Affordable Shipping for All Act
The Affordable Shipping for All Act would require shipping services to treat noncontiguous areas of the United States—such as Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories—similarly to the contiguous United States in terms of shipping charges for the same product. Specifically, no shipping service may charge more for shipping to or from a noncontiguous area than the charge for shipping the same product within the contiguous United States. The bill also prohibits shipping services from excluding noncontiguous areas from their shipping policies or from shipping to those areas. There is an exemption for consumer or producer goods valued at more than $10,000. The bill defines key terms and includes the United States Postal Service (USPS) and private carriers as “shipping services.” The text does not specify penalties or enforcement details.
Key Points
- 1No higher shipping fees for noncontiguous areas: Carriers cannot charge more for shipping the same product to or from a noncontiguous area than the charge for shipping the same product within the contiguous United States.
- 2Prohibition on excluding noncontiguous areas: Shipping policies cannot exclude noncontiguous areas or block shipments to those areas.
- 3High-value goods exemption: Goods valued over $10,000 are exempt from these requirements.
- 4Definitions: The bill defines consumer products, producer goods, shipping services, contiguous United States (48 states and DC), and noncontiguous areas (includes Alaska, Hawaii, territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands).
- 5Scope of “shipping services”: Includes private carriers whose main business is transporting goods for retailers and the United States Postal Service (USPS).