Guam Delegate James Moylan announced that Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds is working with federal agencies and White House officials to resolve the suspension of certain outbound airmail services from the Northern Mariana Islands to the U.S. mainland.
King-Hinds said the disruption stems from complications in carrying out Executive Order 14324, which eliminated the de minimis exception for low-value imports. The policy has created unintended problems when applied to the territories, which operate outside the U.S. customs zone under the Covenant.
According to the congresswoman, White House officials assured her that the order was never intended to interrupt mail service from the Marianas. She said the U.S. Postal Service and U.S. Customs and Border Protection are working urgently to restore services, which currently affect only Guam and the CNMI.
The immediate priority is restoring regular service, however Moylan said it is equally important to ensure that future policies respect the Covenant and do not burden our families and businesses. Moylan emphasized that “Reliable mail service is essential in the Marianas, not optional.”