Effective April 26, 2026, UPS updates its Surge Emergency Fee schedule for international Express and Expedited services, reducing rates on Asia-to-U.S. lanes and introducing more granular regional pricing. The update carves out Asia-specific tiers from the existing “All Origins” structure and introduces new APAC import surcharges for Canada and Latin America as part of a broader global rate alignment. Middle East–related surcharges and U.S. export surcharge levels remain unchanged.
The April 26 update delivers both rate reductions and targeted structural changes, primarily affecting Asia-origin shipments. China/Hong Kong–to–U.S. rates decrease from $0.32/lb to $0.23/lb, with the higher rate now limited to April 19–25. At the same time, shipments from the rest of Asia are separated from the prior “All Origins except…” grouping and assigned a new $0.11/lb surcharge, representing roughly a 50% reduction from the prior $0.23/lb rate. Rather than replacing the prior structure, UPS introduces Asia-specific segmentation within the existing framework, creating differentiated pricing between China/Hong Kong, the rest of Asia, and other global origins. The update also incorporates a reciprocity-based alignment approach that brings import and export surcharge levels into closer parity. As a result, U.S. import surcharge levels from Asia are reduced, while new APAC import surcharges are introduced for Canada and Latin America—where no such fees previously existed—at levels aligned with corresponding export lanes. U.S. export surcharges and all Middle East lanes remain unchanged.
U.S. importers sourcing from Asia will see immediate cost reductions, particularly for shipments originating outside China, where surcharge levels are effectively cut in half. China/Hong Kong shippers also benefit from a step-down in rates following a brief one-week peak. Shippers importing from Asia into Canada and Latin America will see new surcharge costs introduced on lanes that were previously not subject to these fees, increasing landed cost in those regions. U.S. exporters will see no immediate change in surcharge levels, though the introduction of a reciprocity framework suggests closer linkage between import and export pricing over time. Overall, the update reduces cost pressure on U.S.-bound Asia imports while expanding surcharge applicability and increasing regional pricing differentiation.
💡 China/HK → U.S. surge fee decreases from $0.32/lb to $0.23/lb, with the higher rate limited to April 19–25.
💡 Rest of Asia → U.S. shipments move to a new $0.11/lb tier, down from $0.23/lb—approximately a 50% reduction.
💡 UPS introduces Asia-specific segmentation within its existing pricing structure, differentiating China/HK, Rest of Asia, and other origins.
💡 New APAC import surcharges apply to Canada and Latin America (≈$0.11/lb Rest of Asia, ≈$0.23/lb China/HK/Macau), where no such fees previously existed.
💡 A reciprocity framework aligns import and export surcharge levels globally, driving reductions in U.S. import rates from Asia.
💡 U.S. export and Middle East surcharge levels remain unchanged.
