WASHINGTON/OTTAWA — Canada Post Corp. will partner with the U.S. Postal Service on an international mail service designed to help US publishers get easier access to the Canadian domestic postal system and thus to the Canadian market.
The USPS revealed the deal last month through an announcement placed in the Federal Register saying that it is adopting an interim rule on Global Direct-Canada Publications Mail. Qualified US mailers can take advantage of the service by concluding a service agreement with the USPS.
Mailers must commit to sending a minimum of 10,000 pieces or 250 pounds of mail per mailing for delivery to Canadian addresses. And they must meet Canada Post requirements for such mailings. These include specialized software for sorting and address accuracy that Canada Post recognizes.
The service is available from six USPS facilities: John F. Kennedy Airport Mail Center, Jamaica, NY; New Jersey International Bulk Mail Center, Jersey City, NJ; Buffalo Auxiliary Service Facility; Detroit Bulk Mail Center, Allen Park, MI; Chicago O'Hare International Annex; Seattle Bulk Mail Center, Federal Way, WA.
The rate of postage is determined by the weight and level of sorting.
The service also is available for USPS ancillary services: Business Reply Service, which provides for the return of Canadian business reply mail through the USPS to a specified address in Canada; and Return of Undeliverable Mail, where only the address block of the publication will be returned.
The rates for BRS are 45 cents for items weighing 1.06 ounces or less, and 65 cents for items weighing more than 1.06 ounces but not more than 1.76 ounces. The rate for the Undeliverable Mail service is 50 cents per address block returned.
