Presidential Memorandum on Universal Postal Union: Chairman Robert Taub’s Statement

Washington, DC – On August 23, 2018, President Donald J. Trump issued a Presidential Memorandum (https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/presidential-memorandum-secretary-state-secretary-treasury-secretary-homeland-security-postmaster-general-chairman-postal-regulatory-commission/) detailing his direction to modernizing the monetary reimbursement model for the delivery of goods through the international postal system and enhancing the security and safety of international mail. The memorandum was addressed to the Secretaries of State, the Treasury, and Homeland Security, as well as the Postmaster General and the Chairman of the Postal Regulatory Commission. The following is a statement from Commission Chairman Robert G. Taub:

 “The anticompetitive nature of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) has concerned the United States Government since the Reagan Administration. The increasingly competitive and commercial nature of the market has exacerbated these long-standing distortions. Yet, little has changed at the UPU. The UPU continues to promulgate agreements that require posts to undercharge for delivery of inbound mail, to insulate postal shipments from full application of national customs laws, and to promote a different legal regime for postal operators and competing private carriers. President Trump’s Memorandum represents an enormous leap forward to finally addressing these problems on behalf of our fellow Americans – particularly U.S. merchants, U.S. mailers, and U.S. private-sector carriers who are trying to compete fairly in these global markets.”

 

The Postal Regulatory Commission is an independent federal agency that provides regulatory oversight over the U.S. Postal Service to ensure the transparency and accountability of the Postal Service and foster a vital and efficient universal mail system. The Commission is comprised of five Presidentially-appointed and Senate-confirmed Commissioners, each serving terms of six years.  The Chairman is designated by the President.  In addition to Chairman Robert G. Taub, the other commissioners are Vice Chairman Tony Hammond and Commissioners Mark Acton and Nanci Langley. Follow the PRC on Twitter: @PostalRegulator