2. INTERNATIONAL SPECIAL SERVICES AND MISCELLANEOUS FEES
As a member of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), the Postal Service adheres to the agreements of the UPU to which it is a signatory. Specifically, the Universal Postal Convention contains provisions concerning the fees member countries can charge for special mail services. The Convention provides charges for nonstandard letters, return receipts, registered mail service, restricted delivery, recorded delivery, and insured parcel mail service. The charges provided in these agreements are generally less than the Postal Service charges for the equivalent domestic service. The agreements authorize member countries whose internal service charges fees higher than those fixed by the UPU to apply their domestic charges in the international service.

Accordingly, with the June 30, 2002, increase in domestic postage rates and domestic special service fee, the Postal Service also revised certain international special service and miscellaneous fees that are the same as the equivalent domestic fees. This practice has been customary in order to avoid having the international fees that are less than those charges domestically. In addition, there are domestic services such as certificate of mailings, money order inquiry fee, and pickup fee that can be used in conjunction with international mail.