IntroductionUSPS has issued a notice of suspension of international services, affecting multiple destinations including the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, which will have a significant impact on cross-border e-commerce and postal parcels.
Event Overview
USPS has announced in its international service bulletin that it is suspending international mail services to multiple countries, covering major postal products such as PMI/PMEI/FCMI/FCPIS, and extending to IPA/ISAL/M-Bag. The official reason given is "logistical disruptions caused by insufficient transportation channels and regional conflicts," with the resumption date to be announced later.
This means that postal parcels will face risks of non-collection, returns, and delays in some areas. For sellers who rely on USPS, fulfillment costs and delivery time fluctuations will increase significantly.
Impact Analysis
- Postal parcels rely on low cost and wide coverage; if they cease operation, replacement costs will rise.
- It covers key regions such as the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, with a wide coverage.
- Packages already registered with the network can be returned and a refund requested, but the processing time is unpredictable.
CZL Recommendation
- Affected countries should prioritize switching to commercial courier services or trackable dedicated lines.
- The quotation and contract should clearly specify force majeure and access restrictions.
- Check whether the destination country is on the suspension list before shipping.
Reference source:
- https://about.usps.com/newsroom/service-alerts/international/
- https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/usps-suspends-mail-iran-israel-152248620.html