Threat of postal chaos in the United States

► What is happening at the International Postal Union?

The 192 Member States of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) are meeting in Geneva to try to avoid a withdrawal of the United States from what is the main forum of cooperation between the actors of the postal sector. This extraordinary congress is the third only since the creation in 1874 of the second oldest international organization and whose seat is in Bern, capital of Switzerland.

Washington announced last October, against a backdrop of trade tensions with China, that it intended to leave. With other countries, the United States is questioning the system of remunerating mailed letters of bulky format and small packages that they consider too favorable for countries like China.

The United Nations Specialized Agency provides for the country of destination to be reimbursed by the country of dispatch for the costs incurred in providing the service corresponding to the distribution. The UPU therefore fixes fees (called rates of remuneration) that the posts of each country pass on for the delivery of couriers and small parcels around the world.

As the UPU ranks countries in four economic and postal development groups, poor and developing countries, including China (which is in the third group), benefit from lower rates than rich countries in Europe and America. North. According to Washington, this system costs the United States between 300 and 500 million dollars a year (between 273 and 455 million euros).

► What can happen?

"A departure from the United States would mean total disruption of (postal) services to the country"UPU Director General Bishar Hussein told a news conference on Tuesday (September 24th).

"If the US leaves, there will be piles (of parcels), because each country will have to find a way to send mail to the United States and the traditional system will be completely blocked.", he added, insisting that "Major disorganization" is emerging as e-commerce grows.

Bishar Hussein, however, indicated that "Good hope" that countries will find a solution. "We are used to solving problems. We survived two world wars and the Universal Postal Union has always reinvented itself ", he said.

Time is running out, because the withdrawal procedure lasts a year, which means it comes to an end on October 17th. And Washington warned last year that the United States intended to adjust its own postal rates to US borders no later than January 1, 2020.

► What do Americans say?

Washington said this withdrawal could be reversible if successful negotiations with individual countries. Speaking at the opening of the congress, Peter Navarro, economic advisor to US President Donald Trump, announced that "Only two results are acceptable" for the United States, the best option being one allowing all UPU members to adopt " at once " their own postal rates.

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He acknowledged that this option could "Cause disturbances in the very short term", and explained that a reform "At multiple speeds" would also be accepted by Washington. "This would allow the United States to immediately declare its own rates while other countries achieve this goal over a five-year period.", he explained.

Speaking shortly after, a Chinese representative cautioned against "Irrational practice" and affirmed that Beijing was in favor of "Reforms" based on "Mutual benefits".