The USA are leaving the Universal Postal Union. What are the consequences ?
By topffer
@topffer (42156)
France
October 18, 2018 1:57pm CST
The US are actually leaving one international treaty per month, more on good months, but leaving the UPU may affect people more directly.
Created after a treaty signed in Bern (Switzerland) in 1874, the UPU regulates the free move of mail between countries.
A country leaving the UPU would have to sign bilateral or multilateral treaties with other countries to have its letters and packages delivered by the postal services of these countries, otherwise the only option remaining would be an international delivery by private companies. But this last solution would not be possible in countries where the postal service is a state monopoly. To sum up it would be a return to the good old age of the wild West for the international mail.
The USA sent a notice of withdrawal to the UPU and the leave will be effective in 1 year. The goal is to negotiate... higher postal rates for small packages from China. The WH press statement released yesterday says «If negotiations are successful, the Administration is prepared to rescind the notice of withdrawal and remain in the UPU.»
It looks like an ultimatum to the 191 other members. Personally I am not ready to pay more to receive a package from China just to help Donald Trump in his trade war...
A spokesman of the Chinese foreign ministry said that they regret the US decision, but that China was actively supporting the UPU. If you are American and unable to send a letter to some foreign countries in a year, do not blame China !
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/statement-press-secretary-38/
15 people like this
14 responses
@topffer (42156)
• France
18 Oct 18
In this case it may have more visible consequences to be the only country in the world out of the UPU than to be the only country in the world out of the Paris climate agreement.
Speaking of the Brexit there was a really stupid article in the Express today telling that France voted a bill to consider any UK citizen in France like an illegal migrant in case of no deal and send him back to UK. In fact it has been voted to permit to the government to give them quickly a legal status in case of no deal. We have nothing against British and we do not take hostages
.
.5 people like this
@topffer (42156)
• France
18 Oct 18
@xFiacre Macron said it clearly, he added that he was hoping that UK would reciprocate for the French living in UK. Your brothers have nothing to fear. The only victims will be the 2700 British elected in municipal councils, because they will not be able to keep their seats, except if they have a dual citizenship from another EU country. Some have decided to ask for the French citizenship
.
.2 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (45487)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
18 Oct 18
And this surprises you, when that country is being run by an idiot?
4 people like this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
19 Oct 18
I put a like there tops but they seem to want to go back to the middle ages and perhaps a pigeon or dove would be bring better news.
I think the people of America should be allowed to vote for or against it.
Have they had a say in all of that?
Just because he wants to do that does not mean to say that everyone else does.
I won´t comment on Brexit as its out of my hands except to hope that it does not work against everyone instead of for them and its very confusing all the opinions anyway.
I think the Wild West idea would be a great one.
Just imagine all the people who have international friends how they will be affected that is so very sad.
I wonder what they think of all of this?
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
19 Oct 18
@topffer
We get that here too tops and its not my fault they decided to do what they did.
Doves and pigeons were used before why not now they are very much in touch with the Earth as well as being able to see better also lo pillas?
I get it about the Duck as well but they don´t have the same as the pigeon at least a homing pigeon.
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
20 Oct 18
@topffer
I can wel lbelieve it after all they are able to go very far across the World and have saved many many lives.
That is a very nice thing to do also I love pigeons and doves and their cooing noise.
Lucky for me there are quite a few here so no one has been trying to do away with them like they usually do here.
I was so sorry to see what I was reading about what you said about the French being blamed about the whole sorry business of Brexit.
I did want to tell them something but thought better of it after.
I read about someone blaming the French for everything and of course you know how it goes it goes viral and a lot will believe it and a lot will not.
Words can do so much harm.
Its like they blame the Spanish for everything there is yet they come here on holidays and ole y ole viva España. Vive le France and all that.
I don´t blame anyone here or there its not our fault they have decided whoever they are to do what they are doing.
I think that they could have done another kind of leaving steadily and much more thought gone into it and making better deals for the actual people that might get hurt in some way.
Its like they blame the Spanish for everything there is yet they come here on holidays and ole y ole viva España. Vive le France and all that.
I don´t blame anyone here or there its not our fault they have decided whoever they are to do what they are doing.
I think that they could have done another kind of leaving steadily and much more thought gone into it and making better deals for the actual people that might get hurt in some way.1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
19 Oct 18
The UPU was the first attempt to a freedom of move, at least for writings. Symbolically it is strong to withdraw from it. Pigeons ? Why not! Or geese, or ducks... It remains me a little joke : do you know what is an "Air France duck" on a restaurant carte ? It is a duck guaranteed to have 10000 hours of flight.
What makes me sad with Brexit, is the daily bashing by Brexiteers of the EU and France. Nobody bashes them here.
! Or geese, or ducks... It remains me a little joke : do you know what is an "Air France duck" on a restaurant carte ? It is a duck guaranteed to have 10000 hours of flight.
What makes me sad with Brexit, is the daily bashing by Brexiteers of the EU and France. Nobody bashes them here.1 person likes this
. I have not bought anything in the USA since 3 or 4 years.@topffer (42156)
• France
19 Oct 18
@LadyDuck There are a lot of evil globalist institutions in Switzerland, like the Red Cross and the UPU
.
Seriously I am fed up with Trump withdrawing of everything to barter. I do not see why the world would indulge more this carpets salesman. Let him leave, obtaining treaties for mail with 191 countries, including Monte-Carlo, will be a good and healthy occupation for his administration giving to the public servants a good opportunity for some free holidays.
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Seriously I am fed up with Trump withdrawing of everything to barter. I do not see why the world would indulge more this carpets salesman. Let him leave, obtaining treaties for mail with 191 countries, including Monte-Carlo, will be a good and healthy occupation for his administration giving to the public servants a good opportunity for some free holidays.1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
18 Oct 18
Someday, a new regime will be required to renegotiate....I don't think that it will go well for the US. Very one is fed up,
2 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
18 Oct 18
@topffer now that's an awesome plan!id support that 100%
2 people like this
@topffer (42156)
• France
19 Oct 18
It was the case until yesterday. If the USA wants to return to the situation existing before 1874, it is their right though, as I doubt that the UPU will modify its rules just to please them. At the end, if the cost increases to send something to/from the USA, the final consumer will be the victim.
. If the USA wants to return to the situation existing before 1874, it is their right though, as I doubt that the UPU will modify its rules just to please them. At the end, if the cost increases to send something to/from the USA, the final consumer will be the victim.1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
19 Oct 18
@youless It looks like blackmail, so I doubt the rest of the world will obey here. But maybe the final goal is to threaten your country to not be able to make business to consumer sales through the US postal service in a year. I do not know, I think it is a stupid move.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
19 Oct 18
I better start marketing my hair sticks to the rest of the world because that could be a serious roadblock to what I would expect to be on of my largest markets. As a Canadian, I'm not much fond of America when they start throwing their weight around.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
19 Oct 18
@topffer Maybe so but it still makes me nervous.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38657)
• Midland, Michigan
6 Nov 18
That sounds backwards to me. For it seems that is will affect those sending mail more than the countries.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (18923)
• United States
2 Nov 18
This is a terrible decision. Trump doesn't realize what he is doing.
1 person likes this
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@YrNemo (20261)
•
18 Oct 18
Love buying things from China since the shipping is very low. The US for the last several years, has suddenly increased the shipping for everything. Now with this, guess things would be worse!
(Heard the news about some sudden flash flood in France, was worried that your PC would be affected
.)
.)1 person likes this
