Foreign
THE Universal Postal Union (UPU) is starting crisis talks in Geneva on Tuesday after the U.S. said it would withdraw its membership unless the rules are changed to counter China’s preferential treatment.
This latest chapter in the trade spat between the world’s two biggest economies centres on China’s classification as a developing country in the global postage system.
The UPU regulates postage rates. Countries that mail is sent from pay transport fees to destination countries, but developing countries pay significantly lower rates than industrialised ones.
In light of the booming business of Chinese online vendors, who ship to Western customers, Washington argues that the U.S. Postal Service is effectively subsidising traders in China.
The U.S., therefore, demands that it be allowed to set its own rates for the fees it charges other countries.
If no compromise is found in the talks among the 192 UPU member countries until Thursday, Washington plans to pull out from the 145-year-old organisation.
Under President Donald Trump, the U.S. has already withdrawn from the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the UN Human Rights Council.
The U.S. is also threatening to leave the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
NAN
-Sep 24, 2019 @ 10:20 GMT |
Tags: Global postal body meets as U.S. threatens exit over cheap Chinese mail
