[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 89 (Thursday, May 8, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 25136-25138]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-12018]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 20


Amendment to Interim Rule for Global Package Link to Japan

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Amendment to interim rule with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service is amending the interim rule on Global 
Package Link to Japan to change the offering of three levels of service 
to two levels of service. The discount rate structure currently offered 
to Japan will be adjusted and the name for Express Service will be 
changed to Premium service. Additionally, insurance for the Standard 
service will no longer be available.

DATES: The interim regulations take effect as of 12:01 a.m. on June 8, 
1997. Comments must be received on or before June 8, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be mailed or delivered to 
International Business Unit, 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 
between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Michelson at the above address. 
Telephone (202) 268-5731.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In late 1994, International Package 
Consignment Service, later renamed Global Package Link (GPL), was 
introduced to Japan (59 FR 65961, December 22, 1994). Rates have 
remained constant since the inception of GPL and now must be adjusted 
slightly to reflect changes in cost and market conditions. 
Additionally, volume discounts will be changed from a progressive 
discount after 100,000 packages mailed annually to a straight 3% 
discount for all packages over 100,000 mailed annually. This makes it 
consistent with the volume discount structure available to most other 
GPL destination countries.
    The GPL service offerings to Japan: Express, Standard, and Economy 
will be reduced to two options. Express service will remain as is, 
except it will now be called Premium service, and the Standard and 
Economy services will be merged into a new Standard level of service. 
We believe this change will more accurately reflect the service levels 
the customers actually receive. In addition, there will no longer be an 
insurance option for the new Standard service. Customers desiring 
insurance may choose Premium service, which includes insurance at no 
additional charge.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 20

    International postal service, Foreign relations.

    The Postal Service adopts the following interim amendment to the 
International Mail Manual, which is incorporated by reference in the 
Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR 20.1.

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 June 8, 1997, subchapter 620 of the International Mail 
Manual Issue 17 is amended as follows:

6  Special Programs

* * * * *

620  Global Package Link

* * * * *

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 maximum length of GPL packages is 60 inches and the maximum 
length and girth combined is 108 inches with exceptions: maximum size 
for Germany is length 47 inches, height 23 inches, width 23 inches. 
Japan standard packages less than one pound, maximum length is 24 
inches; height, depth, and length combined maximum is 36 inches. 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%).    
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

626  Services Available

* * * * *

626.1  Delivery Options

    Delivery options vary according to destination country as set forth 
below.
* * * * *

626.13  Economy Service

    Economy service is available to the United Kingdom. Packages sent 
through Economy service are transported to the destination country by 
air for delivery. Tracking is available through the hand-over to the 
global partner in the United Kingdom.
* * * * *

626.3  Insurance and Indemnity

* * * * *

626.32  Standard Service

626.321  Canada

    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

[[Page 25137]]

payments nor postage refunds will be made in the event of delay.
* * * * *

626.33  Economy Service

    [Delete 626.331, Japan, and renumber 626.332, UK, as 626.331.]

626.331  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.
* * * * *

Japan Country Page

    [Add the following information about GPL:]

                Global Package Link to Japan Rates Chart                
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Premium      Standard     Returns  
    Weight  not over  (pounds)      (dollars)    (dollars)    (dollars) 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1................................        14.50         5.50         7.20
2................................        16.50         8.50         9.80
3................................        19.00        13.00        12.40
4................................        21.50        16.50        15.00
5................................        24.00        22.00        17.60
6................................        27.00        25.00        20.20
7................................        29.50  ...........        22.80
8................................        32.00  ...........        25.40
9................................        34.50  ...........        28.00
10...............................        37.00  ...........        30.60
11...............................        39.50  ...........        33.20
12...............................        42.00  ...........        35.80
13...............................        44.50  ...........        38.40
14...............................        47.00  ...........        41.00
15...............................        49.50  ...........        43.70
16...............................        52.00  ...........        48.00
17...............................        54.50  ...........        50.70
18...............................        57.00  ...........        53.50
19...............................        59.50  ...........        56.20
20...............................        62.00  ...........        58.90
21...............................        64.50  ...........        63.90
22...............................        67.00  ...........        66.70
23...............................        69.50  ...........        69.50
24...............................        72.00  ...........        72.30
25...............................        74.50  ...........        75.10
26...............................        77.00  ...........        77.90
27...............................        79.50  ...........        80.70
28...............................        82.00  ...........        83.50
29...............................        84.50  ...........        86.30
30...............................        87.00  ...........        89.10
31...............................        89.50  ...........        91.90
32...............................        92.00  ...........        94.70
33...............................        94.50  ...........        97.50
34...............................        97.00  ...........       100.40
35...............................        99.50  ...........       103.20
36...............................       102.00  ...........       106.00
37...............................       104.50  ...........       108.80
38...............................       107.00  ...........       111.60
39...............................       109.50  ...........       114.40
40...............................       112.00  ...........       117.20
41...............................       114.50  ...........       120.00
42...............................       117.00  ...........       122.80
43...............................       119.50  ...........       125.60
44...............................       122.00  ...........       128.40
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Discounts for GPL service to Japan are 3% off the base rates for those  
  packages sent over 100,000 during a 12-month period.                  


[[Page 25138]]

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Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 97-12018 Filed 5-7-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P