USPS International Rate Changes Approved

USPS International Rate Changes Approved

The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) late on Friday issued its order approving the Postal Service's proposed rate and classification changes as scheduled, effective January 18, 2026. the PRC approved the two classification changes in the filing, which both impact international services. The 13-page narrative of the order is dedicated to addressing these classification changes, as well as IMAG comments to the commission. IMAG had urged the PRC to issue its decision in this rate and classification case promptly, so international shippers and their service providers had sufficient time to make the necessary programming and system changes.

In its order:

• The PRC signed off on the Postal Service plan to continue to offer M-Bag service but to restrict the service solely to printed matter. The Universal Postal Union (UPU), which sets the standards and rules for global postal services, recently classified M-bags as an optional service that postal operators can choose to offer.
  

• And, the PRC approved the new ancillary service fee for the Postal Service's planned Delivered Duty Paid (DDP), a service that involves the prepayment by the mailer of any applicable customs duties, taxes, and fees at the time of mailing, as opposed to such charges being due upon delivery. USPS proposed a $0 fee for DDP, but it stated in the filing that it anticipates that Customs and Border Protection may establish a new mail entry process and customs requirements in the future, and the requirements by destination countries could change. Thus, the Postal Service requires “flexibility to be able to adjust the USPS DDP fee as appropriate to, among other things, cover any costs that are incurred to comply with future requirements.”