Title page
Contents
Highlights 2
Letter 5
Background 9
International Mail Revenue Covered Its Costs, While Its Revenue, Cost, and Volume Have Substantially Declined Since 2017 12
USPS's Revenue from International Mail Covered Its Costs 12
USPS Revenue and Costs Have Declined Since 2017 13
Volume Decrease in International Mail Driven by Rapid Decline in Inbound Mail 17
Stakeholders Identified Multiple Factors that Contributed to Changes in USPS's International Mail Business 18
Stakeholders Said Increased International Mail Rates Led to Decreased Volume 18
Stakeholders Said COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Reduced Capacity to Transport International Mail 18
Stakeholders Said New Customs Laws Increased Costs for International Mailers 19
Stakeholders Said Changes in International Mail Rates Likely Benefited Some Businesses but Not Others and Led to Greater Use of Mail Alternatives 21
Increased International Mail Rates Had Varied Effects on U.S. Businesses and Consumers 21
Use of International Mail Alternatives Rose as International Mail Rates Increased 23
Agency Comments and Our Evaluation 24
Appendix I: List of Countries by Universal Postal Union Group 25
Appendix II: Comments from the Postal Regulatory Commission 32
Appendix III: GAO Contact and Staff Acknowledgments 38
Table 1. Percentage of U.S Postal Service's (USPS) Costs Covered by Revenue for International Mail, Fiscal Years 2017-2022 13
Table 2. List of Countries by Universal Postal Union Group 25
Figure 1. Example of Movement of International Mail to Delivery Addresses in the United States 9
Figure 2. U.S Postal Service's (USPS) Revenue for Inbound International Mail, Fiscal Years 2017-2022 14
Figure 3. U.S Postal Service's (USPS) Revenue for Outbound International Mail, Fiscal Years 2017-2022 15
Figure 4. U.S Postal Service's (USPS) Revenue and Costs for Total Inbound and Outbound International Mail, Fiscal Years 2017-2022 16
Figure 5. U.S Postal Service's (USPS) Inbound, Outbound, and Total International Mail Volume, Fiscal Years 2017-2022 17