08-3-2700 US Purchaser questionnaire (F)

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 08-3-2700; Expiration Date: 6/30/2011
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
WELDED STAINLESS STEEL PRESSURE PIPE FROM CHINA

This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than October 28, 2008.
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 countervailing duty and antidumping duty investigations concerning welded stainless steel pressure
pipe from China (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-454 and 731-TA-1144 (Final)). 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)). Further information on this questionnaire can be obtained from Clark Workman (202-205-3248,
clark.workman@usitc.gov).

Name of firm
Address
State

City

Zip Code

World Wide Web address
Has your firm purchased welded stainless steel pressure pipe (as defined in the instruction booklet) or other forms
of welded stainless steel tubular products (other than grade 409 or mechanical tubing) from any source at any time
since January 1, 2005?

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 submitting 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 investigations in any other import-injury investigations conducted
by the Commission on the same or similar merchandise.
I acknowledge that information submitted in this questionnaire response and throughout these investigations 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 investigations 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 - Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

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 25 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.

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.

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.

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.

Is your firm owned, in whole or in part, by any other firm?
No

Firm name

Yes--List the following information

Address

Extent of
ownership

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 3

PART I.--GENERAL INFORMATION--Continued
I-4.

Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, which are engaged in
importing welded stainless steel pressure pipe from China into the United States or which are
engaged in exporting welded stainless steel pressure pipe from China to the United States?
No
Firm name

I-5.

Yes--List the following information
Address

Affiliation

Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, which are engaged in the
production of welded stainless steel pressure pipe?
No
Firm name

Yes--List the following information
Address

Affiliation

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 4

PART II.--PURCHASES
II-1.

Who should be contacted regarding the requested purchase information?
Company contact:
Name and title
(
)
Phone number

II-2a.

E-mail address

Report, as indicated below, your firm’s purchases (either directly or through a sales agent or
broker) of welded stainless steel pressure pipe (not exceeding 14” in diameter). Report based on
delivery date, not order date.
(Quantity in short tons, value in $1,000)

Item
Purchases of product produced in
the United States:
Quantity
Value
Purchases of product produced in
China:
Quantity
Value
Purchases of product produced in all
other countries:1
Quantity
Value
1
Please identify these countries:

II-2b.

2005

2006

2007

Jan.-Sept
2008

Please report your firm’s purchases of the specified products, by type and by origin, for calendar
year 2007.
Purchases of welded stainless steel pressure pipe exceeding 14” in diameter:
U.S.-produced
short tons
short tons
Imported
Purchases of welded stainless steel pressure tubing (including ASTM A-249, A-269, A-270,
and A-688 pipe and tube but excluding mechanical and grade 409 tubing):
U.S.-produced
short tons
Imported
short tons

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 5

PART II.--PURCHASES--Continued
II-3a.

Referring to your firm’s purchases of welded stainless steel pressure pipe from different sources
(both domestic and foreign) as reported in question II-2 for 2005 through 2007 and JanuarySeptember 2008, please indicate the trend of your purchases of welded stainless steel pressure
pipe from each of the sources identified (i.e., whether they increased, decreased, remained
constant, or fluctuated) and provide an explanation for that trend.
Source
Trend
Explanation for trend
Purchases of welded stainless steel pressure pipe produced in-The United States
Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated
China (produced by
Winner)

Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated

China (other than
Winner)

Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated

Korea

Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated

Malaysia

Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated

Taiwan

Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated

Thailand

Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated

Continued on next page.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 6

PART II.--PURCHASES--Continued
Continued from previous page
Source
Trend
Explanation for trend
Purchases of welded stainless steel pressure pipe produced in-All other countries
Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated

II-3b.

If your firm has purchased welded stainless steel pressure pipe from only one country, please
explain the reasons for doing so.

II-4.

Report, as indicated below, your firm’s end of period inventories of welded stainless steel
pressure pipe (not exceeding 14 inches in outside diameter).

Item
U.S.-produced product
Chinese product (produced by
Winner)
Chinese product (other than Winner)
Product from all other sources
Total

(Quantity in short tons)
2005
2006

2007

Jan.-Sep 2008

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 7

PART II.--PURCHASES--Continued
II-5a.

COMPARABILITY OF WELDED STAINLESS STEEL PRESSURE PIPE (IN
DIFFERENT SIZE RANGES).–Since January 1, 2005, has your firm purchased welded
stainless steel pressure pipe?
No

Yes--Please describe the differences and similarities between welded stainless
steel pressure pipe (as defined in the instruction booklet) that is 14” or less in
diameter and such pipe that is greater than 14” in diameter with respect to the
following factors: (a) characteristics and uses--describe the differences and
similarities in the physical characteristics and end uses; (b) interchangeability-discuss the interchangeability in end use of the two products; (c) manufacturing
processes--describe the two processes and include a discussion of the
interchangeability of production inputs, machinery and equipment, and skilled
labor; (d) channels of distribution--describe the specific end use/customer
requirements and channels of distribution/market situation in which the products
are sold; (e) customer and producer perceptions--describe any perceived
differences in the two products (e.g., sales/marketing practices); and (f) price-provide a discussion and specific examples of prices for the two products. Use
additional pages as necessary.

(a) Characteristics and uses:

(b) Interchangeability:

(c) Manufacturing processes:

(d) Channels of distribution:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 8

PART II.--PURCHASES--Continued
II-5a.

COMPARABILITY OF WELDED STAINLESS STEEL PRESSURE PIPE (IN
DIFFERENT SIZE RANGES).–Continued
(e) Customer and producer perceptions:

(f) Price:

II-5b.

COMPARABILITY OF WELDED STAINLESS STEEL PIPE AND OTHER VARIETIES
OF WELDED STAINLESS STEEL TUBULAR PRODUCTS (EXCLUDING
MECHANICAL TUBING AND GRADE 409 TUBING).–Since January 1, 2005, has your
firm purchased welded stainless steel pressure pipe or other varieties of welded stainless steel
tubular products (excluding mechanical tubing and grade 409 tubing)? The primary examples of
such “other” varieties would be welded stainless steel tubing produced to ASTM specifications
A-249; A-269; A-270; or A-688.
No

Yes--Please describe the differences and similarities between welded stainless
steel pressure pipe (as defined in the instruction booklet) and other varieties of
welded stainless steel tubular products (excluding mechanical tubing and grade
409 tubing) with respect to the following factors: (a) characteristics and uses-describe the differences and similarities in the physical characteristics and end
uses; (b) interchangeability--discuss the interchangeability in end use of the two
products; (c) manufacturing processes--describe the two processes and include a
discussion of the interchangeability of production inputs, machinery and
equipment, and skilled labor; (d) channels of distribution--describe the specific
end use/customer requirements and channels of distribution/market situation in
which the products are sold; (e) customer and producer perceptions--describe any
perceived differences in the two products (e.g., sales/marketing practices); and (f)
price--provide a discussion and specific examples of prices for the two products.
Use additional pages as necessary.

(a) Characteristics and uses:

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 9

PART II.--PURCHASES--Continued
II-5b.

COMPARABILITY OF WELDED STAINLESS STEEL PIPE AND OTHER FORMS OF
WELDED STAINLESS STEEL TUBULAR PRODUCTS (EXCLUDING MECHANICAL
TUBING AND GRADE 409 TUBING)—Continued
(b) Interchangeability:

(c) Manufacturing processes:

(d) Channels of distribution:

(e) Customer and producer perceptions:

(f) Price:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 10

PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES
PLEASE NOTE: THE REMAINDER OF THIS QUESTIONNAIRE FOCUSES PRIMARILY,
BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY, ON WELDED STAINLESS STEEL PRESSURE PIPE NOT
EXCEEDING 14” IN DIAMETER. PLEASE INDICATE IF YOUR RESPONSES DIFFER BY
PRODUCT TYPE.
III-1.

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

III-2.

III-3.

E-mail address

Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of welded stainless steel pressure
pipe (check all that apply, noting the specific end uses if known)?
END USER (

)

DISTRIBUTOR (

)

Other (

)

(a) If your firm is a distributor or reseller of welded stainless steel pressure pipe, what are the
major types of consumers to which you sell welded stainless steel pressure pipe?

(b) Do you compete for sales to your customers with the manufacturers or importers from which
you purchase welded stainless steel pressure pipe?

III-4.

If your firm is an end user of welded stainless steel pressure pipe, list in order of quantity of
welded stainless steel pressure pipe consumed, the top 3 products for which your firm purchases
welded stainless steel pressure pipe as a component part or input. Please indicate what
percentage of the total cost is accounted for by welded stainless steel pressure pipe.
Product you produce

Percent of cost accounted for by welded
stainless steel pressure pipe.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 11

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

(a) If your firm is an end user of welded stainless steel pressure pipe, has the demand for your
firm’s final products incorporating welded stainless steel pressure pipe changed since January 1,
2005?
Increased

No change

Decreased

(b) Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for welded stainless steel pressure pipe?

III-6.

Please list in order of importance any products that may be substituted for welded stainless steel
tubular products. 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 welded stainless steel pressure pipe (not exceeding 14” in diameter and greater
than 14” in diameter) as well as other varieties of welded stainless steel tubular products
(excluding mechanical tubing and grade 409 tubing).

Substitute

End use

Have changes in the prices of
this substitute affected the
price for welded stainless
steel tubular products?

Welded stainless steel pressure pipe (not exceeding 14” in diameter)
1.

No

Yes

2.

No

Yes

3.

No

Yes

4.

No

Yes

Welded stainless steel pressure pipe (exceeding 14” in diameter)

Other varieties of welded stainless steel tubular products (excluding mechanical tubing and grade
409 tubing)
5.

No

Yes

6.

No

Yes

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 12

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

Are you aware whether the welded stainless steel pressure pipe you are purchasing is U.S.produced or imported?
Always

III-8.

Sometimes

Never

Do you know the manufacturer of the welded stainless steel pressure pipe that you purchase?
Always

III-9.

Usually

Usually

Sometimes

Never

To your knowledge, are your buyers aware of and/or interested in the country of origin of the
goods you supply them?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

III-10. Have you made significant changes in your purchasing patterns (e.g., frequency) since 2005?
No

Yes-- Please describe.

III-11. How many suppliers do you generally contact before making a purchase?

III-12. Have you changed suppliers since January 1, 2005?
No

Yes--Please list the suppliers, indicate whether each firm was added or
dropped as a supplier, and give the reasons for the change.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 13

PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-13. Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have entered the market
since 2005?
No

Yes—Please identify the firms.

III-14. Do you require your suppliers to become certified or prequalified with respect to the quality,
chemistry, strength, or other performance characteristic of the welded stainless steel pressure pipe
they sell to your firm?
No

Yes--

percent of purchases in 2007

Yes—All purchases

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

III-15. 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-16. Since January 1, 2005, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their attempts to certify
or qualify their welded stainless steel pressure pipe 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 process.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 14

PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-17. (a)

For the factors listed below, please rate each in terms of its importance in your purchase
decision for welded stainless steel pressure pipe.
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 - Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 15

PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-17. (b)

Please list, in order of their importance, the three major factors generally considered by
your firm in deciding from whom to purchase welded stainless steel pressure pipe 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.).
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
Other factors or comments:

III-18. What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the quality of welded stainless
steel pressure pipe?

III-19. How often does your firm purchase the welded stainless steel pressure pipe that is offered at the
lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

III-20. Please list the names of any firms you considered price leaders in the welded stainless steel
pressure pipe market during since 2005. 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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 16

PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-21. Please describe how the above firm(s) exhibited price leadership.

III-22. Does your firm purchase welded stainless steel pressure pipe over the internet?
No

Yes-- Please describe, noting the estimated percentage of your firm’s total
purchases of welded stainless steel pressure pipe in 2007 accounted for by
internet purchases.

III-23. Do importers of subject welded stainless steel pressure pipes from China and domestic producers
of welded stainless steel pressure pipe have the same surcharge mechanisms to reflect additions
or reductions to price to reflect changes in prices of alloys such as nickel, molybdenum, chrome
and energy costs?
Yes

No-- Please describe the differences between domestic importer and domestic
producer surcharge practices.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 17

PART IV.--PRODUCT COMPARISONS
IV-1.

Who should be contacted regarding the requested information on product comparisons?
Company contact:
Name and title
(
)
Phone number

IV-2.

E-mail address

Please indicate the countries of origin for welded stainless steel pressure pipe for which your firm
has actual marketing/pricing knowledge.
United States
China
Other countries (Please specify:

IV-3.

)

Is welded stainless steel pressure pipe 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

Korea

Malaysia

Taiwan

Thailand

Other
countries

United States
China
1
For any country-pair producing welded stainless steel pressure pipe which is sometimes or never
interchangeable, please explain the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable use:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 18

PART IV.--PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
IV-4.

Do you or your customers ever specifically order welded stainless steel pressure pipe 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 welded stainless steel pressure
pipe from these countries is preferred over product from other countries
(please note the specific product in your response).

Are certain grades/types/sizes of welded stainless steel pressure pipe 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.

IV-6.

If you purchased welded stainless steel pressure pipe 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.

IV-7.

How often do your customers require that a product supplied by you meet physical characteristics
in excess of the physical characteristics required by ASTM A-312 and/or ASTM A-778?
Always

IV-8.

Sometimes

Never

How often do you provide mill test certificates from the producer of the product to your
customers?
Always

Sometimes

Never

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 19

PART IV.--PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
For the factors listed below, please rate how welded stainless steel pressure pipe produced in each
country you identified in your response to the first question in Part IV compares with welded
stainless steel pressure pipe produced in each of the other countries you identified (including the
United States and both subject and nonsubject foreign countries). Please type an “X” for each
quality in each product comparison indicating whether the product from the first source is
superior, comparable, or inferior compared with the product from the second source.

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

Inferior

compared to
product from

Comparable

compared to
product from

Superior

Product from

Inferior

Product from

Comparable

Inferior

Comparable

Quality

Superior

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
China

Superior

IV-9.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 20

PART IV.--PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
IV-10. (a)

How often does domestically produced welded stainless steel pressure pipe meet
minimum quality specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?
Always

(b)

Sometimes

Never

How often does imported subject welded stainless steel pressure pipe from China meet
minimum quality specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?
Always

(c)

Usually

Usually

Sometimes

Never

How often does imported nonsubject welded stainless steel pressure pipe meet minimum
quality specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?
From: Korea
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

Usually

Sometimes

Never

Usually

Sometimes

Never

Usually

Sometimes

Never

Usually

Sometimes

Never

Usually

Sometimes

Never

Usually

Sometimes

Never

From: Malaysia
Always
From: Taiwan
Always
From: Thailand
Always
From:
Always
From:
Always
From:
Always

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 21

PART V.—SUPPLIER IDENTIFICATION
V-1.

No.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Please provide the names and addresses of your firm’s five largest suppliers of welded stainless
steel pressure pipe purchased since 2005. Please also provide the name and telephone number of
a contact person and the share of the quantity of your firm’s total purchases of welded stainless
steel pressure pipe for which each of these suppliers accounted in 2007.

Supplier’s name

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

Contact person

Area
code and
telephone
number

Share of
2007
purchases
(%)