§ 407. — International postal arrangements.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 39USC407]
TITLE 39--POSTAL SERVICE
PART I--GENERAL
CHAPTER 4--GENERAL AUTHORITY
Sec. 407. International Postal Arrangements \1\
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\1\ So in original. ``Postal Arrangements'' probably should not be
capitalized.
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(a)(1) The Secretary of State shall have primary responsibility for
formulation, coordination and oversight of policy with respect to United
States participation in the Universal Postal Union, including the
Universal Postal Convention and other Acts of the Universal Postal
Union, amendments thereto, and all postal treaties and conventions
concluded within the framework of the Convention and such Acts.
(2) Subject to subsection (d), the Secretary may, with the consent
of the President, negotiate and conclude treaties, conventions and
amendments referred to in paragraph (1).
(b)(1) Subject to subsections (a), (c), and (d), the Postal Service
may, with the consent of the President, negotiate and conclude postal
treaties and conventions.
(2) The Postal Service may, with the consent of the President,
establish rates of postage or other charges on mail matter conveyed
between the United States and other countries.
(3) The Postal Service shall transmit a copy of each postal treaty
or convention concluded with other governments under the authority of
this subsection to the Secretary of State, who shall furnish a copy to
the Public Printer for publication.
(c) The Postal Service shall not conclude any treaty or convention
under the authority of this section or any other arrangement related to
the delivery of international postal services that is inconsistent with
any policy developed pursuant to subsection (a).
(d) In carrying out their responsibilities under this section, the
Secretary and the Postal Service shall consult with such federal \2\
agencies as the Secretary or the Postal Service considers appropriate,
private providers of international postal services, users of
international postal services, the general public, and such other
persons as the Secretary or the Postal Service considers appropriate.
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\2\ So in original. Probably should be capitalized.
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(Pub. L. 91-375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 724; Pub. L. 105-277, div. A,
Sec. 101(h) [title VI, Sec. 633(a)], Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681-480,
2681-523.)
Amendments
1998--Pub. L. 105-277 substituted ``International Postal
Arrangements'' for ``International postal arrangements'' in section
catchline and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as
follows:
``(a) The Postal Service, with the consent of the President, may
negotiate and conclude postal treaties or conventions, and may establish
the rates of postage or other charges on mail matter conveyed between
the United States and other countries. The decisions of the Postal
Service construing or interpreting the provisions of any treaty or
convention which has been or may be negotiated and concluded shall, if
approved by the President, be conclusive upon all officers of the
Government of the United States.
``(b) The Postal Service shall transmit a copy of each postal
convention concluded with other governments to the Secretary of State,
who shall furnish a copy of the same to the Public Printer for
publication.''
Effective Date
Section effective July 1, 1971, pursuant to Resolution No. 71-9 of
the Board of Governors. See section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91-375, set out as
a note preceding section 101 of this title.
Transfer of Funds to State Department
Pub. L. 105-277, Sec. 101(h) [title VI, Sec. 633(d)], Oct. 21, 1998,
112 Stat. 2681-480, 2681-524, provided that: ``In fiscal year 1999 and
each fiscal year hereafter, the Postal Service shall allocate to the
Department of State from any funds available to the Postal Service such
sums as may be reasonable, documented and auditable for the Department
of State to carry out the activities of Section 407 of title 39 of the
United States Code.''