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