Potential problems sending items to and from the USA

[tony41]

President Trump has announced that the USA will unilaterally leave the Universal Postal Union. The UPU facilitates the movement of mail across international borders. THis could mean disruption of mail services when it happens.

[rocks2dust]

There is no question that the UPU is in desperate need of updating, but Trump's approach of ripping up treaties is ridiculous (even as a bullying ploy). Certainly the UPU rates allow an unfair advantage that makes it nearly impossible for North American, Japanese, Anzac and European nations to compete when certain other nations are able to undercut them so very drastically on shipping costs.

[astral276]

There is no question that the UPU is in desperate need of updating, but Trump's approach of ripping up treaties is ridiculous (even as a bullying ploy). Certainly the UPU rates allow an unfair advantage that makes it nearly impossible for North American, Japanese, Anzac and European nations to compete when certain other nations are able to undercut them so very drastically on shipping costs.

Well, as the UPU response when the issue was raised was basically "OK, we might look at it in a few years time and then we might do something about it...or maybe not" it needed something to shake them out of their inertia. Trump's threat to pull out seems to have done just that as they are now looking at the issue with more urgency.

Being 'Mr. Nice Guy' gets you nowhere with these complacent organisations - they'll just ignore you or walk all over you.

[theElench]

Surely not, I wonder where you got that idea??