
Turks and Caicos Islands........................................               6                               5
Tuvalu..........................................................               7                               5
Uganda..........................................................               8               8               5
Ukraine.........................................................               8                               5
United Arab Emirates............................................               8               8               5
Uruguay.........................................................               6               6               5
Uzbekistan......................................................               8                               5
Vanuatu.........................................................               7                               5
Vatican City....................................................               3                               3
Venezuela.......................................................               6               6               5
Vietnam.........................................................               7                               5
Wallis and Futuna Islands.......................................               7                               5
Western Samoa...................................................               7                               5
Yemen...........................................................               8               8               5
Zambia..........................................................               8               8               5
Zimbabwe........................................................               8               8               5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 01-30626 Filed 12-12-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P