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pdfINSTRUCTION BOOKLET
GENERAL INFORMATION, INSTRUCTIONS, AND
DEFINITIONS FOR COMMISSION QUESTIONNAIRES
Woven Electric Blankets from China
Investigation No. 731-TA-1163 (Final)
Further information.--If you have any questions concerning the enclosed
questionnaire(s) or other matters related to this investigation, you may contact
the following members of the Commission=s staff (Fax 202-205-3205):
Joshua Kaplan, investigator (202-205-3184; E-mail JOSHUA.KAPLAN@USITC.GOV)
regarding general questions and trade and related information;
David Boyland, auditor (202-708-4725; E-mail DAVID.BOYLAND@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.--This investigation was instituted in response to a petition filed on June 30, 2009,
by Sunbeam Products, Inc. dba Jarden Consumer Solutions, Boca Raton, FL. The U.S.
Department of Commerce preliminarily determined that certain woven electric blankets (“WEB”)
from the People’s Republic of China are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less
than fair value (LTFV), as provided in section 733 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act)..
The preliminary weighted-average dumping margins range from 90.32 percent ad valorem to
174.85 percent ad valorem. See 75 FR 5567, 5574 (Feb. 3, 2010).
Questionnaires and other information pertinent to this investigation are available at
http://www.usitc.gov/trade_remedy/731_ad_701_cvd/investigations/2010/woven_electric_bl
ankets/finalphase.htm. Address all correspondence to the United States International Trade
Commission, Washington, DC 20436. Hearing-impaired individuals can obtain information
regarding this investigation 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 May 3, 2010. Use of an overnight mail service
may be necessary to ensure that your response actually reaches the Commission by May 3.
Please make sure the completed questionnaire is sent to the attention of Joshua Kaplan. 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 investigation.
Service of questionnaire response(s).--In the event that your firm is a party to this investigation,
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
202-205-2000. 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 investigation, 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 this investigation 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 woven electric blankets 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 section 732(c)(4) of the
Act (19 U.S.C. ' 1673a(c)(4)) to make a determination concerning the extent of industry support
for the petition requesting this investigation. 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 this investigation (i.e., a producer and importer 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/2010/wov
en_electric_blankets/finalphase.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, INV. NO. 731-TA-1163. 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 investigation, and service of the questionnaire is required,
such service should be made in paper form.
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DEFINITIONS
Woven Electric Blankets (“WEBs”).--The scope of this investigation covers finished,
semi-finished, and unassembled woven electric blankets, including woven electric blankets
commonly referred to as throws, of all sizes and fabric types, whether made of man-made fiber,
natural fiber or a blend of both. Semi-finished woven electric blankets and throws consist of shells
of woven fabric containing wire. Unassembled woven electric blankets and throws consist of a
shell of woven fabric and one or more of the following components when packaged together or in
a kit: (1) Wire; (2) controller(s). The shell of woven fabric consists of two sheets of fabric joined
together forming a “shell.” The shell of woven fabric is manufactured to accommodate either the
electric blanket’s wiring or a subassembly containing the electric blanket’s wiring (e.g., wiring
mounted on a substrate). A shell of woven fabric that is not packaged together, or in a kit, with
either wire, controller(s), or both, is not covered by this investigation even though the shell of
woven fabric may be dedicated solely for use as a material in the production of woven electric
blankets. The finished, semi-finished and unassembled woven electric blankets and throws
subject to this investigation are currently classifiable under subheading 6301.10.00 of the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Although the HTSUS subheading is
provided for convenience and customs purposes, only the written description of the scope is
dispositive.
Woven shells.--Woven shells consist of two sheets of woven fabric joined together forming a
“shell.” The shell of woven fabric is manufactured to accommodate either the electric blanket’s
wiring or a subassembly containing the electric blanket’s wiring (e.g., wiring mounted on a
substrate).
Knit electric blankets.-- Finished knit electric blankets, including knit electric blankets commonly
referred to as throws, of all sizes and fabric types, whether made of man-made fiber, natural fiber
or a blend of both. The shell of knit fabric consists of two sheets of fabric joined together forming
a “shell.” The shell of knit fabric is manufactured to accommodate either the electric blanket’s
wiring or a subassembly containing the electric blanket’s wiring (e.g., wiring mounted on a
substrate).
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.
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DEFINITIONS--Continued
Establishment.--Each facility of a firm in the United States involved in the production,
importation, and/or purchase of WEBs (as defined above), including auxiliary facilities operated
in conjunction with (whether or not physically separate from) such facilities.
United States.--For purposes of this investigation, 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 WEBs (as defined above) into the United States from a foreign manufacturer or
through its selling agent.
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 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).
Purchaser.--Any person or firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or
subsidiary, in purchasing WEBs (as defined above) from another firm that produces, imports, or
otherwise distributes WEBs. 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.
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DEFINITIONS--Continued
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.
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.
Returns.--Shipments of unsold merchandise from a customer back to the U.S. producer or
importer. These shipments generally consist of merchandise that is unsold at the end of a
given season.
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.
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.
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File Type | application/pdf |
File Title | Microsoft Word - U.S. Instructions.doc |
Author | joshua.kaplan |
File Modified | 2010-03-26 |
File Created | 2010-03-26 |