09-3-2766 US purchaser questionnaire

Information collections for import injury investigations (producers, importers, purchasers, and foreign producer questionnaires and institution notices for 5-year reviews)

PurchaserQ

Cut-to-length Carbon Steel Plate from China, Russia, and Ukraine

OMB: 3117-0016

⚠️ Notice: This form may be outdated. More recent filings and information on OMB 3117-0016 can be found here:

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OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 09-3-2766; Expiration Date: 6/30/2011
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
CUT-TO-LENGTH (CTL) PLATE FROM CHINA, RUSSIA, AND UKRAINE
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than June 26, 2009
See page 4 of the Instruction Booklet for filing instructions.
The information called for in this questionnaire is for use by the United States International Trade Commission in
connection with its review of the antidumping duty order and suspension agreements concerning cut-to-length carbon
steel plate from China, Russia, and Ukraine (Inv. Nos. 731-TA-753, 754, and 756 (Second Review)). The information
requested in the questionnaire is requested under the authority of the Tariff Act of 1930, title VII. This report is
mandatory and failure to reply as directed can result in a subpoena or other order to compel the submission of records or
information in your possession (19 U.S.C. § 1333(a)).

Name of firm
Address
State

City

Zip Code

World Wide Web address
Has your firm purchased CTL carbon steel plate or CTL micro-alloy steel plate (as defined in the instruction
booklet) from any source (domestic or foreign) at any time since January 1, 2003?

(Sign the certification below and promptly return only this page of the questionnaire to the Commission)

YES

(Read the instruction booklet carefully, complete all parts of the questionnaire, and return the entire
questionnaire to the Commission so as to be received by the date indicated above)

CERTIFICATION
I certify that the information herein supplied in response to this questionnaire is complete and correct to the best of my knowledge
and belief and understand that the information submitted is subject to audit and verification by the Commission.
By means of this certification I also grant consent for the Commission, and its employees and contract personnel, to use the
information provided in this questionnaire and throughout these reviews in any other import-injury investigations or reviews
conducted by the Commission on the same or similar merchandise.
I acknowledge that information submitted in this questionnaire response and throughout these reviews may be used by the
Commission, its employees, and contract personnel who are acting in the capacity of Commission employees, for developing or
maintaining the records of these reviews or related proceedings for which this information is submitted, or in internal audits and
investigations relating to the programs and operations of the Commission pursuant to 5 U.S.C. Appendix 3. I understand that all
contract personnel will sign non-disclosure agreements.

Name of Authorized Official

Title of Authorized Official

Date

Signature

Phone: (
Fax ( )

E-mail address

)

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CTL Plate

Page 2

PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
The questions in this questionnaire have been reviewed with market participants to ensure that issues of
concern are adequately addressed and that data requests are sufficient, meaningful, and as limited as
possible. Public reporting burden for this questionnaire is estimated to average 40 hours per response,
including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering the data needed,
and completing and reviewing the questionnaire. Send comments regarding the accuracy of this burden
estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing the
burden, to the Office of Investigations, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street, SW,
Washington, DC 20436.
I-1a.

OMB statistics.--Please report below the actual number of hours required and the cost to your
firm of preparing the reply to this questionnaire and completing the form.
hours

dollars

I-1b.

OMB feedback.--We are interested in any comments you may have for improving this
questionnaire in general or the clarity of specific questions. Please attach such comments to your
response or send them to the above address.

I-2.

Establishments covered.--Provide the name and address of establishment(s) covered by this
questionnaire (see page 3 of the instruction booklet for reporting guidelines). If your firm is
publicly traded, please specify the stock exchange and trading symbol.

I-3.

Ownership.--Is your firm owned, in whole or in part, by any other firm?

I-4.

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

Address

Extent of
ownership

Related SUBJECT importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either
domestic or foreign, which are engaged in importing CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel)
from China, Russia, and/or Ukraine into the United States or which are engaged in exporting CTL
plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) from China, Russia, and/or Ukraine to the United States?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

Address

Affiliation

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL Plate

Page 3

PART I.--GENERAL INFORMATION--Continued
I-5.

Related NONSUBJECT importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either
domestic or foreign, which are engaged in importing CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel)
from countries other than China, Russia, and/or Ukraine into the United States or which are
engaged in exporting CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) from countries other than
China, Russia, and/or Ukraine to the United States?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name and country

I-6.

I-7.

Address

Affiliation

Related producers.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, which
are engaged in the production of CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel)?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

Address

Affiliation

Business plan.--In Parts II and III of this questionnaire we request a copy of your company’s
business plan. Does your company or any related firm have a business plan or any internal
documents that describe, discuss, or analyze expected market conditions for CTL plate (carbon
steel or micro-alloy steel)?
No

Yes--Please provide the requested documents. If you are not providing the
requested documents, please explain why not.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL Plate

Page 4

PART II.--PURCHASES AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Ioana Mic, Economist
(202-205-3196, ioana.mic@usitc.gov). Supply all data requested on a calendar-year basis.
II-1.

Contact information (Purchases).--Who should be contacted regarding the requested trade and
related information?
Company contact:
Name and title
(
)
Phone number

II-2a.

E-mail address

Purchases.--Report, as indicated below, your firm’s purchases (either directly or through a sales
agent or broker) of CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel). Report based on delivery date,
not order date.

Quantity (in short tons) and value (in $1,000)
Item
2003
2004
2005
Purchases of CTL carbon steel plate produced in-The United States:
Quantity
Value
China:
Quantity
Value
Russia:
Quantity
Value
Ukraine:
Quantity
Value
All other countries:1
Quantity
Value
Purchases of micro-alloy steel plate produced in-The United States:
Quantity
Value
China:
Quantity
Value
Russia:
Quantity
Value
Ukraine:
Quantity
Value
All other countries:1
Quantity
Value
1

Please identify these countries:

2006

2007

2008

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL Plate

Page 5

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-2b.

THE FOLLOWING TABLE IS DUE ON OR BEFORE JULY 24, 2009.
Quantity (in short tons) and value (in $1,000)
Item
January-June 2008
January-June 2009
Purchases of CTL carbon steel
plate produced in-The United States:
Quantity
Value
China:
Quantity
Value
Russia:
Quantity
Value
Ukraine:
Quantity
Value
All other countries:1
Quantity
Value
Purchases of micro-alloy steel
plate produced in-The United States:
Quantity
Value
China:
Quantity
Value
Russia:
Quantity
Value
Ukraine:
Quantity
Value
All other countries:1
Quantity
Value
1

Please identify these countries:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL Plate

Page 6

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-3.

Purchases before and after suspension agreements.-(a)

Did your firm purchase CTL carbon steel plate from China, Russia, and/or Ukraine
before 1997?
No--skip to (c)

(b)

Yes

Do not know--skip to (c)

If yes, has your pattern of purchasing CTL carbon steel plate from China, Russia, and/or
Ukraine changed since 1997?
No, our pattern of purchasing is essentially unchanged.
Yes, we discontinued purchases from China, Russia, and/or Ukraine because of the
suspension agreements or antidumping duty order.
Yes, we reduced purchases from China, Russia, and/or Ukraine at least in part
because of the suspension agreements or antidumping duty order.
Yes, but we changed the pattern of purchases from China, Russia, and/or Ukraine for
reasons other than the suspension agreements or antidumping duty order (please
explain below).

(c)

Has your pattern of purchasing CTL carbon steel plate from nonsubject foreign sources
(i.e., countries other than China, Russia, and/or Ukraine) changed since 1997?
We did not purchase from nonsubject foreign sources before or after the suspension
agreements or antidumping duty order.
No, our pattern of purchasing is essentially unchanged.
Yes, we increased purchases from nonsubject countries at least in part because of the
suspension agreements or antidumping duty order.
Yes, but we changed our pattern of purchases from nonsubject countries for reasons
other than the suspension agreements or antidumping duty order (please explain
below).

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL Plate

Page 7

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-4

Changes in purchasing patterns.--If the relative levels of your firm’s purchases of CTL plate
(carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) from different sources (both domestic and foreign) have
changed since 2003, please indicate whether the relative share from that country has increased or
decreased, and state the reason.
Source of purchases

Trend
Decreased
Increased
Constant

The United States

Fluctuated
Decreased
Increased
Constant

China

Fluctuated
Decreased
Increased
Constant

Russia

Fluctuated
Decreased
Increased
Constant

Ukraine

Fluctuated
Decreased
Increased
Constant

All other countries

Fluctuated

Explanation for trend

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL Plate

Page 8

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-5

Supplier identification.--Please identify below the names and addresses of your firm’s FIVE
largest suppliers for CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) since 2003. Please also provide
the name and telephone number of a contact person and the share of the quantity of your firm’s
total shipments of CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) that each of these customers
accounted for in 2008.
Supplier’s
name

No.
1

Street address (not P.O.
box), city, state, and zip
code

Contact person

Share of
2008
Telephone number
or e-mail address purchases
(%)

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL Plate

Page 9

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Ioana Mic, Economist
(202-205-3196, ioana.mic@usitc.gov)
III-1.

Contact information (Market).--Who should be contacted regarding the requested market
characteristics and purchasing practices information?
Company contact:
Name and title
(
)
Phone number

III-2.

Firm type.--Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of CTL plate (carbon
steel or micro-alloy steel) (check all that apply, noting the specific end uses if known)?
End user
Processor/Service Center
Distributor
Other (Describe:

III-3.

)

Competition of sales.--If you are a distributor or reseller of CTL plate (carbon steel or microalloy steel), do you compete for sales to your customers with the manufacturers or importers from
which you purchase CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel)?
No

III-4.

E-mail address

Yes--Please describe

Types of customers.--If your firm is a distributor or reseller of CTL plate (carbon steel or microalloy steel), what are the major types of consumers to which you sell CTL plate (carbon steel or
micro-alloy steel)?

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL Plate

Page 10

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-5.

End uses.--If your firm is an end user of CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel), list in
order of quantity of CTL plate consumed, the top 3 products for which your firm purchases CTL
plate as a component part or input. Please indicate what percentage of the total cost is accounted
for by CTL plate (and NOTE: this percentage should not add to 100 percent).
Share of cost accounted for
by CTL plate (percent)

Product(s) you produce
1.
2.
3.

III-6.

Demand for end use products.-(a)

If your firm is an end user of CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel), has the
demand for your firm’s final products incorporating CTL plate (carbon steel or microalloy steel) changed since 2003?
Increased

(b)

Fluctuated

No change

Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy
steel)?
No

III-7.

Decreased

Yes--Please describe

Changes in end uses.--Have there been any changes in the end uses of CTL plate (carbon steel or
micro-alloy steel) since 2003?
No

Yes--Please describe.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL Plate

Page 11

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-8.

Anticipated changes in end uses.--Do you anticipate any changes in terms of the end uses of
CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) in the future?
No

III-9.

Yes--Please describe and identify the time period. Provide any underlying
assumptions, along with relevant portions of business plans or other
supporting documentation that address this issue.

Substitutes.--Please list in order of importance any products that may be substituted for CTL
plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel). For each possible substitute product, please give
examples of applications and end uses for which they are substitutes and indicate whether
changes in the price of the substitute affect the price for CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy
steel), and to what degree, and the length of any time lag of such an effect.

Substitute

Description

Have changes in the prices of
this substitute affected the price
for CTL plate?

Yes--Please explain.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL Plate

Page 12

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-10. Changes in substitutes.--Have there been any changes in the number or types of products that
can be substituted for CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) since 2003?
No

Yes--Please explain.

III-11. Anticipated changes in substitutes.--Do you anticipate any changes in terms of the
substitutability of other products for CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) in the future?
No

Yes--Please describe and provide any underlying assumptions, along with
relevant portions of business plans or other supporting documentation
that address this issue.

III-12. Demand trends.-(a)

How has the demand within the United States for CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy
steel) changed since January 1, 2003?
Increased

Decreased

Fluctuated

No change

(b)

If you have indicated that demand changed, please provide the factors that were
responsible for such change, and specify the time period involved.

(c)

How has the demand outside the United States (if known) for CTL plate (carbon steel or
micro-alloy steel) changed since January 1, 2003?
Increased

Decreased

Fluctuated

No change

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL Plate

Page 13

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
(d)

If you have indicated that demand changed, please provide the factors that were
responsible for such change, and specify the time period involved.

III-13. Anticipated demand trends.-(a)

How do you anticipate demand will change within the United States for CTL plate
(carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) in the future?
Increase

Decrease

Fluctuate

No change

(b)

If you have indicated that demand will change, please provide the factors that will be
responsible for such change, and specify the time period involved.

(c)

How do you anticipate demand will change outside the United States for CTL plate
(carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) in the future?
Increase

(d)

Decrease

Fluctuate

No change

If you have indicated that demand will change, please provide the factors that will be
responsible for such change, and specify the time period involved.

III-14. Market studies.--Please provide as a separate attachment to this request any studies, surveys, etc.
that you are aware of that quantify and/or otherwise discuss CTL plate (carbon steel or microalloy steel) supply (including production capacity and capacity utilization) and demand in (1) the
United States, (2) each of the other major producing/consuming countries, including China,
Russia, and Ukraine, and (3) the world as a whole. Of particular interest is such data from 2003
to the present and forecasts for the future.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL Plate

Page 14

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-15. Changes in factors affecting supply.--Have any changes occurred in any other factors affecting
supply (e.g., changes in availability or prices of energy or labor; transportation conditions;
production capacity and/or methods of production; technology; export markets; or alternative
production opportunities) that affected the availability of U.S.-produced CTL plate (carbon steel
or micro-alloy steel) in the U.S. market since 2003?
No

Yes--Please note the time period(s) of any such changes, the factors(s)
involved, and the impact such changes had on your shipment volumes
and prices.

III-16. Buy American.--Is buying a product that is produced in the United States an important factor in
your firm’s purchases of CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) (please check ALL that
apply)?
No
Yes--Purchases of domestic product are required by law or regulation (for example,
government purchases under “Buy American” provisions). This involves
percent of
all purchases of CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel).
Yes--Purchases of domestic product are not required by law or regulation, but are by your
customers. This involves
percent of all purchases of CTL plate (carbon steel or
micro-alloy steel).
Yes--Purchases of domestic product are required for other reasons (please specify these
reasons below). This involves
percent of all purchases of CTL plate (carbon steel
or micro-alloy steel).

III-17. Conditions of competition.-(a)

Is the CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) market subject to business cycles or
conditions of competition distinctive to CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel)?
No

Yes--Please explain and provide estimates of the duration of any such
cycle.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL Plate

Page 15

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
(b)

Has the emergence of new markets for CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) since
2003 affected the business cycles or conditions of competition distinctive to CTL plate
(carbon steel or micro-alloy steel)?
No

Yes--Please explain any such changes.

III-18. Decisions based on producer.--Does your firm, and to the extent that you know, do your
customers make purchasing decisions involving CTL plate (carbon steel and micro-alloy steel)
based on the producer of the CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) you purchase?
Your firm:

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

Your customers:

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

If at least sometimes, please discuss how your firm or your customers determine the producer and
why this information is important.
Your firm:

Your customers:

III-19. Decisions based on country-of-origin.--Does your firm, and to the extent that you know, do
your customers make purchasing decisions involving CTL plate (carbon steel and micro-alloy
steel) based on the country of origin of the CTL plate (carbon steel and micro-alloy steel) you
purchase?
Your firm:

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

Your customers:

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

If at least sometimes, please discuss how your firm or your customers determine the source and
why this information is important.
Your firm:

Your customers:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL Plate

Page 16

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-20. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

How frequently do you make purchases?
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Quarterly
Annually
Other (specify)

(b)

)

Do you expect this purchasing pattern to change in the next two years?
No

Yes-- How and why do you expect these changes to occur?

III-21. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers do you generally contact before making a
purchase?

III-22. Supplier negotiations.-(a)

Do purchases of CTL plate (carbon steel and micro-alloy steel) usually involve
negotiations between supplier and purchaser?
No

(b)

Yes--Please describe these negotiations. In your response, please
comment on whether purchasers generally quote competing
prices as part of the negotiation process.

Does your firm tend to vary its purchases from a given supplier within a specified time
period based on the price offered for that period?
No

Yes--Specify the time period.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL Plate

Page 17

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-23. Change in suppliers.--Have you changed suppliers since 2003?
No

Yes--Please list the supplier or suppliers and indicate whether the firm was
added or dropped as a supplier. Also give the reasons for the change
and how frequently you change suppliers.

III-24. New suppliers.-(a)

Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have entered the
market since 2003?
No

(b)

Yes--Please identify the firms and indicate how you became aware of
them.

Do you expect new CTL plate (carbon steel and micro-alloy steel) suppliers to enter the
market in the future?
No

Yes--Please provide details, noting the specific future time period in
your response.

III-25. Supplier qualification.--Do you require your suppliers to become certified or prequalified with
respect to the quality, chemistry, strength, or other performance characteristic of the CTL plate
(carbon steel and micro-alloy steel) they sell to your firm?
No

Yes--

percent of purchases in 2008

Yes--all purchases

Please provide a general description of the certification or qualification process and the time
required.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL Plate

Page 18

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-26. Factors considered vis-à-vis suppliers.--Briefly describe the factors that you consider when
qualifying a new supplier (e.g., quality of product, reliability of supplier, etc.) and estimate the
time it takes to certify or qualify a new supplier.

III-27. Failure to certify.--Since 2003, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their attempts to
certify or qualify their CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) with your firm or have any
producers lost their approved status?
No

Yes--Please identify these firms, the countries where they are located, and the
reasons why they failed the certification/qualification.

III-28. Purchasing factors.--For the factors listed below, please rate each in terms of its importance in
your purchase decision for CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel).
Very
important
Availability .......................................
Delivery terms .................................
Delivery time ...................................
Discounts offered ............................
Extension of credit...........................
Price ................................................
Minimum qty requirements..............
Packaging .......................................
Product consistency ........................
Quality meets industry standards....
Quality exceeds industry standards
Product range..................................
Reliability of supply .........................
Technical support/service ...............
U.S. transportation costs.................
Other (specify):
........
........
........

Somewhat
important

Not
important

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL Plate

Page 19

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-29. Major purchasing factors.--Please list, in order of their importance, the three major factors
generally considered by your firm in deciding from whom to purchase CTL plate (carbon steel or
micro-alloy steel) for any one order (examples include current availability, extension of credit,
prearranged contracts, price, quality exceeding specifications or industry standards, range of
supplier’s product line, traditional supplier, etc.).
1.
2.
3.
Other factors or comments:

III-30. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel)?

III-31. Choice of product not based on price.--If you purchased CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy
steel) from one source although a comparable product was available from another source at a
lower price, please explain your reasons for doing so (please specify by country, including the
United States and both subject and nonsubject foreign countries). Possibilities might include
transaction characteristics such as length of time to fill orders, minimum order size, reliability of
supply, etc.

III-32. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the CTL plate
(carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) that is offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL Plate

Page 20

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-33. Price leaders.--Please list the names of any firms you considered price leaders in the CTL plate
(carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) market since 2003. A price leader is defined as (1) one or
more firms that initiate a price change, either upward or downward, that is followed by other
firms, or (2) one or more firms that have a significant impact on prices. A price leader does not
necessarily have to be the lowest priced supplier. For those firms identified as a price leader,
please specify the time period in which a price change was communicated, whether the price
change was upward or downward, and whether it covered a specific geographic region or a
specific product type.

III-34. Frequency of price changes.--How frequently does the price of the CTL plate (carbon steel or
micro-alloy steel) you are purchasing change?

III-35. Changes in U.S. industry.-(a)

Please identify and discuss any improvements/changes in the U.S. CTL plate (carbon
steel or micro-alloy steel) industry since 2003 and explain fully, to the extent possible,
the factor(s), including the suspension agreements and antidumping duty order under
review, that was/(were) responsible for each improvement/change.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL Plate

Page 21

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-35. Changes in U.S. industry.--Continued
(b)

Please also discuss fully, to the extent possible, any improvements/changes that you
anticipate in the future in the U.S. CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) industry.
Identify the specific future time period covered in your response, and discuss the factors
that you believe would be responsible for each improvement/change.

III-36. Effect of revocation.--What do you think will be the likely effects of any revocation of the
suspension agreements for imports of CTL carbon steel plate from Russia, and Ukraine and the
antidumping duty order for imports of CTL carbon steel plate from China? As appropriate,
please discuss any potential effects of revocation of the suspension agreements and antidumping
duty order on (1) the future activities of your firm and (2) the U.S. market as a whole. Please
note the future time period to which you are referring. Attach additional pages if necessary.
(1) Activities of your firm:

(2) Entire U.S. market:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL Plate

Page 22

PART IV.-- PRODUCT COMPARISIONS
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Ioana Mic, Economist
(202-205-3196, ioana.mic@usitc.gov)
IV-1.

Contact information (Product Comparisons).--Who should be contacted regarding the
requested production comparison information?
Company contact:
Name and title
(
)
Phone number

IV-2.

E-mail address

Country knowledge.--Please indicate the countries of origin for CTL plate (carbon steel or
micro-alloy steel) for which your firm has actual marketing/pricing knowledge.
United States
China
Russia
Ukraine
Other countries (Please specify

IV-3.

)

Interchangeability by country-pair.--Is CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) produced
in the United States and in other countries interchangeable (i.e., can they physically be used in the
same applications)? Please indicate below, using “A” to indicate that the products from a
specified country-pair are always interchangeable, “F” to indicate that the products are frequently
interchangeable, “S” to indicate that the products are sometimes interchangeable, “N” to indicate
that the products are never interchangeable, and “0” to indicate no familiarity with products from
a specified country-pair.1
Country-pair

China

Russia

Ukraine

Other countries

United States
China
Russia
Ukraine
1
For any country-pair producing CTL plate which is sometimes or never interchangeable, please
explain the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable use:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL Plate

Page 23

PART IV.-- PRODUCT COMPARISIONS--Continued
IV-4.

Country preferences.--Do you or your customers ever specifically order CTL plate (carbon steel
or micro-alloy steel) from one country in particular over other possible sources of supply?
No

IV-5.

Yes--Please identify all relevant countries (including the United States and
both subject and nonsubject foreign countries) from which you or your
customers prefer to order, and indicate why CTL plate (carbon steel or
micro-alloy steel) from these countries is preferred over product from
other countries (please note the specific product in your response).

Availability of merchandise.--Are certain grades/types/sizes of CTL plate (carbon steel or
micro-alloy steel) available from only a single source (domestic or foreign, including both subject
and nonsubject countries)?
No

Yes--Please identify the source and the grade/type/size.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL Plate

Page 24

PART IV.-- PRODUCT COMPARISIONS--Continued
Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how CTL plate (carbon
steel or micro-alloy steel) produced in each country you identified in your response to the first
question in Part IV compares with CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) produced in each
of the other countries you identified (including the United States and both subject and nonsubject
foreign countries).

Availability ...............................................
Delivery terms .........................................
Delivery time ...........................................
Discounts offered ....................................
Extension of credit...................................
Price ........................................................
Minimum quantity requirements..............
Packaging ...............................................
Product consistency ................................
Quality meets industry standards............
Quality exceeds industry standards ........
Product range..........................................
Reliability of supply .................................
Technical support/service .......................
U.S. transportation costs.........................
Other (specify):

Inferior

Comparable

product from
China
compared to
product from
Ukraine

Superior

Inferior

product from
China
compared to
product from
Russia
Comparable

Inferior

Comparable

Quality

Superior

product from
China
compared to
product from
United States

Superior

IV-6.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL Plate

Page 25

PART IV.-- PRODUCT COMPARISIONS--Continued

Continued.

Inferior

Comparable

product from
Ukraine
compared to
product from
United States

Superior

Inferior

product from
Russia
compared to
product from
Ukraine
Comparable

Inferior

Comparable

Quality

Superior

product from
Russia
compared to
product from
United States

Superior

IV-6.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL Plate

Page 26

PART IV.-- PRODUCT COMPARISIONS--Continued
Continued.

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

compared to
product from

Inferior

compared to
product from

Comparable

compared to
product from

Superior

product from

Inferior

product from

Comparable

Quality

product from

Superior

IV-6.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL Plate

Page 27

PART IV.-- PRODUCT COMPARISIONS--Continued
IV-7.

Minimum quality.-(a)

How often does domestically produced CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) meet
minimum quality specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?
Always

(b)

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or never

How often does imported subject CTL carbon steel plate meet minimum quality
specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?

Source

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or
never

China
Russia
Ukraine

(c)

How often does imported nonsubject CTL carbon steel plate (i.e., CTL carbon steel plate
from countries other than China, Russia, and Ukraine) meet minimum quality
specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?
Source

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or
never

Canada
Thailand

IV-8.

Change in price.-(a)

Since 2003, has there been a change in the price of CTL plate (carbon steel or microalloy)? If so, has the price of U.S.-produced CTL steel plate changed more or less than
the price of imported CTL carbon steel plate from China?
No change in price
Prices have changed by the same amount
Price of U.S.-produced CTL steel plate has changed relative to the price of CTL
carbon steel plate from China

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL Plate

Page 28

PART IV.-- PRODUCT COMPARISIONS--Continued

(b)

If the price of U.S.-produced CTL steel plate has changed relative to the price of CTL
carbon steel plate from China, the price of U.S.-produced CTL steel plate is now
relatively
Higher

(c)

Lower

Since 2003, has there been a change in the price of CTL carbon steel plate? If so, has the
price of U.S.-produced CTL steel plate changed more or less than the price of imported
CTL carbon steel plate from Russia?
No change in price
Prices have changed by the same amount
Price of U.S.-produced CTL steel plate has changed relative to the price of CTL
carbon steel plate from Russia

(d)

If the price of U.S.-produced CTL steel plate has changed relative to the price of CTL
carbon steel plate from Russia, the price of U.S.-produced CTL steel plate is now
relatively
Higher

(e)

Lower

Since 2003, has there been a change in the price of CTL carbon steel plate? If so, has the
price of U.S.-produced CTL steel plate changed more or less than the price of imported
CTL carbon steel plate from Ukraine?
No change in price
Prices have changed by the same amount
Price of U.S.-produced CTL steel plate has changed relative to the price of CTL
carbon steel plate from Ukraine

(f)

If the price of U.S.-produced CTL steel plate has changed relative to the price of CTL
carbon steel plate from Ukraine, the price of U.S.-produced CTL steel plate is now
relatively
Higher

Lower

File Type	application/pdf
File Title	Microsoft Word - PurchaserQ.doc
Author	fred.ruggles
File Modified	2009-05-27
File Created	2009-05-27