Except under 223.12, Express Mail International shipments are charged postage for each addressed piece according to its weight and zone. For shipments presented in Express Mail pouches under an Express Mail Custom Designed Service agreement, each pouch is considered an addressed piece. See the Individual Country Listings for countries that offer Express Mail International service.
Regardless of the actual weight of the mailpiece, Express Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes are charged at a flat rate. Postage is required for each piece (see Notice 123, Price List). A domestic Express Mail Flat Rate Envelope with prepaid postage may also be used for an Express Mail International item provided that appropriate additional postage is added before mailing.
Express Mail International shipments may be paid with postage stamps, postage validation imprinter (PVI) labels, postage meter stamps, information-based indicia (IBI), PC Postage service, or a permit imprint under 223.22, or through the use of an Express Mail corporate account (EMCA). A written application is required prior to mailing with an Express Mail corporate account (see DMM 414.2).
Express Mail International shipments paid with a permit imprint through an advance deposit account are eligible for either the commercial base price under 223.222 or the retail price under 223.223. An Express Mail International shipment using a permit imprint does not qualify for postage-refund guarantees under 221.2 for Express Mail International With Guarantee service destination countries.
Customers capable of tendering at least 2,500 Express Mail International pieces or paying at least $50,000 in international postage on an annualized basis should contact the Postal Service to discuss customized agreements (see 297).
223.222 Permit Imprint — Commercial Base Prices
Express Mail International commercial base postage prices are 8 percent below retail prices for all postage paid with a permit imprint and using USPS-produced Global Shipping Software (GSS). The commercial base price applies only to the postage portion of Express Mail International prices. In addition, customers must meet the following requirements:
- Use USPS-produced Global Shipping Software (GSS). (To request information about GSS, send an e-mail to GSSHelp@usps.gov.)
- Pay for postage with a permit imprint through an advance deposit account.
- Meet manifesting and permit imprint requirements under IMM 152.4 and DMM 604 and the manifesting requirements under DMM 705.
Note: When using GSS, no extra services such as insurance are available.
Express Mail International items paid with a permit imprint through an Express Mail corporate account (see 223.23) are charged the applicable retail price. In addition, customers must meet the permit imprint requirements under IMM 152.4 and DMM 604 and the manifesting requirements under DMM 705.
Mailers using an Express Mail corporate account under 223.21 must pay the applicable retail price for each mailpiece.
For selected destination countries, Express Mail International items receive an 8-percent discount below retail prices for the following online shipping methods:
- Click-N-Ship service.
- An authorized PC Postage vendor.
The commercial base price is automatically applied to each shipment. The discount applies only to the postage portion of the Express Mail International price. It does not apply to any other charges or fees, such as fees for Pickup on Demand service, insurance, or shipments made under a customized agreement.
For each addressed mailpiece, compute the online postage price as follows:
- Find the retail price by weight and price group of the country in the Individual Country Listings.
- Multiply the retail price by 8 percent to obtain the discount amount.
- Subtract the discount amount (without rounding off) from the retail price, and then round off the result as explained in 152.32.
Express Mail International shipments that are entered by federal agencies and departments are subject to the same standards under 220 as Express Mail International shipments that are entered by nongovernmental entities.
Express Mail International shipments that are entered by U.S. Postal Service entities are subject to the same standards under 220 as Express Mail International shipments that are entered by nongovernmental entities, except that U.S. Postal Service mailings must bear the G-10 permit indicia that are prescribed for all Postal Service official mail. See 142.2.
