[Federal Register: April 26, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 79)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 20178-20186] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr26ap99-24] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- POSTAL SERVICE 39 CFR Part 20 Changes in International Postal Rates AGENCY: Postal Service. ACTION: Final rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Postal Service, after considering the comments submitted in response to its request published in the Federal Register on December 4, 1998 (63 FR 67017-67026), for comments on proposed changes in international postage rates, hereby gives notice that it is implementing the proposed rates, except as explained below. EFFECTIVE DATE: 12:01 a.m., Sunday, May 30, 1999. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Alepa, (202) 268-4071 and John Reynolds, (202) 314-7334. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 4, 1998, the Postal Service published in the Federal Register a notice of proposed changes in international postage rates (63 FR 67017-67026). The Postal Service requested comments by January 4, 1999, and by that date received two comments: one from a private individual and one from a mailer using printed matter services. Comments from the private individual expressed concern about rate relationships. The commenter identified five specific areas of interest. First, it was suggested that there should be some equivalence in the postage rates for outbound international mail sent to Canada and Mexico. While this observation may appear intuitively correct, it is premised on the assumption that the cost basis for setting rates to Canada and Mexico are similar. On previous occasions, the Postal Service has addressed this concern indicating that the cost of providing international mail service to Canada and Mexico are each influenced by the cost of delivery assessed separately by each of the two administrations, and that their respective delivery costs are not the same. In addition, transportation cost, length of haul, and associated handling costs incurred to provide service to each of these destinations also differ. These cost differences underlie the rate differences in the proposed rate levels. Second, the commenter questioned the rate relationships between letters and printed matter, asserting that they too, should be the same. The rates differences as proposed are the result of different mark-ups applied to the costs of providing letter and printed matter services and the market factors that influence them. Third, the commenter noted the existence of cross-overs between air and surface parcel post rates. This condition is acknowledged and is attributed solely to the cost of providing the respective services. Because of the lower volume of surface parcels, non-transportation processing costs tend to be higher for surface parcels than the comparable processing costs for air parcels. These costs differences are reflected in the rate levels proposed, and in part are also influenced by the average parcel weight for the two services. Fourth, the commenter asserted the belief that rate differences between weight steps for a given service should be uniform. Particular emphasis on this issue was directed to International Express Mail Service (EMS). Rate design does not require that differences between weight steps be uniform. Flexibility to design rates that have a taper effect better aligns rate levels with market characteristics, and takes into account, in this instance, the presence of document and merchandise within the same product stream. Where certain cross-overs between Global Priority Mail (GPM) and EMS appeared in the notice published on December 4, 1998 in section I A at 63 FR 67018, they have been revised such that the EMS rate is greater. Fifth, the commenter did question the consistency in the proposed differences for the Bulk Letter Service to Canada and the corresponding single piece letter rates to Canada; namely, it is three or five cents. The published notice on December 4, 1998 contained an error in section IIB at 63 FR 67020. The difference between the Bulk Letter Service to Canada and the corresponding single piece letter rates is five cents. The Postal Service is also modifying the notice published on December 4, 1998, in section IV A and IV B at 63 FR 67020 with respect to GPM. The rates for Canada also apply to Mexico. The rates applicable to all other countries, therefore, do not apply to Mexico. The mailer using surface printed matter and publishers' periodical rates provide three main concerns. First, comment on the general size of the rate increase being proposed was offered. While the overall rate increase proposed for international mail is 3.3 percent, this mailer noted that he was facing a much larger increase. The rate levels for printed matter and publishers' periodicals are primarily the result of cost increases resulting from revisions in terminal dues. Second, this mailer gave his endorsement to the proposed drop ship rates for publishers' periodicals. The mailer observed that being able to take advantage of the drop ship option would lower his effective rate increase to levels equivalent to the domestic rate increases. Lastly, the mailer expressed concern that international mail rate changes may be timed with the January 10, 1999, implementation date for domestic postage and fee changes and therefore could be burdensome. The mailer suggested a later implementation date suggesting July 1, 1999 as a possibility. The Postal Service believes that the implementation date announced in this final rule is sensitive to this concern. The notice published on December 4, 1998 contained errors. In section V C, Publishers' Periodicals, located at 63 FR 67021 the 3- pound weight was given as 2 pounds. In section VE 1, Air-Other Articles, located at 63 FR 67021 the rate for Mexico for 2 ounces is $1.07, not $0.89. In section VI B, Air Parcel Post, located at 63 FR 67022 the 1-pound rate for Canada is $12.61 since there is a 1-pound minimum weight for parcels to that country. It should be noted that, with the exception of air letter rates to Canada, the Postal Service is not changing air letter rates to the rest of the world. After reviewing and considering the comments received, the Postal Service adopts the following postage rates and amends the International Mail Manual (IMM), which is incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR 20.1. List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 20 Foreign relations, Incorporation by reference, International postal services. [[Page 20179]] PART 20--[AMENDED] The authority citation for 39 CFR part 20 continues to read as follows: Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 39 U.S.C. 401, 404, 407, 408. The International Mail Manual is amended to incorporate the following postal rates: New International Postage Rates (See section VII for rate groups for individual countries.) I. Express Mail International Service A. On Demand Service 1. Country-Specific Rates ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Country ---------------------------------------------------------------- Weight not over (lbs.) Great Canada Mexico Britain China Japan ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0.5............................................ $15.50 $15.50 $18.50 $15.00 $15.00 1.............................................. 18.00 18.00 22.50 18.00 17.50 2.............................................. 21.50 21.50 26.50 21.00 21.50 3.............................................. 25.00 25.00 30.50 28.00 28.00 4.............................................. 28.50 28.50 34.50 34.00 34.00 5.............................................. 32.00 32.00 38.50 37.00 37.00 6.............................................. 34.50 34.50 42.50 39.50 39.00 7.............................................. 37.00 37.00 46.50 44.00 43.50 8.............................................. 39.50 39.50 50.50 48.50 48.00 9.............................................. 42.00 42.00 54.50 53.00 52.50 10............................................. 44.50 44.50 58.50 57.50 57.00 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Each additional pound or fraction of a pound... $2.50 $2.50 $4.00 $4.50 $4.50 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Rate Group Countries ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rate group Weight not over (lbs.) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0.5............................... $19.00 $21.00 $15.00 $19.00 $18.00 $20.00 1................................. 21.50 24.50 19.00 23.00 21.00 22.50 2................................. 25.50 28.50 23.00 27.50 24.50 26.50 3................................. 29.50 32.50 28.00 32.00 28.00 30.50 4................................. 34.00 37.00 34.00 36.50 34.00 35.00 5................................. 39.00 41.50 38.00 41.00 35.00 39.50 6................................. 43.50 45.50 42.50 45.00 38.00 44.00 7................................. 48.00 49.50 47.00 49.00 41.00 48.50 8................................. 52.50 53.50 51.50 53.00 44.00 53.00 9................................. 57.00 57.50 56.00 57.00 47.00 57.50 10................................ 61.50 61.50 60.50 61.00 50.00 62.00 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Each additional pound or fraction $4.50 $4.00 $4.50 $4.00 $3.00 $4.50 of a pound....................... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- B. Custom Designed Service 1. Country-Specific Rates ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Country ---------------------------------------------------------------- Weight not over (lbs.) Great Canada \1\ Mexico Britain China Japan ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0.5............................................ ........... $23.50 $26.50 $23.00 $23.00 1.............................................. ........... 26.00 30.50 26.00 25.50 2.............................................. ........... 29.50 34.50 29.00 28.50 3.............................................. ........... 33.00 38.50 33.00 32.50 4.............................................. ........... 36.50 42.50 38.00 37.50 5.............................................. ........... 40.00 46.50 43.00 42.50 6.............................................. ........... 42.50 50.50 47.50 47.00 7.............................................. ........... 45.00 54.50 52.00 51.50 8.............................................. ........... 47.50 58.50 56.50 56.00 9.............................................. ........... 50.00 62.50 61.00 60.50 10............................................. ........... 52.50 66.50 65.50 65.00 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Each additional pound or fraction of a pound... ........... $2.50 $4.00 $4.50 $4.50 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ Custom designed service not available. [[Page 20180]] 2. Rate Group Countries ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rate group Weight not over (lbs.) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0.5............................... $27.00 $29.00 $23.00 $27.00 $26.00 $28.00 1................................. 29.50 32.50 27.00 31.00 29.00 30.50 2................................. 33.50 36.50 31.00 35.50 32.50 34.50 3................................. 37.50 40.50 36.00 40.00 36.00 38.50 4................................. 42.00 45.00 41.00 44.50 39.50 43.00 5................................. 47.00 49.50 46.00 49.00 43.00 47.50 6................................. 51.50 53.50 50.50 53.00 46.00 52.00 7................................. 56.00 57.50 55.00 57.00 49.00 56.50 8................................. 60.50 61.50 59.50 61.00 52.00 61.00 9................................. 65.00 65.50 64.00 65.00 55.00 65.50 10................................ 69.50 69.50 68.50 69.00 58.00 70.00 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Each additional pound or fraction $4.50 $4.00 $4.50 $4.00 $3.00 $4.50 of a pound....................... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- II. Letters and Letter Packages A. Canada ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Weight Not Over ------------------------------------------------- Rate (lbs.) (ozs.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 0...................... 0.5 $0.48 0...................... 1 0.55 0...................... 1.5 0.67 0...................... 2 0.76 0...................... 3 1.00 0...................... 4 1.20 0...................... 5 1.40 0...................... 6 1.60 0...................... 7 1.80 0...................... 8 2.00 0...................... 9 2.19 0...................... 10 2.39 0...................... 11 2.59 0...................... 12 2.79 1...................... 0 3.59 1...................... 8 4.52 2...................... 0 5.44 2...................... 8 6.36 3...................... 0 7.29 3...................... 8 8.21 4...................... 0 9.14 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A 4-pound maximum applies except for registered items sent to Canada. Canada-bound registered items may weigh up to 66 pounds. For registered items weighing over 4 pounds, the rate is $1.85 for each additional pound up to the 66-pound limit. B. Bulk Letter Service to Canada ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Weight not over ozs. Rate ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 0.5........................................................ $0.43 1.......................................................... 0.50 1.5........................................................ 0.62 2.......................................................... 0.71 3.......................................................... 0.95 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ III. Postal Cards/Postcards and Aerogrammes A. Postal Cards/Postcards ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Country Rate ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Canada..................................................... $0.45 Mexico..................................................... 0.40 All others................................................. 0.55 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ B. Aerogrammes All countries: $0.60 each. IV. Global Priority Mail (GPM) A. GPM--Flat-Rate Envelope Postage Rates ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Destination \1\ Small Large ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Canada & Mexico............................... $4.00 $7.00 All other countries........................... 5.00 9.00 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ \1\ Maximum Weight: 4 lbs. B. GPM--Variable Weight Option Postage Rates ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Canada & All other Mexico countries Weight (lbs.) \1\ ------------------------- Rate Rate ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 0.5........................................... $6.00 $8.00 1.0........................................... 10.00 13.00 1.5........................................... 15.00 18.00 2.0........................................... 17.00 21.00 2.5........................................... 19.00 25.00 3.0........................................... 21.00 28.00 3.5........................................... 23.00 32.00 4.0........................................... 25.00 34.00 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ \1\ Maximum Weight: 4 lbs. V. Other Articles (AO) A. Regular Printed Matter and Small Packets--Surface ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Weight not over Mexico All other -------------------------------------------------------------- Countries except Canada (lbs.) (ozs.) Rate ---------- Rate ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 0 1 $0.60 $0.70 0 2 0.80 1.04 0 3 1.06 1.30 0 4 1.25 1.45 0 5 1.50 1.96 0 6 1.50 1.96 0 7 1.85 2.46 0 8 1.85 2.46 0 9 2.19 2.96 0 10 2.19 2.96 0 11 2.47 3.47 0 12 2.47 3.47 0 13 2.81 3.97 0 14 2.81 3.97 0 15 3.14 4.48 1 0 3.14 4.48 1 2 3.43 4.84 1 4 3.72 5.20 1 6 4.01 5.56 1 8 4.30 5.92 1 10 4.58 6.28 1 12 4.87 6.64 1 14 5.16 7.00 2 0 5.45 7.36 3 0 7.37 9.66 4 0 9.29 11.96 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Each additional pound or fraction of a pound $1.92 $2.30 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ B. ValuepostTM/Canada ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Weight Rate ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Letter-size: 1 ounce or less...................... $0.42 Over 1 ounce.......................... 0.39 plus $0.51 per pound or fraction of a pound. [[Page 20181]] Flat-size: 5 ounces or less...................... 0.71. Over 5 ounces......................... 0.43 plus $1.16 per pound or fraction of a pound. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ C. Publishers' Periodicals--Surface ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Weight not over Mexico All other -------------------------------------------------------------- Countries except Canada (lbs.) (ozs.) Rate ---------- Rate ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 0 1 $0.40 $0.38 0 2 0.50 0.48 0 3 0.65 0.62 0 4 0.75 0.72 0 5 0.94 0.91 0 6 0.94 0.91 0 7 1.13 1.10 0 8 1.13 1.10 0 9 1.31 1.30 0 10 1.31 1.30 0 11 1.50 1.49 0 12 1.50 1.49 0 13 1.69 1.68 0 14 1.69 1.68 0 15 1.88 1.87 1 0 1.88 1.87 1 2 2.05 2.05 1 4 2.23 2.23 1 6 2.40 2.41 1 8 2.58 2.59 1 10 2.75 2.77 1 12 2.93 2.95 1 14 3.10 3.13 2 0 3.28 3.31 3 0 4.48 4.46 4 0 5.68 5.61 5 0 6.88 6.76 6 0 8.08 7.91 7 0 9.28 9.06 8 0 10.48 10.21 9 0 11.68 11.36 10 0 12.88 12.51 11 0 14.08 13.66 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Note: There is a $0.25 per pound Drop Shipment Discount for publishers' periodicals that are made up to country and tendered at the New Jersey International and Bulk Mail Center (NJI & BMC). D. Books and Sheet Music--Surface ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mexico All other ------------- countries except Weight not over (lbs.) Canada Rate ------------ Rate ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1............................................. $1.88 $1.87 2............................................. 3.28 3.31 3............................................. 4.48 4.46 4............................................. 5.68 5.61 5............................................. 6.88 6.76 6............................................. 8.08 7.91 7............................................. 9.28 9.06 8............................................. 10.48 10.21 9............................................. 11.68 11.36 10............................................ 12.88 12.51 11............................................ 14.08 13.66 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ E. Air--Other Articles (Printed Matter, Matter for the Blind, and Small Packets) 1. Canada and Mexico--Air ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Weight not over Canada Mexico ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (lbs.) (ozs.) Rate Rate ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 0 0.5 $0.60 $0.60 0 1 0.69 0.76 0 1.5 0.84 0.91 0 2 0.85 1.07 0 3 1.26 1.30 0 4 1.50 1.56 0 5 1.74 1.82 0 6 1.84 2.08 0 7 2.06 2.34 0 8 2.29 2.60 0 9 2.51 2.86 0 10 2.74 3.12 0 11 2.96 3.38 0 12 3.19 3.64 1 0 4.09 4.68 1 8 4.68 6.76 2 0 5.60 8.84 2 8 6.52 10.92 3 0 7.44 13.00 3 8 8.36 15.08 4 0 9.28 17.16 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Each additional 1/2-pound or fraction of 1/2-pound $0.92 $2.08 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ VI. Parcel Post (Note: The weight limit for parcel post varies by country. Parcels mailed to Canada must weigh a minimum of 1 pound.) A. Surface Parcel Post ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Canada Bahamas \1\ All other -------------------------- countries Weight not over (lbs.) ------------ Rate Rate Rate ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2................................ $11.33 $14.65 $15.70 3................................ 11.69 15.34 16.60 4................................ 13.13 16.01 17.47 5................................ 13.51 16.65 18.32 6................................ 13.90 18.85 20.88 7................................ 14.28 19.52 21.75 8................................ 15.88 20.17 22.59 9................................ 16.30 20.80 23.42 10............................... 16.71 21.42 24.22 11............................... 18.45 23.86 27.10 12............................... 18.89 24.51 27.93 13............................... 19.34 25.14 28.76 14............................... 19.79 25.77 29.57 15............................... 20.23 26.38 30.36 16............................... 20.68 26.99 31.15 17............................... 21.13 27.59 31.93 18............................... 21.57 28.18 32.69 19............................... 22.02 28.77 33.45 20............................... 22.47 29.35 34.20 21............................... 22.91 29.93 34.94 22............................... 23.36 30.50 35.68 23............................... 23.81 31.07 36.41 24............................... 24.25 31.63 37.14 25............................... 26.03 33.42 39.09 26............................... 26.48 33.98 39.80 27............................... 26.92 34.53 40.51 [[Page 20182]] 28............................... 27.37 35.07 41.22 29............................... 27.82 35.62 41.92 30............................... 28.27 36.16 42.61 31............................... 28.71 36.70 43.31 32............................... 29.16 37.24 44.00 33............................... 29.61 37.77 44.68 34............................... 30.05 38.30 45.37 35............................... 30.50 38.83 46.05 36............................... 30.95 39.36 46.73 37............................... 31.39 39.89 47.40 38............................... 31.84 40.41 48.07 39............................... 32.29 40.93 48.75 40............................... 32.73 41.45 49.41 41............................... 33.18 41.97 50.08 42............................... 33.63 42.49 50.75 43............................... 34.07 43.01 51.41 44............................... 34.55 43.52 52.07 Each additional pound or fraction $0.50 $0.60 $0.70 of a pound...................... ------------------------------------------------------------------------ \1\ Also Bermuda, Caribbean Islands, Central America, Mexico, and St. Pierre adn Miquellon. B. Air Parcel Post (See section VII for country rate groups.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weight not over (lbs.) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rate groups Canada Mexico A B C D E ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.................................. $12.61 $9.98 $10.86 $11.76 $13.80 $15.11 $16.69 2.................................. 12.61 12.12 13.71 15.42 17.28 19.83 20.68 3.................................. 13.28 13.36 15.57 18.01 19.51 23.19 23.15 4.................................. 15.11 15.82 18.87 22.31 23.55 28.76 27.75 5.................................. 15.84 17.16 20.88 25.12 25.96 32.40 30.43 6.................................. 16.56 18.50 22.89 27.92 28.37 36.03 33.11 7.................................. 17.29 19.84 24.90 30.73 30.78 39.67 35.79 8.................................. 19.40 22.81 28.99 36.11 35.75 46.63 41.42 9.................................. 20.18 24.26 31.15 39.13 38.34 50.55 44.30 10................................. 20.97 25.70 33.31 42.15 40.94 54.47 47.19 11................................. 21.75 27.15 35.48 45.17 43.54 58.38 50.07 12................................. 22.53 28.59 37.64 48.19 46.14 62.30 52.95 13................................. 23.32 30.04 39.81 51.21 48.73 66.21 55.84 14................................. 24.10 31.48 41.97 54.23 51.33 70.13 58.72 15................................. 24.88 32.93 44.14 57.25 53.93 74.04 61.60 16................................. 25.66 34.37 46.30 60.27 56.52 77.96 64.49 17................................. 26.45 35.82 48.47 63.29 59.12 81.88 67.37 18................................. 27.23 37.26 50.63 66.31 61.72 85.79 70.25 19................................. 28.01 38.71 52.80 69.33 64.32 89.71 73.14 20................................. 28.79 40.15 54.96 72.35 66.91 93.62 76.02 21................................. 29.58 41.60 57.13 75.37 69.51 97.54 78.90 22................................. 30.36 43.04 59.29 78.39 72.11 101.45 81.79 23................................. 31.14 44.49 61.46 81.41 74.70 105.37 84.67 24................................. 31.92 45.93 63.62 84.43 77.30 109.29 87.55 25................................. 34.04 48.71 67.12 88.76 81.23 114.53 91.61 26................................. 34.82 50.15 69.28 91.78 83.83 118.44 94.49 27................................. 35.60 51.60 71.45 94.80 86.42 122.36 97.38 28................................. 36.38 53.04 73.61 97.82 89.02 126.27 100.26 29................................. 37.17 54.49 75.78 100.84 91.62 130.19 103.14 30................................. 37.95 55.93 77.94 103.86 94.21 134.11 106.03 31................................. 38.73 57.38 80.11 106.88 96.81 138.02 108.91 32................................. 39.51 58.83 82.27 109.90 99.41 141.94 111.79 33................................. 40.30 60.27 84.44 112.92 102.00 145.85 114.68 34................................. 41.08 61.72 86.60 115.94 104.60 149.77 117.56 35................................. 41.86 63.16 88.77 118.96 107.20 153.68 120.44 36................................. 42.65 64.61 90.93 121.98 109.80 157.60 123.33 37................................. 43.43 66.05 93.10 125.00 112.39 161.52 126.21 38................................. 44.21 67.50 95.26 128.02 114.99 165.43 129.09 39................................. 44.99 68.94 97.43 131.04 117.59 169.35 131.98 40................................. 45.78 70.39 99.59 134.06 120.18 173.26 134.86 41................................. 46.56 71.83 101.76 137.08 122.78 177.18 137.74 42................................. 47.34 73.28 103.92 140.10 125.38 181.09 140.63 43................................. 48.12 74.72 106.09 143.12 127.98 185.01 143.51 [[Page 20183]] 44................................. 48.91 76.17 108.25 146.14 130.57 188.95 146.39 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Each additional pound or fraction $0.80 ......... $1.50 $3.00 $2.60 $4.00 $3.00 of a pound........................ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ Minimum parcel post weight to Canada is 1 pound. VII. Country Table ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Country Express mail rate group Air parcel post rate group ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afghanistan \1\...................................... ............................ E Albania.............................................. 4 \2\....................... D Algeria.............................................. 6 \2\....................... D Andorra.............................................. 4........................... B Angola............................................... 6........................... D Anguilla............................................. 5........................... A Antigua and Barbuda.................................. ............................ A Argentina............................................ 5........................... E Armenia.............................................. 4........................... E Aruba................................................ 5........................... B Ascension............................................ ............................ ........................... Australia............................................ 3........................... D Austria.............................................. 2........................... D Azerbaijan........................................... 4........................... A Azores............................................... 4........................... D Bahamas.............................................. 5........................... A Bahrain.............................................. 6........................... C Bangladesh........................................... 1........................... B Barbados............................................. 5........................... A Belarus.............................................. 4........................... C Belgium.............................................. 2........................... D Belize............................................... 5........................... A Benin................................................ 6........................... A Bermuda.............................................. 5........................... C Bhutan............................................... 1 \2\....................... D Bolivia.............................................. 5........................... C Bosnia-Herzegovina................................... 2........................... A Botswana............................................. 6........................... D Brazil............................................... 5........................... E British Virgin Islands............................... ............................ A Brunei Darussalam.................................... 1........................... A Bulgaria............................................. 4........................... D Burkina Faso......................................... 6........................... D Burma................................................ ............................ B Burundi \1\.......................................... 6........................... B Cambodia............................................. 1........................... B Cameroon............................................. 6........................... D Canada............................................... Country-Specific Rate \2\... Country-Specific Rate Cape Verde........................................... 6........................... D Cayman Islands....................................... 5........................... A Central African Republic............................. 6........................... E Chad................................................. 6........................... D Chile................................................ 5........................... C China................................................ Country-Specific Rate....... D Colombia............................................. 5........................... B Comoros.............................................. ............................ B Congo, Dem. Rep. of the \1\.......................... 6........................... B Congo, Rep. of the (Brazzaville)..................... 6........................... E Corsica.............................................. 4........................... D Costa Rica........................................... 5........................... A Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast).......................... 6........................... C Croatia.............................................. 4........................... C Cuba................................................. ............................ ........................... Cyprus............................................... 4........................... C Czech Republic....................................... 4........................... C Denmark.............................................. 2........................... C Djibouti............................................. 6........................... D Dominica............................................. ............................ A Dominican Republic................................... 5........................... A Ecuador.............................................. 5........................... B Egypt................................................ 6........................... D El Salvador.......................................... 5........................... A [[Page 20184]] Equatorial Guinea.................................... 6........................... B Eritrea.............................................. 6........................... D Estonia.............................................. 4 \2\....................... D Ethiopia............................................. 6........................... B Falkland Islands. Faroe Islands........................................ 2........................... C Fiji................................................. 1 \2\....................... A Finland.............................................. 2........................... A France (incl. Monaco)................................ 4 \2\....................... D French Guiana........................................ 5 \2\....................... E French Polynesia..................................... 1........................... E Gabon................................................ 6........................... D Gambia............................................... ............................ A Georgia, Republic of................................. 4........................... E Germany.............................................. 2 \2\....................... A Ghana................................................ 6........................... D Gibraltar............................................ ............................ B Great Britain and Northern Ireland................... Country-Specific Rate....... D Greece............................................... 2........................... A Greenland............................................ ............................ C Grenada.............................................. 5........................... A Guadeloupe........................................... 5 \2\....................... E Guatemala............................................ 5........................... A Guinea............................................... 6........................... A Guinea-Bissau \1\.................................... 6........................... A Guyana............................................... 5........................... A Haiti................................................ 5........................... A Honduras............................................. 5........................... A Hong Kong............................................ 3........................... D Hungary.............................................. 2........................... C Iceland.............................................. 2........................... A India................................................ 1........................... D Indonesia............................................ 1........................... D Iran................................................. ............................ E Iraq................................................. 6. Ireland.............................................. 4........................... A Israel............................................... 6........................... D Italy................................................ 2........................... A Jamaica.............................................. 5........................... A Japan................................................ Country-Specific Rate....... D Jordan............................................... 6........................... B Kazakhstan........................................... 4........................... B Kenya................................................ 6........................... D Kiribati............................................. ............................ A Korea, Dem. People's Rep. (North). Korea, Republic of (South)........................... 3........................... B Kuwait............................................... 6........................... D Kyrgyzstan........................................... 4........................... C Laos................................................. 1........................... E Latvia............................................... 4........................... B Lebanon.............................................. ............................ A Lesotho.............................................. 6........................... D Liberia \1\.......................................... 6. Libya................................................ ............................ ........................... Liechtenstein........................................ 2........................... C Lithuania............................................ 4........................... D Luxembourg........................................... 4........................... C Macao................................................ 1........................... D Macedonia............................................ 4........................... C Madagascar........................................... 6........................... E Madeira Islands...................................... 4........................... D Malawi............................................... 6........................... D Malaysia............................................. 1........................... B Maldives............................................. 1........................... E Mali................................................. 6........................... D Malta................................................ 2........................... D Martinique........................................... 5 \2\....................... E Mauritania........................................... 6........................... A Mauritius............................................ 6........................... B Mexico............................................... Country-Specific Rate....... Country-Specific Rate Moldova.............................................. 4........................... D Mongolia............................................. 1........................... D Montserrat........................................... ............................ A [[Page 20185]] Morocco.............................................. 6........................... C Mozambique........................................... 6........................... E Namibia.............................................. 6........................... D Nauru................................................ 1\2\........................ B Nepal................................................ 1........................... D Netherlands.......................................... 2\2\........................ B Netherlands Antilles................................. 5........................... B New Caledonia........................................ 1........................... E New Zealand.......................................... 1........................... D Nicaragua............................................ 5........................... A Niger................................................ 6........................... C Nigeria.............................................. 6........................... D Norway............................................... 2........................... D Oman................................................. 1........................... B Pakistan............................................. 1........................... D Panama............................................... 5........................... A Papua New Guinea..................................... 1........................... E Paraguay............................................. 5........................... C Peru................................................. 5........................... C Philippines.......................................... 1........................... D Pitcairn Island...................................... ............................ D Poland............................................... 4........................... C Portugal............................................. 4........................... D Qatar................................................ 6........................... B Reunion.............................................. ............................ E Romania.............................................. 4........................... D Russia............................................... 4........................... E Rwanda............................................... 6........................... D Saint Christopher (St. Kitts) and Nevis.............. 5........................... B Saint Helena......................................... ............................ C Saint Lucia.......................................... 5........................... A Saint Pierre and Miquelon............................ ............................ B Saint Vincent and the Grenadines..................... 5........................... C San Marino........................................... ............................ A Sao Tome and Principe................................ ............................ B Saudi Arabia......................................... 6........................... B Senegal.............................................. 6........................... D Serbia-Montenegro \1\................................ 4........................... B Seychelles........................................... 6........................... C Sierra Leone \1\..................................... 6........................... D Singapore............................................ 3........................... D Slovak Republic...................................... 4........................... B Slovenia............................................. 2........................... C Solomon Islands...................................... 1........................... B Somalia \1\.......................................... 6. South Africa......................................... 6........................... D Spain................................................ 4........................... B Sri Lanka............................................ 1........................... B Sudan................................................ 6........................... B Suriname............................................. ............................ A Swaziland............................................ 6........................... B Sweden............................................... 2 \2\....................... E Switzerland.......................................... 2........................... C Syrian Arab Republic................................. 6........................... C Taiwan............................................... 3........................... D Tajikistan........................................... 4........................... C Tanzania............................................. 6........................... C Thailand............................................. 3........................... B Togo................................................. 6........................... D Tonga................................................ ............................ A Trinidad and Tobago.................................. 5........................... A Tristan da Cunha..................................... ............................ A Tunisia.............................................. 6........................... B Turkey............................................... 6........................... B Turkmenistan......................................... 4........................... D Turks and Caicos Islands............................. ............................ A Tuvalu............................................... ............................ A Uganda............................................... 6........................... D Ukraine.............................................. 4........................... D United Arab Emirates................................. 6........................... C Uruguay.............................................. 5........................... C Uzbekistan........................................... ............................ E Vanuatu.............................................. 1 \2\....................... A [[Page 20186]] Vatican City......................................... ............................ A Venezuela............................................ 5........................... A Vietnam.............................................. 1........................... B Wallis and Futuna Islands............................ ............................ E Western Samoa........................................ 1........................... B Yemen................................................ 6........................... C Zambia............................................... 6........................... D Zimbabwe............................................. 6........................... E ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ All mail service is currently suspended. \2\ On Demand service only. Stanley F. Mires, Chief Counsel, Legislative. [FR Doc. 99-10256 Filed 4-23-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7710-12-P