Prestressed Concrete Steel Wire Strand from China

INSTRUCTION BOOKLET
GENERAL INFORMATION, INSTRUCTIONS, AND
DEFINITIONS FOR COMMISSION QUESTIONNAIRES

PRESTRESSED CONCRETE STEEL WIRE STRAND (“PC STRAND”)
FROM CHINA
Investigation Nos. 701-TA-464 and 731-TA-1160 (Preliminary)

Further information.--If you have any questions concerning the enclosed
questionnaire(s) or other matters related to these investigations, you may contact
the following members of the Commission=s staff (Fax 202-205-3205):
Mary Messer, investigator (202-205-3193; E-mail mary.messer@usitc.gov)
regarding general questions and trade and related information;
Mary Klir, auditor (202-205-3247; E-mail mary.klir@usitc.gov)
regarding financial information; and
Joshua Levy, economist (202-205-3236; E-mail joshua.levy@usitc.gov)
regarding pricing, market, and related information.

GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.--These investigations were instituted in response to a petition filed on May 27, 2009
by American Spring Wire Corp. (Bedford Heights, OH); Insteel Wire Products Co. (Mt. Airy, NC);
and Sumiden Wire Products Corp. (Dickson, TN). Countervailing and/or antidumping duties may
be assessed on the subject imports as a result of these investigations if the Commission makes an
affirmative determination of injury, threat, or material retardation, and if the U.S. Department of
Commerce makes an affirmative determination of subsidization and/or dumping.
Questionnaires and other information pertinent to these investigations are available at
http://www.usitc.gov/trade_remedy/731_ad_701_cvd/investigations/2009/pc_strand/prelimphase
.htm. Address all correspondence to the United States International Trade Commission,
Washington, DC 20436. Hearing-impaired individuals can obtain information regarding these
investigations via the Commission=s TDD terminal (202-205-1810).
Due date of questionnaire(s).--Return the completed questionnaire(s) to the United States
International Trade Commission by no later than June 10, 2009. Although the enclosed postpaid
envelope may be used to return the completed questionnaire, use of an overnight mail service may
be necessary to ensure that your response actually reaches the Commission by June 10, 2009. If
you do not use the enclosed envelope, please make sure the completed questionnaire is sent to the
attention of Mary Messer. Return only one copy of the completed questionnaire(s), but
please keep a copy for your records so that you can refer to it if the Commission staff
contacts you with any questions during the course of the investigations.
Service of questionnaire response(s).--In the event that your firm is a party to these investigations,
you are required to serve a copy of the questionnaire(s), once completed, on parties to the
proceeding that are subject to administrative protective order (see 19 CFR ' 207.7). A list of such
parties is maintained by the Commission=s Secretary and may be obtained by calling
202-205-1803. A certificate of service must accompany the copy of the completed questionnaire(s)
you submit (see 19 CFR ' 207.7).
Confidentiality.--The commercial and financial data furnished in response to the enclosed
questionnaire(s) that reveal the individual operations of your firm will be treated as confidential by
the Commission to the extent that such data are not otherwise available to the public and will not
be disclosed except as may be required by law (see 19 U.S.C. ' 1677f). Such confidential
information will not be published in a manner that will reveal the individual operations of your
firm; however, nonnumerical characterizations of numerical business proprietary information
(such as discussion of trends) will be treated as confidential business information only at the
request of the submitter for good cause shown.
Verification.--The information submitted in the enclosed questionnaire(s) is subject to audit
and verification by the Commission. To facilitate possible verification of data, please keep
all your workpapers and supporting documents used in the preparation of the questionnaire
response(s).

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GENERAL INFORMATION--Continued
Release of information.--The information provided by your firm in response to the
questionnaire(s), as well as any other business proprietary information submitted by your firm to
the Commission in connection with the investigations, may become subject to, and released under,
the administrative protective order provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. ' 1677f) and
section 207.7 of the Commission=s Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR ' 207.7). This means
that certain lawyers and other authorized individuals may temporarily be given access to the
information for use in connection with these investigations or other import-injury investigations
conducted by the Commission on the same or similar merchandise; those individuals would be
subject to severe penalties if the information were divulged to unauthorized individuals. In
addition, if your firm is a U.S. producer, the information you provide on your production and
imports of PC strand and your responses to the questions in Part I of the producer questionnaire
will be provided to the U.S. Department of Commerce, upon its request, for use in connection with
(and only in connection with) its requirement pursuant to sections 702(c)(4) and 732(c)(4) of the
Act (19 U.S.C. '' 1671a(c)(4) and 1673a(c)(4)) to make a determination concerning the extent of
industry support for the petition requesting these investigations. Any information provided to
Commerce will be transmitted under the confidentiality and release guidelines set forth above.
Your response to these questions constitutes your consent that such information be provided to
Commerce under the conditions described above.

INSTRUCTIONS
Answer all questions.--Do not leave any question or section blank unless a questionnaire
expressly directs you to skip over certain questions or sections. If the answer to any question is
Anone,@ write Anone.@ If information is not readily available from your records in exactly the
form requested, furnish carefully prepared estimates--designated as such by the letter
AE@--and explain the basis of your estimates. Answers to questions and any necessary
comments or explanations should be supplied in the space provided or on separate sheets attached
to the appropriate page of the questionnaire(s). If your firm is completing more than one
questionnaire in connection with these investigations (i.e., a producer, importer, and/or purchaser
questionnaire), you need not respond to duplicated questions in the questionnaires.
Consolidate all U.S. establishments.--Report the requested data for your establishment(s) located
in the United States. Firms operating more than one establishment should combine the data
for all establishments into a single report.
Filing instructions.—Questionnaires may be filed either in paper form or electronically.

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INSTRUCTIONS--Continued
OPTIONS FOR FILING IN PAPER FORM
• Overnight mail service.—Mail to the following address:
United States International Trade Commission
Office of Investigations, Room 615
500 E Street SW
Washington, DC 20024
• Fax.—Fax to 202.205.3205.
• U.S. mail.—Mail to the address above, but use zip code 20436. This option is not recommended.
U.S. mail sent to government offices undergoes additional processing to screen for hazardous
materials; this additional processing results in substantial delays in delivery.
OPTIONS FOR FILING ELECTRONICALLY
This questionnaire is available as a “fillable” form in MS Word format on the
Commission’s website at
http://www.usitc.gov/trade_remedy/731_ad_701_cvd/investigations/2009/pc_stra
nd/preliminaryphase.htm. Please do not attempt to modify the format or
permissions of the questionnaire document. You may complete the questionnaire
electronically, print it out, and submit it in paper form as described above, or you
may submit it electronically through one of the following means:
• Compact disc (CD).—Copy your questionnaire onto a CD, include a signed certification page
(page 1) (either in paper form or scanned PDF copied onto CD), and mail to the address above. It
is strongly recommended that you use an overnight mail service. U.S. mail sent to government
offices undergoes additional processing which not only results in substantial delays in delivery but
may also damage CDs.
• E-mail.—E-mail your questionnaire to the investigator identified on page 1 of the Instruction
Booklet; include a scanned PDF of the signed certification page (page 1). Type the following in
the e-mail subject line: BPI Questionnaire, PC Strand, 701-TA-464 and 731-TA-1160. Please
note that submitting your questionnaire by e-mail may subject your firm’s business proprietary
information to transmission over an unsecure environment and to possible disclosure. If you
choose this option, the Commission warns you that any risk involving possible disclosure of such
information is assumed by the submitter and not by the Commission.
Note: If you are a party to the investigations, and service of the questionnaire is required,
such service should be made in paper form.

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DEFINITIONS
Prestressed concrete steel wire strand (“PC strand”).–Steel strand, produced from wire of
non-stainless, non-galvanized steel, which is suitable for use in prestressed concrete applications
(pre-tensioned and/or post-tensioned). The product definition encompasses covered and
uncovered strand and all types, grades, and diameters of PC strand. PC strand is covered by
statistical reporting numbers 7312.10.3010 and 7312.10.3012 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule
of the United States (“HTS”).
Pre-tensioned applications.–In pre-tensioned applications, uncovered and/or uncoated PC strand
is tensioned (pulled tightly and slightly elongated) using a calibrated tensioning apparatus, and
concrete is poured around the PC strand. After the concrete has cured, the tension is released and
the tensile force of the strand induces a compressive force in the concrete. Pre-tensioned
prestressed concrete depends upon the bond between the concrete and the PC strand to hold the
concrete in compression.
Post-tensioned applications.–In post-tensioned applications, PC strand is tensioned using a
calibrated tensioning apparatus after the concrete has cured. In post-tensioned prestressed
concrete, tension is maintained by installing permanent mechanical anchors which remain in place
after the tensioning apparatus is removed. Post-tensioned applications may require
covered/coated, uncovered/uncoated, or epoxy-coated PC strand.
Covered and/or coated PC strand.–PC strand that is lubricated with grease and encased in a
plastic tube or PC strand that is coated with epoxy.
Uncovered and/or uncoated PC strand.–Bare PC strand.
Firm.--An individual proprietorship, partnership, joint venture, association, corporation
(including any subsidiary corporation), business trust, cooperative, trustee in bankruptcy, or
receiver under decree of any court.
Related firm.--A firm that your firm solely or jointly owned, managed, or otherwise controlled; a
firm that solely or jointly owned, managed, or otherwise controlled your firm; and/or a firm that
was solely or jointly owned, managed, or otherwise controlled by a firm that also solely or jointly
owned, managed, or otherwise controlled your firm.
Establishment.--Each facility of a firm in the United States involved in the production,
importation, and/or purchase of PC strand (as defined above), including auxiliary facilities
operated in conjunction with (whether or not physically separate from) such facilities.
United States.--For purposes of these investigations, the 50 States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin
Islands, and the District of Columbia.
Importer.--Any person or firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or subsidiary,
in importing PC strand (as defined above) into the United States from a foreign manufacturer or
through its selling agent.
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DEFINITIONS—Continued
Imports.--Those products identified for Customs purposes as imports for consumption for which
your firm was the importer of record (i.e., was responsible for paying any import duty) or
consignee (i.e., to which the merchandise was first delivered).
Import quantities.--Quantities reported should be net of returns.
Import values.--Values reported should be landed, duty-paid values (but not including any
antidumping and/or countervailing duties) at the U.S. port of entry, including ocean freight and
insurance costs, brokerage charges, and import duties (i.e., all charges except inland freight in the
United States and antidumping and/or countervailing duties).
Purchaser.--Any person or firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or
subsidiary, in purchasing PC strand (as defined above) from another firm that produces, imports,
or otherwise distributes PC strand. A retail firm that is the importer of record may be considered
a purchaser.
Purchases.--Purchases from all sources, NOT including direct imports from foreign producers
(which should be reported in an importer questionnaire).
Purchase quantities.--Quantities reported should be net of returns.
Purchase values.--Values reported should be net values (i.e., gross purchase values less all
discounts, allowances, rebates, and the value of returned goods), delivered to your U.S.
receiving point.
Shipments.--Shipments of products produced in or imported by your U.S. establishment(s).
Include shipments to the contracting firm of product produced by your firm under a toll agreement.
Shipment quantities.--Quantities reported should be net of returns.
Shipment values.--Values reported should be net values (i.e., gross sales values less all
discounts, allowances, rebates, prepaid freight, and the value of returned goods), f.o.b.
your U.S. point of shipment. The value of domestic shipments to the contracting firm
under a toll agreement is the conversion fee (including profit).
Types of shipments:
U.S. shipments.--Commercial shipments, internal consumption, and transfers to related
firms within the United States.
Commercial shipments.--Shipments, other than internal consumption and transfers
to related firms, within the United States.
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DEFINITIONS—Continued
Internal consumption.--Product consumed internally by your firm.
Transfers to related firms.--Shipments made to related domestic firms.
Export shipments.--Shipments to destinations outside the United States, including
shipments to related firms.
Distributors.--Firms that commercially re-sell PC strand.
End users.--Firms that do not commercially sell or re-sell PC strand. For example, post-tensioners
that purchase PC strand and then engage in post-tensioning design engineering to prepare the
strand for its end use in a post-tensioned application, but do not re-sell PC strand, are end users.
Buy America, Buy American.–“Buy America” requirements apply to iron and steel products and
their coatings that are purchased for the Federal-aid highway construction program (highways,
bridges, transit systems, and terminals). Under Buy America, Federal-aid funds may not be
obligated for a project unless iron and steel products used in such projects are manufactured in the
United States. (Manufacturing is any process that modifies the chemical content; physical shape
or size; or final finish of a product. Manufacturing begins with the initial melting and mixing, and
continues through the bending and coating stages (coating includes epoxy coating, galvanizing,
painting, and any other coating that protects or enhances the value of the coated steel or iron
product/component)). An exception is that foreign-source materials valued at the greater of
$2,500, or 0.1 percent of the original contract value, are permitted; value is based on the value “as
delivered to the project site,” and is the total for the project for all foreign-source materials. Under
an alternate-bid procedure, foreign-source materials may be used if the total project bid using
foreign-source materials is 25 percent less than the lowest total bid using domestic materials.
“Buy American” is a separate and distinct program from Buy America, and has completely
different rules. The Buy American Act, which covers specified products, requires the Federal
Government to purchase domestic goods and services unless the head of the agency involved in
the procurement has determined that the prices of the domestic suppliers are “unreasonable” or
that their purchase would be “inconsistent with the public interest.”
For purposes of this questionnaire, the term “Buy America(n)” refers to any Buy America
or Buy American program described above as well as to any other program imposed at the federal,
state, local, or private level that limits or favors purchases of PC strand to material of U.S. origin.
In the case of private purchases, such programs include any restrictions or preferences for U.S.
origin material that are imposed as a matter of formal or informal policy or practice.
Inventories.--Finished goods inventory, not raw materials or work-in-progress.

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DEFINITIONS--Continued
The following definitions apply only to the PRODUCER QUESTIONNAIRE.
Average production capacity.--The level of production that your establishment(s) could
reasonably have expected to attain during the specified periods. Assume normal operating
conditions (i.e., using equipment and machinery in place and ready to operate; normal operating
levels (hours per week/weeks per year) and time for downtime, maintenance, repair, and cleanup;
and a typical or representative product mix).
Toll agreement.--Agreement between two firms whereby the first firm furnishes the raw materials
and the second firm uses the raw materials to produce a product that it then returns to the first firm
with a charge for processing costs, overhead, etc.
Production.--All production in your U.S. establishment(s), including production consumed
internally within your firm and production for another firm under a toll agreement.
PRWs.--Production and related workers, including working supervisors and all nonsupervisory
workers (including group leaders and trainees) engaged in fabricating, processing, assembling,
inspecting, receiving, storage, handling, packing, warehousing, shipping, trucking, hauling,
maintenance, repair, janitorial and guard services, product development, auxiliary production for
plant=s own use (e.g., power plant), recordkeeping, and other services closely associated with the
above production operations.
Average number employed.--Add the number of employees, both full-time and part-time, for the
12 pay periods ending closest to the 15th of the month and divide that total by 12. For the
January-March periods, calculate similarly and divide by 3.
Hours worked.--Include time paid for sick leave, holidays, and vacation time. Include overtime
hours actually worked; do not convert overtime pay to its equivalent in straight-time hours.
Wages paid.--Total wages paid before deductions of any kind (e.g., withholding taxes, old-age and
unemployment insurance, group insurance, union dues, bonds, etc.). Include wages paid directly
by your firm for overtime, holidays, vacations, and sick leave.
Fiscal year.--The 12-month period between settlement of your firm=s financial accounts.
Purchases other than direct imports.--Purchases from U.S. producers, U.S. importers, and other
U.S. sources.
Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act (Byrd Amendment) funds received.--Funds
disbursed by the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection under the Continued Dumping and
Subsidy Offset Act of 2000 (the AByrd Amendment@). The Byrd Amendment provides for the
annual distribution of the duties collected pursuant to antidumping and countervailing duty orders.
The distribution is available to Aaffected domestic producers for qualifying expenditures.@
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