International Postal Regulation

The Commission plays an active international role in postal regulation. We take very seriously our statutory responsibility under the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act to provide our views to the U.S. Department of State with respect to international agreements on rates and classifications for market dominant products and their consistency with our modern regulations for rate setting. We work closely with the U.S. Department of State, which is responsible for the overall formulation of international postal policy, to develop and promote U.S. interests in such international organizations as the Universal Postal Union. We also work closely with the Postal Service, the Department of Commerce, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and are a member of the Federal Advisory Committee on International Postal and Delivery Services.

The Commission also fosters direct engagement with other postal regulators in order to share valuable information, experiences and best practices. In March 2009, we hosted the first International Postal Regulatory Dialogue, which brought together postal regulators from Europe, Asia and Latin America for the first time ever in a multilateral context.

Most recently, Chairman Ruth Y. Goldway spoke about financing universal service during the Forum on Postal Regulation organized by the Universal Postal Union in Bern, Switzerland (Notes, Presentation). Commissioner Dan G. Blair was asked to present to a forum of senior Iraqi government leaders as part of a joint Iraqi government and U.S. Agency for International Development Symposium on civil service reform (Press Release, Presentation, Photo). During his trip to Baghdad, Blair also met with Iraqi Postmaster General Dr. Safauldeen Badr Hamzah to discuss the challenges Iraq faces in providing universal postal service.

This web page is an outgrowth of the PRC’s international initiatives and a demonstration of our commitment to sharing information with other postal regulators and the public on the timely and important topic of international postal regulation.