NOTE: COMMENTS REGARDING ANY FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE MUST BE SENT TO THE ADDRESS INDICATED IN THE DOCUMENT. ANY COMMENTS ON THE RAPID INFORMATION BULLETIN BOARD SYSTEM (RIBBS) ABOUT ANY FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES WILL NOT BE USED OR CONSIDERED IN THE COURSE OF ANY RULE MAKING. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- =============================================================================== [Federal Register: April 9, 1997 (Volume 62, Number 68)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 17072-17081] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr09ap97_dat-23] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- POSTAL SERVICE 39 CFR Part 20 Implementation of Global Package Link Service AGENCY: Postal Service. ACTION: Interim rules with request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Global Package Link Service (GPL, formerly known as International [[Page 17073]] Package Consignment Service) is an international mail service designed for companies sending merchandise to other countries. Brazil, Chile, and Germany are now being added as additional destination countries. The Postal Service is also announcing changes in the minimum annual volumes required for GPL. Instead of minimum volume requirements for each country to which service is available, the Postal Service is establishing an annual minimum volume of 10,000 packages to all countries. An interim rule is being announced for merchandise return services for customers using GPL service to Japan and the United Kingdom. Finally, the Postal Service is reorganizing and simplifying the GPL regulations. Interim regulations have been developed and are set forth below for comment and suggested revision prior to adoption in final form. DATES: The interim regulations take effect April 9, 1997. Comments must be received on or before May 9, 1997. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be mailed or delivered to Global Package Link Service, 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 at the above address between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Michelson at the above address. Telephone: (202) 268-5731. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Introduction In late 1994, with implementation of International Package Consignment Service (later renamed Global Package Link) to Japan (59 FR 65961, December 22, 1994), the Postal Service announced that, when feasible, it would expand the service to other destination countries based on customer requests. The Postal Service later expanded GPL by adding Canada and the United Kingdom as destination countries for qualifying customers, and is hereby further expanding GPL by adding Brazil, Chile, and Germany as destination countries for qualifying customers. The Postal Service is also changing other features of GPL. First, it is changing the annual minimum volumes per country to a single minimum volume of 10,000 packages to all countries. It is also establishing a merchandise return service for items sent to the United Kingdom and Japan. The Postal Service has also simplified the regulations governing GPL to make use of the service to multiple countries more uniform. Each of these changes is described below. II. GPL to Brazil, Chile, and Germany A. Qualifying Criteria A customer who wants to use GPL to Brazil, Chile, and Germany will be required to enter into a service agreement with the Postal Service agreeing to meet each of the requirements for using GPL service. First, the customer must mail at least 10,000 GPL packages a year. (Volumes to all GPL countries may be counted toward this minimum. See part IV below.) Second, the customer must designate the Postal Service as its carrier of choice to each country for which it uses GPL service. Third, the customer must link its information systems with those of the Postal Service so that the Postal Service and the customer can exchange data transmissions concerning the customer's packages, and the Postal Service can extract, on an as-needed basis, certain information about the package by scanning the customer-provided barcode on each package. In general, the information that must be made available to the Postal Service includes the order number; the package identification number; the buyer's name and address; the recipient's name and address; the total weight of the package; the total value of the package contents; the number of items in the package; and, for each item in the package, its SKU number, its value, and its country of origin. In practice, this requirement means that the customer will have to begin the necessary systems work by the time it begins using GPL, and then will have to assist the Postal Service in completing and maintaining the information systems linkages. The Postal Service will use the extracted information to prepare the necessary customs forms and package labels and to provide user-friendly tracking and tracing. Arrangements between the Postal Service and the customer that are technical in nature also may appear in the GPL service agreement. For instance, the service agreement may describe the electronic data interface (EDI) or proprietary file format that will be used to transmit data between the customer and the Postal Service, as well as the frequency and schedule of transmissions. Similarly, the service agreement may describe the formats and frequencies for any exceptions, and performance reports that the Postal Service will provide to the customer. B. Processing and Acceptance If the plant at which the customer's GPL packages originate is located within 500 miles of a GPL processing facility, the Postal Service will verify and accept the packages at the customer's plant and transport them to the GPL processing facility according to a schedule agreed upon by the Postal Service and the mailer. If the customer's plant from which the GPL packages will originate is located more than 500 miles from a Global Package Link processing facility, the customer can choose one of two processing options: Option One The customer will be required to present the packages to the Postal Service for verification at the customer's plant and transport them as a drop shipment to a GPL processing facility according to a schedule agreed upon by the Postal Service and the customer. Option Two The customer will process the packages using Postal Service- provided computer system workstations and sort and prepare the packages as required by the Postal Service. Then, the Postal Service will verify and accept the packages at the customer's plant according to a schedule agreed upon by the Postal Service and the mailer, and will transport the packages to a designated GPL processing facility for dispatch. C. Customs Forms Normally, all necessary customs forms will be automatically generated by the Postal Service computer workstations. Packages mailed to Brazil, Chile, and Germany through a GPL facility will not be required to bear customs forms when they are tendered to the Postal Service. The Postal Service will verify, accept, and transport these packages to a designated GPL processing facility. After scanning the customer-printed barcode on each package and correlating it with the package-specific information transmitted by the customer, the Postal Service will print the necessary customs forms and affix them to the customer's packages as part of the processing operation at the GPL Processing Facility. If the customer is more than 500 miles from a designated GPL facility and chooses option two, then the customs/GPL label will be affixed by the customer using Postal Service provided workstations. D. Customs Clearance The Postal Service has developed A Customs Pre-Advisory System (CPAS) [[Page 17074]] as part of GPL processing. This electronic system collects package- specific data to satisfy customs requirements as packages are processed using the USPS computer workstations located at a GPL facility. The system electronically advises the USPS delivery agent and customs of the contents of each package mailed. Since this advisory information arrives before the mail, CPAS facilitates and simplifies customs clearance. Electronic pre-notification of the package contents and automatic preparation of required customs declarations assures the fastest clearance through Brazilian, Chilean, or German customs and reduces costs for the customer and the Postal Service. To use CPAS, recipients of merchandise must designate the Postal Service and its customs broker as their agents for customs clearance. Because of customs regulations in these countries concerning payment of duties at the time of clearance, the mailer may be asked to pre-fund a designated amount of duties before the first shipment, to be replenished after each subsequent shipment. E. Delivery Options (1) Brazil The Postal Service will initially offer one delivery option in Brazil. This option will include home delivery, but will initially be limited to addresses in the cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The weight limit for packages will be 66 pounds, and the service will provide tracking and tracing. The Postal Service will transport GPL packages from the customer's plant or from the designated GPL processing facility to Brazil overnight, where they will receive expeditious customs clearance and be released to the delivery agent. From there, the packages will receive courier service and be delivered overnight. Normal delivery times will be two to three business days from dispatch from the U.S. to final delivery. Insurance, as provided under DMM S500, is included at no additional cost. The Postal Service intends to expand this service to other areas in Brazil outside the cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, as the delivery agent expands its ability to provide an expedited, secure delivery service with tracking for individual packages. The Postal Service requests comments from customers regarding destination areas needed in Brazil. (2) Chile The Postal Service will initially offer one delivery option in Chile. This option will include home delivery, but will initially be limited to addresses in the cities of Santiago, Valparaiso, and Vina del Mar. The weight limit for packages will be 70 pounds, and the service will provide tracking and tracing. The Postal Service will transport GPL packages from the customer's plant or from the designated GPL processing facility to Chile overnight, where they will receive expeditious customs clearance and be released to the delivery agent. From there, the packages will receive courier service and be delivered overnight. Normal delivery times will be two to three business days from dispatch from the U.S. to final delivery. Insurance, as provided under DMM S500, is included at no additional cost. The Postal Service intends to expand this service to other areas in Chile outside the cities of Santiago, Valparaiso, and Vina del Mar, as the delivery agent expands its ability to provide an expedited, secure delivery service with tracking for individual packages. The Postal Service requests comments from customers regarding destination areas needed in Chile. (3) Germany The Postal Service will initially offer one delivery option in Germany. This option will include home delivery. The weight limit for packages will be 70 pounds, and the service will provide tracking and tracing. The Postal Service will transport GPL packages from the customer's plant or from the designated GPL processing facility to Germany, where they will receive expeditious customs clearance and be released to the delivery agent. From there, the packages will receive courier service and be delivered in one to two days. Normal delivery times will be three to four business days from dispatch from the U.S. to final delivery. Insurance, as provided under DMM S500, is included at no additional cost. F. Rates The base rates for GPL service to Brazil, Chile and Germany are set forth below. The Postal Service will charge the base rates, in one pound increments, for the first 100,000 packages mailed by a customer in a 12-month period. Once the customer has mailed 100,000 packages to a country, postage for the rest of the customer's packages to that country (except Germany) in the remainder of that 12-month period will be reduced by 3 percent from the base rates. III. Merchandise Return Service A merchandise return service will be available to GPL customers mailing to Japan. The mail order company (MOC) or the Japanese recipient will be responsible for payment of shipping costs to the designated Japanese return center. The return center will open each box, inspect the contents, process the returns, and consolidate for shipment back to the United States. MOC will receive electronic notification of returns on a daily basis. The consolidated returns will be shipped on a mutually agreed upon schedule. The parcels will be uniquely identified and upon arrival in the U.S. will be sent to the MOC via the domestic parcel network. The return prices, per parcel, are detailed in the rate chart. Merchandise Return Rates ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Price Pounds to per item ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1............................................................. $7.20 2............................................................. 9.80 3............................................................. 12.40 4............................................................. 15.00 5............................................................. 17.60 6............................................................. 20.20 7............................................................. 22.80 8............................................................. 25.40 9............................................................. 28.00 10............................................................ 30.60 11............................................................ 33.20 12............................................................ 35.80 13............................................................ 38.40 14............................................................ 41.00 15............................................................ 43.70 16............................................................ 48.00 17............................................................ 50.70 18............................................................ 53.50 19............................................................ 56.20 20............................................................ 58.90 21............................................................ 63.90 22............................................................ 66.70 23............................................................ 69.50 24............................................................ 72.30 25............................................................ 75.10 26............................................................ 77.90 27............................................................ 80.70 28............................................................ 83.50 29............................................................ 86.30 30............................................................ 89.10 31............................................................ 91.90 32............................................................ 94.70 33............................................................ 97.50 34............................................................ 100.40 35............................................................ 103.20 36............................................................ 106.00 37............................................................ 108.80 38............................................................ 111.60 39............................................................ 114.40 40............................................................ 117.20 41............................................................ 120.00 42............................................................ 122.80 43............................................................ 125.60 44............................................................ 128.40 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A return merchandise service will be available to GPL customers mailing to the U.K. The returns agent will open each box, inspect the contents, and process it for return to the U.S. The returns agent will apply for a refund of [[Page 17075]] duties and taxes from U.K. Customs. The packages will then be sent to the mailer's designated center for returns in the U.S. The return prices, per parcel, are detailed in the rate chart. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Return Weight not over (pounds) price ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1............................................................. $6.93 2............................................................. 7.40 3............................................................. 8.79 4............................................................. 9.26 5............................................................. 10.66 6............................................................. 11.12 7............................................................. 12.52 8............................................................. 12.99 9............................................................. 14.38 10............................................................ 14.85 11............................................................ 15.32 12............................................................ 16.72 13............................................................ 17.18 14............................................................ 18.58 15............................................................ 19.05 16............................................................ 20.44 17............................................................ 20.91 18............................................................ 22.31 19............................................................ 22.77 20............................................................ 24.17 21............................................................ 24.64 22............................................................ 25.10 23............................................................ 26.50 24............................................................ 26.97 25............................................................ 28.37 26............................................................ 28.83 27............................................................ 30.23 28............................................................ 30.70 29............................................................ 32.09 30............................................................ 32.56 31............................................................ 33.96 32............................................................ 34.42 33............................................................ 34.89 34............................................................ 36.29 35............................................................ 36.75 36............................................................ 38.15 37............................................................ 38.62 38............................................................ 40.02 39............................................................ 40.48 40............................................................ 41.88 41............................................................ 42.35 42............................................................ 43.74 43............................................................ 44.21 44............................................................ 44.68 45............................................................ 46.07 46............................................................ 46.54 47............................................................ 47.94 48............................................................ 48.40 49............................................................ 49.80 50............................................................ 50.27 51............................................................ 51.67 52............................................................ 52.13 53............................................................ 53.53 54............................................................ 54.00 55............................................................ 54.46 56............................................................ 55.86 57............................................................ 56.33 58............................................................ 57.72 59............................................................ 58.19 60............................................................ 59.59 61............................................................ 60.05 62............................................................ 61.45 63............................................................ 61.92 64............................................................ 63.32 65............................................................ 63.78 66............................................................ 64.25 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ IV. Minimum Volumes Minimum volumes to all GPL countries are now being set at a uniform level of 10,000 packages during a 12-month time period. In addition, volumes to any or all GPL destination countries will be applied toward fulfillment of this minimum. This is being done because the rationale for a minimum is that there are fixed costs involved in linking mailers to the GPL system and in providing transportation. Because these fixed costs do not vary depending upon the destination country, a uniform minimum is justifiable. V. Reorganization of Global Package Link Regulations The present GPL regulations are found in part 620 of the International Mail Manual and in the Country Pages of the IMM. Particularly with respect to the regulations in the Country Pages, the regulations are redundant and could be consolidated. All regulations that can be consolidated will now be found in 620. Only the GPL rate schedules and associated information will be included in the Country Pages. No substantive changes are made in this consolidation. VI. Conclusion Accordingly, the Postal Service hereby adopts GPL service to Brazil, Chile, and Germany, and merchandise return service from Japan and the United Kingdom, on an interim basis, at the rates set forth in the schedules below. The Postal Service also adopts on an interim basis the reorganization of the GPL regulations set forth 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 rulemaking (5 U.S.C. 553), the Postal Service invites interested persons to submit written data, views, or arguments concerning this interim rule. The Postal Service adopts the following amendments to the International Mail Manual, which is incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR 20.1. List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 20 International postal service, Foreign relations. 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. Effective May 9, 1997, subchapter 620 of the International Mail Manual, Issue 17, is amended as follows: 6 Special Programs * * * * * 621.3 Availability Global Package Link service is available only to Brazil, Canada, Chile, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom. 622 Qualifying Mailers 622.1 General To qualify for Global Package Link service, a mailer must a. Send a minimum of 10,000 packages a year; b. Link its information system with that of 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 Global Package Link service; and e. Enter into a service agreement with the Postal Service. Each service agreement must contain the following: The customer's commitment to send at least 10,000 packages to any one or more Global Package Link destination country(s) by Global Package Link during the next 12 months. Combined volumes to any GPL destination country will count toward this 12-month minimum. A customer's failure to meet original volume requirements may result in termination, by the Postal Service, of the right to mail to other destination countries. If the combined volume of packages to any or all Global Package Link Destination country(s) does not meet the minimum volume for the first 12 months following the effective date of the agreement, the USPS may terminate this agreement by giving the mailer 60 days written notice that it intends to terminate, unless the mailer can demonstrate how it will meet the minimum volume by country within the next year. If the volume frequently fails to meet the minimum volume requirement, this agreement shall be terminated by the USPS upon written notice 30 days in advance of the termination. 622.2 Linking Information Systems The mailer must link its information system to that of 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 [[Page 17076]] barcode on each package, the Postal Service can extract, on an as- needed basis, the following information about 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 and address. 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. 623 General 623.1 Special Services [No change.] 623.2 Customs Documentation Except for the acceptance option in 625.22, customs documentation will be produced by the Postal Service from data transmitted by the mailer. Mailers using the procedures in 625.22 are required to produce and affix customs documentation using the workstation provided by the Postal Service. 623.3 Size and Weight Limits The weight limits for Global Package Link service are 70 pounds for Chile and Germany; 66 pounds for Brazil, Canada, and the United Kingdom; and 44 pounds for Japan. The Japan Economy Service maximum is 4 pounds. Japan Standard and Economy packages weighing less than 1 pound must bear the ``SMALL PACKET'' marking. The maximum length of GPL packages is 60 inches and the maximum length and girth combined is 108 inches with the following exceptions: Maximum size for Germany is length 47 inches, height 23 inches, width 23 inches. Japan Economy maximum length is 24 inches; height, depth, and length combined is 36 inches. Japan Standard packages weighing less than 1 pound must adhere to the Economy size limitations. All packages must be large enough to accommodate the necessary labels and customs forms on the address side. 623.4 Postage * * * * * 623.44 Base Rates The Postal Service will charge the base rates, in 1-pound increments, for the first 100,000 packages mailed by the customer during a 12-month period. Rate Reductions ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Number of packages Percent discount ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Up to 100,000............................. Base Rate. Over 100,000.............................. 3% off base rates (except Germany and U.K.: Germany, no discount; U.K., 2%). For Japan discounts see rate table in Japan Country page. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 624 Preparation Requirements [No change.] 625 Acceptance 625.1 Within 500 Miles of a Global Package Link Processing Facility If the plant from which the customer's Global Package Link packages originate is located within 500 miles of a Global Package Link processing facility, the Postal Service will accept the packages at the customer's plant and transport them by truck to the Global Package Link processing facility according to a schedule agreed upon by the Postal Service and the customer. 625.2 More Than 500 Miles From a Global Package Link Processing Facility If the customer's plant from which the Global Package Link packages will originate is located more than 500 miles from an Global Package Link processing facility, the customer may choose one of two processing options. 625.21 The customer will present the packages to the Postal Service for verification at the customer's plant and transport them as a drop shipment to a Global Package Link processing facility according to a schedule agreed upon by the Postal Service and the customer. 625.22 The customer will process the packages using Postal Service- provided computer system workstations and will sort and prepare the packages as required by the Postal Service. The Postal Service accepts the packages at the customer's plant and transports them to a designated air mail facility or air exchange office for onward conveyance according to a schedule agreed upon by the Postal Service and the customer. 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 (Air Courier for Canada). 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 delivery. Reports of delivery performance are 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 Japan, Canada (Ground Courier for Canada), and the United Kingdom. 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 Global Package Link processing facility for Japan and through delivery for Canada and the United Kingdom. 626.13 Economy Service Economy service is available to Japan and the United Kingdom. Packages sent through economy service are transported to the destination country by air for delivery. Tracking for Economy Service is not available in Japan and available only through the hand-over to the global partner in the United Kingdom. 626.14 Canada Ground Service Ground Gateway Service will offer ground service to Canada from the designated Ground Gateway facilities and ground transportation to final destination in Canada. It will receive the same expeditious customs clearance as the Ground Courier Service (Standard). For details on special requirements of the Ground Gateway Service, see the Canada Country Page. 626.15 Processing Facilities Global Package Link packages are processed at a designated Global Package Link processing facility. The Postal Service currently operates Global Package Link processing facilities at JFK International Airport in NYC and near or at airports in Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago, Miami, Seattle, and San Francisco. Buffalo, NY serves as a facility for Ground Gateway-Canada service only. Seattle also serves as a [[Page 17077]] Ground Gateway-Canada facility. Other satellite facilities may be used as needed. 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. 626.22 United Kingdom A return merchandise service will be available to Global Package Link customers mailing to the United Kingdom. The returns agent will open and inspect the contents of each box and process for return back to the U.S. The returns agent may apply for a refund of duties and taxes from United Kingdom Customs. The packages will then be sent to the mailer's designated center for returns in the U.S. The return prices, per parcel, are detailed in the Global Package Link rate charts in the Country Pages. 626.23 Canada A return merchandise service will be available to GPL--Canada customers. The mailer or the Canadian recipient will be responsible for shipment costs back to the designated Canadian return center. The return center will open each box, inspect the contents, and process it for return back to the U.S., including applying to Revenue Canada for a refund of duties and taxes to. Upon arrival in the U.S., the parcels will be sent back to the mailer via the domestic parcel network. The return prices, per parcel, are detailed in the Canada Country page. Insurance and Indemnity 626.31 Premium Service Packages sent through premium service are insured against loss, damage, or rifling at no additional cost. Indemnity will be paid by the Postal Service in accordance with Domestic Mail Manual S500. Premium service packages are not insured against delay in delivery. Neither indemnity payments nor postage refunds will be made in the event of delay. 626.32 Standard Service 626.321 Japan and Canada Packages sent through standard service to Japan that weigh more than one pound may be insured at an additional cost (See 320). Packages sent through standard service and Ground Gateway service to Canada are insured for the declared value, up to $100 Canadian. Standard service packages are not insured against delay in delivery. Neither indemnity payments nor postage refunds will be made in the event of delay. 626.322 United Kingdom Packages sent through standard service to the United Kingdom are insured against loss, damage, or rifling at no additional cost. Indemnity up to $500.00 will be paid by the Postal Service in accordance with Domestic Mail Manual 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. 626.33 Economy Service 626.331 Japan Packages sent through economy service to Japan may not be insured. 626.332 United Kingdom Packages sent through economy service to the United Kingdom may be insured at an additional cost (see 320). Economy 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 Clearance 626.41 Customs Forms Normally all necessary customs forms will be automatically generated by the Postal Service computer workstations. Packages mailed through a Global Package Link processing facility will not be required to bear customs forms when they are tendered to the Postal Service. After scanning the customer-printed barcode on each package and correlating it with the package-specific information transmitted by the customer, the Postal Service will print the necessary customs forms and affix them to the customer's packages as part of the processing operation at the Global Package Link processing facility. A customer utilizing the Global Package Link work station at a location more than 500 miles from a Global Package Link processing facility will be required to affix the customs documentation produced by the Global Package Link work station to each package. 626.42 Customs Clearance The Postal Service has developed the Customs Pre-Advisory System (CPAS) as part of Global Package Link processing. This electronic system collects package-specific data to satisfy customs requirements as packages are processed using the USPS computer workstations located at Global Package Link processing facilities. The system electronically advises agents in the destination country of the contents of each package mailed. Mailers must provide the Postal Service with the harmonized customs codes for their merchandise for assessing duty. Mailers may obtain harmonized codes themselves or the Postal Service will obtain codes for them. Recipients of merchandise must designate the Postal Service and its agents as the recipients agents for customs clearance. 626.421 Catalog Harmonization Services [Move from 626.9 to 626.421.] All catalog harmonization services performed for the Global Package Link mailer by the Postal Service will be billed to the mailer at a rate of $1.25 per catalog item. If the catalog is changed in the future, the new items will also be charged at $1.25 per item. Mailers have the option of performing their own harmonization, provided it is done in a format compatible with the Postal Service's Customs Pre- Advisory System (CPAS) software. 626.43 Payment of Customs Duty 626.431 All Countries Except Japan For all countries except Japan, 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 back 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 Germany, mailers must make an advance deposit prior to 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 effected when payment for the order is made). [[Page 17078]] 626.432 Japan In Japan, any customs duties and fees will be collected from the recipient at the time of delivery. [Delete 626.5 through 627. Section 629.9, Catalog Harmonization, moves to 626.421.] 3. Effective April 9, 1997, the Individual Country Listing for Brazil in the International Mail Manual Issue 17 is amended by adding the following information about Global Package Link to the end of the listing. Global Package Link to Brazil Rate Chart (Premium Service) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Annual volumes ------------------- No Weight not to exceed (pounds) discount More under than 100,000 100,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1................................................... 12.45 12.08 2................................................... 14.32 13.89 3................................................... 17.01 16.50 4................................................... 18.87 18.31 5................................................... 21.59 20.94 6................................................... 23.45 22.75 7................................................... 26.14 25.36 8................................................... 28.01 27.17 9................................................... 30.70 29.78 10.................................................. 32.56 31.59 11.................................................. 34.43 33.39 12.................................................. 37.14 36.02 13.................................................. 39.00 37.83 14.................................................. 41.70 40.44 15.................................................. 43.56 42.25 16.................................................. 46.25 44.86 17.................................................. 48.12 46.67 18.................................................. 50.17 48.67 19.................................................. 52.04 50.47 20.................................................. 54.67 53.03 21.................................................. 56.53 54.84 22.................................................. 58.40 56.65 23.................................................. 61.05 59.22 24.................................................. 62.92 61.03 25.................................................. 65.57 63.60 26.................................................. 67.43 65.41 27.................................................. 70.07 67.97 28.................................................. 71.93 69.77 29.................................................. 74.59 72.35 30.................................................. 76.45 74.16 31.................................................. 79.10 76.73 32.................................................. 80.97 78.54 33.................................................. 82.83 80.35 34.................................................. 85.49 82.92 35.................................................. 87.35 84.73 36.................................................. 90.00 87.30 37.................................................. 91.87 89.11 38.................................................. 94.52 91.69 39.................................................. 96.39 93.49 40.................................................. 99.04 96.07 41.................................................. 100.90 97.88 42.................................................. 103.56 100.45 43.................................................. 105.42 102.26 44.................................................. 107.29 104.07 45.................................................. 109.94 106.64 46.................................................. 111.80 108.45 47.................................................. 114.46 111.02 48.................................................. 116.32 112.83 49.................................................. 118.98 115.41 50.................................................. 120.84 117.21 51.................................................. 123.49 119.79 52.................................................. 125.36 121.60 53.................................................. 128.01 124.17 54.................................................. 129.87 125.98 55.................................................. 131.74 127.79 56.................................................. 134.39 130.36 57.................................................. 136.26 132.17 58.................................................. 138.91 134.74 59.................................................. 140.77 136.55 60.................................................. 143.43 139.13 61.................................................. 145.29 140.93 62.................................................. 147.95 143.51 63.................................................. 149.81 145.32 64.................................................. 152.46 147.89 65.................................................. 154.33 149.70 66.................................................. 156.19 151.51 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ * * * * * 4. Effective April 9, 1997, the Individual Country Listing for Chile in the International Mail Manual Issue 17 is amended by adding the following information about Global Package Link to the end of the listing. Global Package Link to Chile Rate Chart (Premium Service) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Annual volumes ------------------- No Weight not to exceed (pounds) discount More under than 100,000 100,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1................................................... 9.70 9.41 2................................................... 11.74 11.39 3................................................... 13.97 13.56 4................................................... 16.02 15.53 5................................................... 18.25 17.70 6................................................... 20.29 19.68 7................................................... 22.52 21.85 8................................................... 24.56 23.83 9................................................... 26.80 25.99 10.................................................. 28.84 27.97 11.................................................. 30.88 29.95 12.................................................. 33.11 32.12 13.................................................. 35.15 34.10 14.................................................. 37.39 36.26 15.................................................. 39.43 38.24 16.................................................. 41.66 40.41 17.................................................. 43.70 42.39 18.................................................. 45.93 44.56 19.................................................. 47.98 46.54 20.................................................. 50.21 48.70 21.................................................. 52.25 50.68 22.................................................. 54.29 52.66 23.................................................. 56.52 54.83 24.................................................. 58.56 56.81 25.................................................. 60.80 58.97 26.................................................. 62.84 60.95 27.................................................. 65.07 63.12 28.................................................. 67.11 65.10 29.................................................. 69.35 67.27 30.................................................. 71.39 69.25 31.................................................. 73.62 71.41 32.................................................. 75.66 73.39 33.................................................. 77.70 75.37 34.................................................. 79.94 77.54 35.................................................. 81.98 79.52 36.................................................. 84.21 81.68 37.................................................. 86.25 83.66 38.................................................. 88.48 85.83 39.................................................. 90.52 87.81 40.................................................. 92.76 89.98 41.................................................. 94.80 91.95 42.................................................. 97.03 94.12 43.................................................. 99.07 96.10 44.................................................. 101.11 98.08 45.................................................. 103.35 100.25 46.................................................. 105.39 102.23 47.................................................. 107.62 104.39 48.................................................. 109.66 106.37 49.................................................. 111.89 108.54 50.................................................. 113.94 110.52 51.................................................. 116.17 112.68 52.................................................. 118.21 114.66 53.................................................. 120.44 116.83 54.................................................. 122.48 118.81 55.................................................. 124.52 120.79 56.................................................. 126.76 122.96 57.................................................. 128.80 124.93 58.................................................. 131.03 127.10 59.................................................. 133.07 129.08 60.................................................. 135.31 131.25 61.................................................. 137.35 133.23 62.................................................. 139.58 135.39 63.................................................. 141.62 137.37 64.................................................. 143.85 139.54 65.................................................. 145.90 141.52 66.................................................. 147.94 143.50 67.................................................. 150.17 145.66 68.................................................. 152.21 147.64 69.................................................. 154.44 149.81 70.................................................. 156.48 151.79 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5. Effective April 9, 1997, the Individual Country Listing for Germany in the International Mail Manual Issue 17 is amended by adding the following information about Global Package Link to the end of the listing. Global Package Link to Germany Rate Chart ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rate all Weight not to exceed (pounds) volumes ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1............................................................. 10.74 2............................................................. 12.35 3............................................................. 13.96 4............................................................. 15.57 5............................................................. 17.18 6............................................................. 18.80 7............................................................. 20.41 8............................................................. 22.02 9............................................................. 23.63 [[Page 17079]] 10............................................................ 25.24 11............................................................ 26.86 12............................................................ 28.47 13............................................................ 30.08 14............................................................ 31.69 15............................................................ 33.30 16............................................................ 34.92 17............................................................ 36.53 18............................................................ 38.14 19............................................................ 39.75 20............................................................ 41.36 21............................................................ 42.98 22............................................................ 44.59 23............................................................ 46.20 24............................................................ 47.81 25............................................................ 49.42 26............................................................ 51.04 27............................................................ 52.65 28............................................................ 54.26 29............................................................ 55.87 30............................................................ 57.48 31............................................................ 59.10 32............................................................ 60.71 33............................................................ 62.32 34............................................................ 63.93 35............................................................ 65.54 36............................................................ 67.16 37............................................................ 68.77 38............................................................ 70.38 39............................................................ 71.99 40............................................................ 73.60 41............................................................ 75.22 42............................................................ 76.83 43............................................................ 78.44 44............................................................ 80.05 45............................................................ 81.66 46............................................................ 83.28 47............................................................ 84.89 48............................................................ 86.50 49............................................................ 88.11 50............................................................ 89.72 51............................................................ 91.34 52............................................................ 92.95 53............................................................ 94.56 54............................................................ 96.17 55............................................................ 97.78 56............................................................ 99.40 57............................................................ 101.01 58............................................................ 102.62 59............................................................ 104.23 60............................................................ 105.84 61............................................................ 107.46 62............................................................ 109.07 63............................................................ 110.68 64............................................................ 112.29 65............................................................ 113.90 66............................................................ 115.52 67............................................................ 117.13 68............................................................ 118.74 69............................................................ 120.35 70............................................................ 121.96 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6. Effective April 9, 1997, the Individual Country Listing for Great Britain in the International Mail Manual Issue 17 is amended by deleting all Global Package Link regulations and replacing the rate chart for Global Package Link with the following rate chart, including rates for merchandise. Global Package Link to Great Britain and Northern Ireland Rate Chart [Replace current rate table with the following:] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Price per item Weight not over (pounds) --------------------------------------------------- Premium Standard Economy Returns ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1........................................................... $13.87 $11.17 $9.95 $6.93 2........................................................... 15.21 12.46 11.19 7.40 3........................................................... 16.54 13.75 12.43 8.79 4........................................................... 17.88 15.04 13.67 9.26 5........................................................... 19.21 16.32 14.91 10.66 6........................................................... 20.55 17.61 16.15 11.12 7........................................................... 21.88 18.90 17.39 12.52 8........................................................... 23.71 20.18 18.63 12.99 9........................................................... 25.08 21.47 19.87 14.38 10.......................................................... 26.63 22.76 21.11 14.85 11.......................................................... 28.00 24.05 22.35 15.32 12.......................................................... 29.37 25.33 23.59 16.72 13.......................................................... 30.96 26.62 24.82 17.18 14.......................................................... 32.34 27.91 26.06 18.58 15.......................................................... 33.96 29.20 27.30 19.05 16.......................................................... 35.35 30.48 28.54 20.44 17.......................................................... 36.99 31.77 29.78 20.91 18.......................................................... 38.66 33.06 31.02 22.31 19.......................................................... 40.61 34.35 32.26 22.77 20.......................................................... 42.04 35.63 33.50 24.17 21.......................................................... 43.47 36.92 34.74 24.64 22.......................................................... 44.90 38.21 35.98 25.10 23.......................................................... 46.33 39.49 37.22 26.50 24.......................................................... 47.76 40.78 38.46 26.97 25.......................................................... 49.19 42.07 39.70 28.37 26.......................................................... 50.62 43.36 40.94 28.83 27.......................................................... 53.44 44.64 42.18 30.23 28.......................................................... 54.91 45.93 43.42 30.70 29.......................................................... 56.38 47.22 44.66 32.09 30.......................................................... 57.85 48.51 45.90 32.56 31.......................................................... 59.31 49.79 47.14 33.96 32.......................................................... 60.78 51.08 48.38 34.42 33.......................................................... 62.25 52.37 49.62 34.89 34.......................................................... 63.72 53.65 50.86 36.29 35.......................................................... 65.19 54.94 52.10 36.75 36.......................................................... 66.66 56.23 53.34 38.15 37.......................................................... 68.13 57.52 54.58 38.62 38.......................................................... 69.59 58.80 55.82 40.02 [[Page 17080]] 39.......................................................... 72.45 60.09 57.06 40.48 40.......................................................... 73.94 61.38 58.30 41.88 41.......................................................... 75.44 62.67 59.54 42.35 42.......................................................... 76.94 63.95 60.77 43.74 43.......................................................... 78.44 65.24 62.01 44.21 44.......................................................... 79.93 66.53 63.25 44.68 45.......................................................... 81.43 67.82 64.49 46.07 46.......................................................... 82.93 69.10 65.73 46.54 47.......................................................... 84.42 70.39 66.97 47.94 48.......................................................... 85.92 71.68 68.21 48.40 49.......................................................... 87.42 72.96 69.45 49.80 50.......................................................... 88.91 74.25 70.69 50.27 51.......................................................... 90.41 75.54 71.93 51.67 52.......................................................... 91.91 76.83 73.17 52.13 53.......................................................... 93.41 78.11 74.41 53.53 54.......................................................... 94.90 79.40 75.65 54.00 55.......................................................... 96.40 80.69 76.89 54.46 56.......................................................... 97.90 81.98 78.13 55.86 57.......................................................... 99.39 83.26 79.37 56.33 58.......................................................... 100.89 84.55 80.61 57.72 59.......................................................... 102.39 85.84 81.85 58.19 60.......................................................... 103.89 87.13 83.09 59.59 61.......................................................... 105.38 88.41 84.33 60.05 62.......................................................... 106.88 89.70 85.57 61.45 63.......................................................... 108.38 90.99 86.81 61.92 64.......................................................... 109.87 92.27 88.05 63.32 65.......................................................... 111.37 93.56 89.29 63.78 66.......................................................... 112.87 94.85 90.53 64.25 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. Effective April 9, 1997, the Individual Country Listing for Japan in the International Mail Manual Issue 17 is amended by adding the following rate chart for Global Package Link, including rates for merchandise return service. Global Package Link to Japan ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Price per item ($) Weight not over (pounds) --------------------------------------------------- Premium Standard Economy Returns ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1........................................................... 14.35 6.64 5.43 7.20 2........................................................... 15.69 9.23 9.35 9.80 3........................................................... 17.80 13.63 13.27 12.40 4........................................................... 19.91 15.74 17.20 15.00 5........................................................... 22.02 20.14 ........... 17.60 6........................................................... 27.03 24.93 ........... 20.20 7........................................................... 29.39 29.86 ........... 22.80 8........................................................... 31.76 32.22 ........... 25.40 9........................................................... 34.12 37.15 ........... 28.00 10.......................................................... 36.49 39.52 ........... 30.60 11.......................................................... 38.85 41.88 ........... 33.20 12.......................................................... 41.21 46.81 ........... 35.80 13.......................................................... 43.58 49.17 ........... 38.40 14.......................................................... 45.94 54.10 ........... 41.00 15.......................................................... 48.31 56.47 ........... 43.70 16.......................................................... 54.29 65.78 ........... 48.00 17.......................................................... 56.82 68.32 ........... 50.70 18.......................................................... 59.36 73.60 ........... 53.50 19.......................................................... 61.89 76.13 ........... 56.20 20.......................................................... 64.42 81.42 ........... 58.90 21.......................................................... 71.42 89.55 ........... 63.90 22.......................................................... 74.12 92.25 ........... 66.70 23.......................................................... 76.83 97.88 ........... 69.50 24.......................................................... 79.53 100.58 ........... 72.30 25.......................................................... 82.23 106.22 ........... 75.10 26.......................................................... 84.93 108.92 ........... 77.90 27.......................................................... 87.63 114.56 ........... 80.70 28.......................................................... 90.34 117.26 ........... 83.50 29.......................................................... 93.04 122.89 ........... 86.30 30.......................................................... 95.74 125.59 ........... 89.10 31.......................................................... 104.59 139.43 ........... 91.90 [[Page 17081]] 32.......................................................... 107.47 142.30 ........... 94.70 33.......................................................... 110.34 145.17 ........... 97.50 34.......................................................... 113.21 151.16 ........... 100.40 35.......................................................... 116.08 154.03 ........... 103.20 36.......................................................... 118.95 160.02 ........... 106.00 37.......................................................... 121.82 162.89 ........... 108.80 38.......................................................... 124.69 168.88 ........... 111.60 39.......................................................... 127.56 171.75 ........... 114.40 40.......................................................... 130.43 177.73 ........... 117.20 41.......................................................... 141.15 191.23 ........... 120.00 42.......................................................... 144.19 197.57 ........... 122.80 43.......................................................... 147.23 200.61 ........... 125.60 44.......................................................... 150.27 203.65 ........... 128.40 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Discounts for GPL service to Japan are as follows: a. 25,000 to 100,000 packages: 0% b. 100,001 to 250,000 packages: 4.75% c. 250,001 to 500,000 packages: additional 5.75% d. 500,001 to 1,000,000 packages: additional 6.00% e. More than 1,000,000 packages: additional 6.25% 8. Effective April 9, 1997, the individual country listing for Canada is amended by removing the following Global Package Link information: DESCRIPTION, DELIVERY OPTIONS, PROCESSING FACILITIES, PROCESSING AND ACCEPTANCE [Only the part not referring to Ground Gateway Acceptance], REQUIRED PACKAGE SPECIFIC INFORMATION, INSURANCE AND INDEMNITY, CATALOG HARMONIZATION, POSTAGE, SIZE AND WEIGHT LIMITS, CUSTOMS and PREPARATION REQUIREMENTS. [The following items will be retained in the country page:] PROCESSING AND ACCEPTANCE [Only the part explaining the Ground Gateway acceptance, including within 500 Miles and More than 500 miles.] The Rate Chart [With the three levels of service, Air Courier, Ground Courier, Ground Gateway and return service rates.] * * * * * Stanley F. Mires, Chief Counsel Legislative. [FR Doc. 97-8861 Filed 4-8-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7710-12-P