A car drives through Havana, Cuba with American and Cuban flags on its dashboard. Franklin Reyes/AP
USPS and Cuba in Talks to Resume Direct Mail Service
Postal service between the two countries has stalled for 50 years.
United States and Cuban officials have begun talks to resume mail service between the countries, the U.S. Postal Service has confirmed.
USPS and the State Department were scheduled to meet with Cuban diplomats Tuesday and Wednesday in Washington to create a mail exchange for the first time in 50 years. Currently, mail can only go from Cuba to the United States and vice versa by first sending the mail to other countries.
U.S. officials told Reuters the talks do not reflect a change in U.S. policy toward Cuba. The two countries engaged in negotiations to resume postal service in 2009 but the talks ultimately fell apart before an agreement was reached.
The U.S. delegation was led by Lea Emerson, the USPS’ director of international postal affairs, the Associated Press reported. While the State Department spearheaded the talks, the Postal Service is “providing technical assistance” in negotiations, according to an agency spokeswoman.