Guam residents paying more to ship mail to US after USPS change

[u/John3262005]

https://www.guampdn.com/news/local/guam-residents-paying-more-to-ship-mail-to-us-after-usps-change/article_0027784e-2363-4b68-9b5a-eb3de24a9932.html

Guam residents are paying more to send mail to the 50 U.S. states because the U.S. Postal Service is requiring the payment of custom duties, taxes and fees through a third-party vendor.

USPS made an announcement titled ”Duty Collection for Domestic Mail Arriving From Certain Insular Possessions and Territories” in the Federal Register on July 30.

Residents mailing from the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and U.S. Virgin Islands must use a third-party application to pay fees before they can ship to the fifty states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

USPS is now requiring people to use the Zonos Prepay app before mailing their package to pay applicable duties, taxes, and fees, and obtain a declaration ID and QR Code

Crowns Guam, which ships a lot of its merchandise from Guam to the U.S., posted on its Instagram story informing customers that shipping rates from Guam to the 50 U.S. states have “increased significantly.”

The company’s shipping rates have been adjusted to reflect the changes in policy and is effective immediately.

“We apologize as we know this isn’t ideal, and we understand that every added cost matters. We are doing our best to keep things fair while continuing to provide CROWNS Guam to our stateside familia,” the company said. “Thank you for your patience and continued support. It means more to us than you know.”

A local senator is now calling on USPS to address new third-party processing requirements that could impose additional costs on Guam residents mailing packages to the fifty states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

Sen. Jesse Lujan sent a letter to USPS Vice President of Government Relations and Public Policy Peter Pastre, raising concerns over the Postal Service’s use of Zonos, a private licensed customs broker, to facilitate new U.S. Customs and Border Protection requirements for packages originating in Guam and other U.S. territories.

The USPS notice distributed to customers states that individuals mailing goods from Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or the Northern Mariana Islands must obtain a Declaration ID and prepay any applicable duties before USPS will accept the package. The requirement applies even to certain shipments for which a duty-free exemption has been declared.

Lujan said his concern is not with legitimate federal customs requirements or the payment of tariffs when they are lawfully owed. Rather, he questioned why Guam residents should be required to pay a private administrative or processing fee when the underlying shipment is exempt from duty.

“If a tariff is owed, then it should be paid. But if the tariff is zero, an American citizen should not have to pay a private company just to prove that fact to his or her own federal government,” Lujan said. “The people of Guam are Americans, and access to the United States Postal Service should not come with an additional private toll simply because we live in a territory.”

Lujan noted that Guam families and businesses already face significantly higher transportation and shipping costs because of the island’s geographic isolation.

USPS remains one of the most important and affordable shipping options for residents, small businesses, students, military families, and individuals sending goods to family members throughout the United States, Lujan’s office said.

He is asking USPS to explain what fees Zonos is charging Guam customers, why a private broker fee is necessary for duty-exempt shipments, and whether USPS can establish a no-cost alternative through USPS.com or directly at local Post Office counters.

Lujan is also asking whether USPS can absorb or waive third-party fees when no federal duty is owed and whether the Postal Service evaluated the economic impact of the new process on residents and small businesses in the territories.

“Guam already pays a premium for geography,” Lujan said. “Federal policy should be looking for ways to reduce the cost of living and doing business in the territories, not creating another administrative hurdle for Americans simply trying to mail a package.”

Lujan copied Guam Del. James C. Moylan and Northern Mariana Islands Del. Kimberlyn King-Hinds on his correspondence, noting that the issue affects residents across the Pacific territories and may warrant congressional action if an administrative solution cannot be reached.

“This is an issue where Guam and the CNMI can speak with one voice,” Lujan said. “I am hopeful USPS can fix this administratively, but if federal law needs to change, then I look forward to working with our delegates to make sure Americans in the territories are treated fairly.”

Lujan is requesting a prompt review by USPS and coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to establish a fair, no-cost mechanism for territorial residents whose shipments are not subject to tariffs or duties.