The Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA, enables a person to access federal agency records, but certain information is exempt from disclosure.
The Postal Service has a special exemption that allows the organization to withhold commercial information if it would not be good business practice to publicly disclose that information.
This exemption can apply to information that originates within USPS or from third parties, such as vendors and suppliers.
Information is considered commercial if it relates to commerce, trade, profit or the Postal Service’s ability to conduct itself in a businesslike manner. Examples include service performance data and negotiated contract terms.
An extensive list of commercial information can be found in the online Code of Federal Regulations.
For more information or guidance, email the USPS Privacy and Records Management Office or call 202-268-2608.
