The United States will join a select group of countries at the upcoming 28th Universal Postal Congress in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, as tensions over global postal policies and delivery services continue to escalate. The Advisory Committee on International Postal and Delivery Services, meeting virtually on August 28, 2025, is expected to tackle contentious issues that have sparked heated debates among nations.
As the world's largest economy and a key player in international trade, the United States sees the Universal Postal Congress as an opportunity to assert its influence over global postal policies. The country has long been critical of what it perceives as unfair practices by some countries, particularly China and India, which have been accused of exploiting the postal service for their own economic gain.
"Global postal disputes are a microcosm of broader geostrategic tensions," said Dr. Emily Taylor, Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). "The United States needs to demonstrate its ability to shape global norms on issues like postal rates and delivery times, which can have far-reaching implications for trade and commerce."
History has shown that international postal disputes can be a catalyst for major conflicts. The 1874 Postal Convention between the United Kingdom and the United States, for example, was forged in part over disagreements about postage rates and delivery services. Similarly, the 1967 Universal Postal Convention, which established standardized rates for international mail, was the result of intense negotiations between major postal operators.
Today, the United Arab Emirates is hosting the 28th Universal Postal Congress, an event that will bring together postal officials from over 120 countries to discuss pressing issues like e-commerce, cybersecurity, and sustainability. The agenda includes discussions on issues such as standardization, rate-setting, and service quality.
China has been particularly vocal in its opposition to what it sees as Western efforts to impose its own brand of globalization on the rest of the world. Beijing has long argued that postal policies should be shaped by regional interests rather than being dictated by a small group of Western countries.
"The Universal Postal Congress is an opportunity for China to push back against Western dominance," said Dr. Li Wei, Senior Research Fellow at the China Institute of International Strategic Studies (CIISS). "China sees itself as a major player in global trade and commerce, and it will not be bullied into accepting terms that are unfavorable to its own interests."
India, another emerging power with significant postal operations, has also been critical of what it perceives as Western attempts to restrict its access to the global market.
"The United States needs to recognize India's growing importance on the world stage," said Dr. Sumantra Majumdar, Director at the National Centre for Biotechnology and Research (NCBR). "India will not be dictated to by a small group of countries over postal policies or delivery times."
Despite these tensions, the United States has expressed confidence in its ability to shape global norms on international postal issues.
"We are committed to working with our partners around the world to find solutions that benefit everyone," said a State Department spokesperson. "The Universal Postal Congress is an important forum for us to engage on key issues and promote American interests."
While the short-term outcome of the 28th Universal Postal Congress remains uncertain, experts warn that global postal disputes could have far-reaching implications for trade, commerce, and security.
In the next six months, policymakers will need to navigate complex negotiations over standardization, rate-setting, and service quality. The longer term may hold new challenges as emerging powers like China and India continue to assert their influence on the world stage.
As the United States prepares for its role in shaping global postal policies, one thing is clear: the next six months will be crucial in determining the future of international cooperation on these critical issues. Will policymakers rise to the challenge, or will tensions boil over into conflict?