10-3-2842 US purchaser questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 10-3-2842; Expiration Date: 6/30/2011
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
POLYETHYLENE RETAIL CARRIER BAGS FROM CHINA, MALAYSIA, AND THAILAND

This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than February 19, 2010
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 reviews of the antidumping duty orders concerning polyethylene retail carrier bags (“PRCBs”) from
China, Malaysia, and Thailand (Inv. Nos. 731-TA-1043-1045 (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 PRCBs (as defined in the instruction booklet) from any source (domestic or foreign) at
any time since January 1, 2004?

NO

(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
Phone: (

Date

)

Signature

E-mail address
Fax (

)

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – PRCBs from China, Malaysia, and Thailand

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.

No

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 PRCBs from China, Malaysia, and/or
Thailand into the United States or which are engaged in exporting PRCBs from China, Malaysia,
and/or Thailand to the United States?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

Address

Affiliation

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – PRCBs from China, Malaysia, and Thailand

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 PRCBs from countries other than China,
Malaysia, and/or Thailand into the United States or which are engaged in exporting PRCBs from
countries other than China, Malaysia, and/or Thailand 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 PRCBs?
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 PRCBs?
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 – PRCBs from China, Malaysia, and Thailand

Page 4

PART II.--PURCHASES AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Nancy Bryan (202-205-2088,
nancy.bryan@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-2.

E-mail address

Purchases.--Report, as indicated below, your firm’s purchases (either directly or through a sales
agent or broker) of PRCBs. Report based on delivery date, not order date.
Item
Purchases of PRCBs
produced in-The United States:
Quantity
Value
China:
Quantity
Value
Malaysia:
Quantity
Value
Thailand:
Quantity
Value
All other countries:1
Quantity
Value

2004

2005
2006
2007
2008
(Quantity in 1,000 bags, value in $1,000)

2009

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – PRCBs from China, Malaysia, and Thailand

Page 5

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

Purchases before and after order.-(a)

Did your firm purchase PRCBs from China, Malaysia, and/or Thailand before 2004?
No--skip to (c)

(b)

Yes

If yes, has your pattern of purchasing PRCBs from China, Malaysia, and/or Thailand
changed since January 1, 2004?
No, our pattern of purchasing is essentially unchanged.
Yes, we discontinued purchases from China, Malaysia, and/or Thailand because of
the order(s).
Yes, we reduced purchases from China, Malaysia, and/or Thailand because of the
order(s).
Yes, but we changed the pattern of purchases from China, Malaysia, and/or Thailand
for reasons other than the order(s) (please explain below).

(c)

Has your pattern of purchasing PRCBs from nonsubject foreign sources (i.e., countries
other than China, Malaysia, and Thailand) changed since January 1, 2004?
We did not purchase from nonsubject foreign sources before or after the orders.
No, our pattern of purchasing is essentially unchanged.
Yes, we increased purchases from nonsubject countries because of the orders.
Yes, but we changed our pattern of purchases from nonsubject countries for reasons
other than the orders (please explain below).

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – PRCBs from China, Malaysia, and Thailand

Page 6

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

Changes in purchasing patterns.--If the relative levels of your firm’s purchases of PRCBs from
different sources (both domestic and foreign) have changed since January 1, 2004 (the year the
antidumping duty order unders review became effective), please list whether the relative share
from that country has changed, and state the reason.
Source of purchases
The United States

Trend
Decreased

Explanation for trend

Increased
Constant
Fluctuated
China

Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated

Malaysia

Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated

Thailand

Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated

All other countries

Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated

II-4b.

If your firm has purchased PRCBs from only one country, please explain the reason for doing so?

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – PRCBs from China, Malaysia, and Thailand

Page 7

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 PRCBs since January 1, 2004. 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 PRCBs that each of
these customers accounted for in 2009.
Supplier’s
name
No.
1

2

3

4

5

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

Contact person

Share of
Telephone number
2009
or e-mail address purchases
(%)

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – PRCBs from China, Malaysia, and Thailand

Page 8

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES
III-1.

III-2.

Firm type.--Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of PRCBs (check all
that apply, noting the specific end uses if known)?
Food retailer (

)

Other retail (

)

Distributor of packaging supplies (

)

Food distributor (

)

Other distributor (

)

Other (

)

Competition of sales.--If you are a distributor or reseller of PRCBs, do you compete for sales to
your customers with the manufacturers or importers from which you purchase PRCBs?
No

Yes--Please describe.

III-3.

Types of customers.--If your firm is a distributor or reseller of PRCBs, what are the major types
of consumers to which you sell PRCBs? (If this differs by the quality of PRCBs you sell please
report the quality.)

III-4.

Please estimate the percentage of your firm’s purchases of PRCBs in 2009 that were of the
following types.
T-shirt bags
Die cut handle bags
Patch handle bags
Drawstring style bags
Flat-bottom bags
String loop handle bags
Other PRCBs
100%

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – PRCBs from China, Malaysia, and Thailand

Page 9

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

Substitutes.--Please list in order of importance any products that may be substituted for PRCBs.
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
PRCBs, 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 PRCBs?

1.

No

Yes--Please explain.

2.

No

Yes--Please explain.

3.

No

Yes--Please explain.

4.

No

Yes--Please explain.

5.

No

Yes--Please explain.

III-6.

Changes in substitutes.--Have there been any changes in the number or types of products that
can be substituted for PRCBs since January 1, 2004?
No

Yes--Please explain.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – PRCBs from China, Malaysia, and Thailand

Page 10

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-7.

Anticipated changes in substitutes.--Do you anticipate any changes in terms of the
substitutability of other products for PRCBs 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-8. (a) Are paper bags substitutes for any of the following types of PRCBs?
T-shirt bags
Die cut handle bags
Patch handle bags
Drawstring style bags
Flat-bottom bags
String loop handle bags
Other PRCBs

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

No
No
No
No
No
No
No

(b) If yes, please indicate whether substitution of paper bags for PRCBs has increased, decreased,
or remained the same since January 1, 2004.

III-9.

(a) Has the increased use of reusable bags, including bags of cloth or other material, affected
demand for PRCBs since January 1, 2004?
No

Yes--Please estimate the size of demand reduction:

percent.

(b) Has there been a shift from use of PRCBs to use of paper bags since January 1, 2004?
No
III-9.

Yes--Please estimate the size of demand reduction:

percent.

(c) Has the passage of laws regulating the use and disposal of PRCBs affected demand for PRCBs
since January 1, 2004?
No

Yes--Please estimate the size of demand reduction:
percent. Please
report the characteristics of PRCBs covered by these regulations,

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – PRCBs from China, Malaysia, and Thailand

Page 11

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-10. (a) Do you expect passage of laws regulating the use and disposal of PRCBs?
No

Yes--Please estimate the percentage change in your demand for PRCBs in the
near future that could likely result from the passage of such laws:
percent. Please report the characteristics of PRCBs likely to be
covered by these laws.

(b) Do you expect other changes in conditions of competition that will affect demand for PRCBs?

No

Yes--Please report the factors that you expect will affect demand for PRCBs
and how large an impact each factor will have on PRCB demand.

Factor expected to affect demand for PRCBs

Anticipated change
(in percent)

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – PRCBs from China, Malaysia, and Thailand

Page 12

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-11. Demand trends.-(a)

How has the demand within the United States for PRCBs changed since January 1, 2004?
What principal factors affect changes in demand?
Increased

(b)

Decreased

Fluctuated

No change

How has the demand outside the United States (if known) for PRCBs changed since
January 1, 2004? What principal factors affect changes in demand?
Increased

Decreased

Fluctuated

No change

III-12. Anticipated demand trends.-(a)

How do you anticipate demand will change within the United States for PRCBs in the
future? What principal factors that will affect these changes in demand?
Increase

(b)

Decrease

Fluctuate

No change

How do you anticipate demand will change outside the United States for PRCBs to in the
future? What principal factors that will affect these changes in demand?
Increase

Decrease

Fluctuate

No change

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – PRCBs from China, Malaysia, and Thailand

Page 13

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-13. 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 PRCBs 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, Malaysia, and Thailand, and (3) the world as a
whole. Of particular interest is such data from January 1, 2004 to the present and forecasts for the
future.
III-14. 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 PRCBs in the U.S.
market since January 1, 2004?
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-15. Is buying a product that is produced in the United States an important factor in your firm’s
purchases of PRCBs (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 PRCBs.
Yes--Purchases of domestic product are not required by law or regulation, but are by your
customers. This involves
percent of all purchases of PRCBs.
Yes--Purchases of domestic product are required for other reasons (please specify these
percent of all purchases of PRCBs.
reasons below). This involves

III-16. Conditions of competition.-(a)

Is the PRCBs market subject to business cycles or conditions of competition distinctive to
PRCBs?
No

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – PRCBs from China, Malaysia, and Thailand

Page 14

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-16. (b)

Has the emergence of new markets for PRCBs since January 1, 2004 affected the
business cycles or conditions of competition distinctive to PRCBs?
No

Yes--Please explain any such changes.

III-17. Decisions based on producer.--Does your firm, and to the extent that you know, do your
customers make purchasing decisions involving PRCBs based on the producer of the PRCBs 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-18. Decisions based on country-of-origin.--Does your firm, and to the extent that you know, do
your customers make purchasing decisions involving PRCBs based on the country of origin of the
PRCBs 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 – PRCBs from China, Malaysia, and Thailand

Page 15

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-19. 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-20. Are you aware whether the PRCBs you are purchasing are U.S.-produced or imported?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

Rarely

Never

III-21. Do you know the manufacturer of the PRCBs that you purchase?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

III-22. To your knowledge, are your buyers aware of and/or interested in the country of origin of the
PRCBs you supply them?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

III-23. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers do you generally contact before making a
purchase?

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – PRCBs from China, Malaysia, and Thailand

Page 16

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-24. Supplier negotiations.-(a)

Do purchases of PRCBs 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.

III-25. Change in suppliers.--Have you changed suppliers since January 1, 2004?
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-26. New suppliers.-(a)

Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have entered the
market since January 1, 2004?
No

(b)

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

Do you expect new PRCBs suppliers to enter the market in the future?
No

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – PRCBs from China, Malaysia, and Thailand

Page 17

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-27. 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 PRCBs they
sell to your firm?
No

Yes--

percent of purchases in 2009

Yes--all purchases

III-28. Please provide a general description of the certification or qualification process and the time
required.

III-29. 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-30. Failure to certify.--Since January 1, 2004, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their
attempts to certify or qualify their PRCBs with your firm or have any producers lost their
approved status?
No

Firm

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

Why they failed certification/qualification

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – PRCBs from China, Malaysia, and Thailand

Page 18

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-31. Purchasing factors.--For the factors listed below, please rate each in terms of its importance in
your purchase decision for PRCBs.
Very
important
Availability .......................................
Customization of bags ....................
Delivery terms .................................
Delivery time ...................................
Discounts offered ............................
Extension of credit...........................
Minimum qty requirements..............
Packaging .......................................
Price ................................................
Print quality .....................................
Product consistency ........................
Product range..................................
Quality meets industry standards....
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply .........................
Technical support/service ...............
U.S. transportation costs.................
Other (specify):
........
........
........

Somewhat
important

Not
important

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – PRCBs from China, Malaysia, and Thailand

Page 19

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-32. 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 PRCBs 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-33. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of PRCBs?

III-34. If you are a retailer, how important is it to your firm that the PRCBs that you provide to your
customers be of a quality that enhances your store’s image (as opposed to simply enabling your
customers to carry purchases out of the store)?
Much more

Somewhat more

Equally important

Somewhat less

Much less

Not at all important

III-35. Do you expect that PRCBs you provide customers with will be reused in ways that might serve as
“bagvertising”?
No

Yes—How important is this to in determining the type of PRCBs you use?

Very important

Somewhat important

Not important

Comments:

III-36. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the PRCBs that is
offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – PRCBs from China, Malaysia, and Thailand

Page 20

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-37. Choice of product not based on price.--If you purchased PRCBs 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-38. Price leaders.--Please list the names of any firms you considered price leaders in the PRCBs
market since January 1, 2004. 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-39. Auctions/Bidding.--Has your firm purchased PRCBs using a bidding process, including reverse
internet auctions or other internet bid solicitations, either in the United States or internationally?
No

Date
Quantity
bidding purchased
ended
(1,000
bags)

Yes, please describe your firm’s four largest purchases using a bid process
since January 1, 2004.
Value of
winning
bid
(dollars)

Lowest
bid for
U.S.
PRCBs
(dollars)

Lowest
bid for
subject
country
PRCBs
(dollars)

Country
source of
product
with the
lowest
bid

Country
of
winning
bid

Factors other than price
considered in this purchase (i.e.,
thickness of the bag; type of bag;
experience with producer;
country of manufacture;
appearance of bag…)

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – PRCBs from China, Malaysia, and Thailand

Page 21

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-40. Frequency of price changes.--How frequently does the price of the PRCBs you are purchasing
change?

III-41. Changes in U.S. industry.-(a)

Please identify and discuss any improvements/changes in the U.S. PRCBs industry since
January 1, 2004 and explain fully, to the extent possible, the factor(s), including the order
under review, that was responsible for each improvement/change.

(b)

Please also discuss fully, to the extent possible, any improvements/changes that you
anticipate in the future in the U.S. PRCBs 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-42. Effect of revocation.--What do you think will be the likely effects of any revocation of the
antidumping duty order(s) for imports of PRCBs from China, Malaysia, and Thailand? As
appropriate, please discuss any potential effects of revocation of the 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 - PRCBs from China, Malaysia, and Thailand

Page 22

PART IV.-- PRODUCT COMPARISIONS
IV-1.

Country knowledge.--Please indicate the countries of origin for PRCBs for which your firm has
actual marketing/pricing knowledge.
United States
China
Malaysia
Thailand
Other countries (Please specify

IV-2.

)

Interchangeability by country-pair.—Are PRCBs 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

Malaysia

Thailand

Other countries2

United States
China
Malaysia
Thailand
1

For any country-pair producing PRCBs which are sometimes or never interchangeable, please
explain the factors that limit or preclude their interchangeable use:

2

List the countries.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - PRCBs from China, Malaysia, and Thailand

Page 23

PART IV.-- PRODUCT COMPARISIONS--Continued
IV-3.

Country preferences.--Do you or your customers ever specifically order PRCBs from one
country in particular over other possible sources of supply?
No

IV-4.

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 PRCBs 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 PRCBs 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 - PRCBs from China, Malaysia, and Thailand

Page 24

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

Inferior

Comparable

PRCBs from
United States
compared to
product from
Thailand

Superior

Inferior

PRCBs from
United States
compared to
product from
Malaysia
Comparable

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

PRCBs from
United States
compared to
product from
China

Superior

IV-5.

Availability ...............................................
Customization of bags.............................
Delivery terms .........................................
Delivery time ...........................................
Discounts offered ....................................
Extension of credit...................................
Minimum quantity requirements..............
Packaging ...............................................
Price1 .......................................................
Print quality .............................................
Product consistency ................................
Product range..........................................
Quality meets industry standards............
Quality exceeds industry standards ........
Reliability of supply .................................
Technical support/service .......................
U.S. transportation costs1 .......................
Other (specify):

1

A rating of “superior” on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the U.S-produced product
generally has lower prices/U.S. transportation costs than the product produced in the second country.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - PRCBs from China, Malaysia, and Thailand

Page 25

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-5.

Availability ...............................................
Customization of bags.............................
Delivery terms .........................................
Delivery time ...........................................
Discounts offered ....................................
Extension of credit...................................
Minimum quantity requirements..............
Packaging ...............................................
Price1 .......................................................
Print quality .............................................
Product consistency ................................
Product range..........................................
Quality meets industry standards............
Quality exceeds industry standards ........
Reliability of supply .................................
Technical support/service .......................
U.S. transportation costs1 .......................
Other (specify):

1

A rating of “superior” on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the product produced in
the first country generally has lower prices/U.S. transportation costs than the product produced in the
second country.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - PRCBs from China, Malaysia, and Thailand

Page 26

PART IV.-- PRODUCT COMPARISIONS--Continued
IV-6.

Minimum quality.-(a)

How often do domestically produced PRCBs meet minimum quality specifications for
your uses or your customers’ uses?
Always

(b)

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or never

How often do imported subject PRCBs meet minimum quality specifications for your
uses or your customers’ uses?

Source

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or
never

China
Malaysia
Thailand

(c)

How often do imported nonsubject PRCBs (i.e., PRCBs from countries other than China,
Malaysia, and Thailand) meet minimum quality specifications for your uses or your
customers’ uses?
Source

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or
never

IDENTIFY COUNTRY:

IV-7.

Change in price.-(a)

Since January 1, 2004, has there been a change in the price of PRCBs? If so, has the
price of U.S.-produced PRCBs changed more or less than the price of imported PRCBs
from China, Malaysia, and Thailand?
No change in price
Prices have changed by the same amount
Price of U.S.-produced PRCBs has changed relative to the price of PRCBs from
China, Malaysia, and Thailand

(b)

If the price of U.S.-produced PRCBs has changed relative to the price of PRCBs from
China, Malaysia, and Thailand, the price of U.S.-produced PRCBs is now relatively
Higher

Lower