09-2-2713 US importer questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 09-2-2713; Expiration Date: 6/30/2011
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. IMPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
COMMODITY MATCHBOOKS FROM INDIA

This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than November 13, 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 investigations concerning commodity matchbooks from India
(inv. Nos. 701-TA-459 and 731-TA-1155 (Preliminary)). 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 imported commodity matchbooks (as defined in the instruction booklet) from any
country 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 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 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

Signature

Title of Authorized Official
Phone: (
Fax (
)

Date

)
E-mail address

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire –Commodity matchbooks

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.

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

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire –Commodity matchbooks

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

Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, which are engaged in
importing commodity matchbooks from India into the United States or which are engaged in
exporting commodity matchbooks from India to the United States?
No

Yes--List the following information

Firm name

I-5.

I-7.

Affiliation

Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, which are engaged in the
production of commodity matchbooks?
Firm name

I-6.

Address

Address

Affiliation

Please indicate the nature of your firm’s importing operations on commodity matchbooks. More
than one answer may be applicable.
Importer of record

Takes title to the imported product(s)

Consignee of the imported products(s)

Customs broker or freight forwarder.

If your firm is an importer of record of commodity matchbooks but is not the consignee, please
list the consignees below (firm name, address, telephone number, and individual to contact).

Firm name

Address

Contact person and phone
number

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire –Commodity matchbooks

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PART I.--GENERAL INFORMATION--Continued
I-8.

I-9.

Please indicate whether your firm enters commodity matchbooks into, or withdraws such
merchandise from, foreign trade zones or bonded warehouses.
Foreign trade zones

No

Yes

Bonded warehouses

No

Yes

Please indicate whether your firm imports commodity matchbooks under the TIB (temporary
importation under bond) program.
No

I-10.

Yes

To your knowledge, have the products subject to this investigation been the subject of any other
import relief investigations in the United States or in any other countries?
No

Yes–Please specify.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire –Commodity Matchbooks

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PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Olympia Hand (202-205-3182,
olympia.hand@usitc.gov). Supply all data requested on a calendar-year basis.
II-1.

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

II-2.

Has your firm experienced any plant openings, relocations, expansions, acquisitions,
consolidations, closures, or prolonged shutdowns because of strikes or equipment failure; or any
other change in the character of your operations or organization relating to the importation of
commodity matchbooks since January 1, 2005?
No

II-3.

Yes--Supply details as to the time, nature, and significance of such changes.

Has your firm imported or arranged for the importation of commodity matchbooks from India for
delivery after June 30, 2008?
No

II-4.

E-mail address

Yes–Indicate when such orders are to be delivered and the quantities
involved.

If your firm also produces commodity matchbooks in the United States, please indicate your
reasons for importing this product. If your reasons differ by source, please elaborate.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Commodity Matchbooks

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

IMPORTS FROM SUBJECT SOURCES.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s
shipments and inventories of commodity matchbooks imported from India by your firm during
the specified periods. (See definitions in the instruction booklet.)

INDIA
Quantity (in number of cases), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2005

2006

January-June
2007

2007

2008

Beginning-of-period inventories (quantity)
Imports:1
Quantity of imports
Value of imports
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity of commercial shipments
Value of commercial shipments
Internal consumption/company transfers:
Quantity of internal consumption/transfers
Value2 of internal consumption/transfers
Export shipments:3
Quantity of export shipments
Value of export shipments
End-of-period inventories4 (quantity)
Channels of distribution:
U.S. shipments to wholesalers/distributors
(quantity)
U.S. shipments to convenience/grocery
stores (quantity)
U.S. shipments to food service companies
(quantity)
U.S. shipments to membership warehouses
(quantity)
U.S. shipments to other (describe ________)
(quantity)
1

Please identify the foreign producers, if known:

2

Sales to related firms (including internal consumption) must be valued at fair market value. In the event that you use a
different basis for valuing these sales within your company, please specify that basis (e.g., cost, cost plus, etc.) and provide
value data using that basis for 2005, 2006, and 2007 below:
3

Identify your principal export markets:
Reconciliation of data.--Please note that the quantities reported above should reconcile as follows: beginning-of-period
inventories, plus production, less total shipments, equals end-of-period inventories. Do the data reported reconcile?
4

Yes

No--Please explain:

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Commodity Matchbooks

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PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-6.

IMPORTS FROM NONSUBJECT SOURCES.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s
shipments and inventories of commodity matchbooks imported from all other sources combined
by your firm during the specified periods. (See definitions in the instruction booklet.)

ALL OTHER SOURCES COMBINED
Quantity (in number of cases), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2005

2006

January-June
2007

2007

2008

Beginning-of-period inventories (quantity)
Imports:1
Quantity of imports
Value of imports
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity of commercial shipments
Value of commercial shipments
Internal consumption/company transfers:
Quantity of internal consumption/transfers
Value2 of internal consumption/transfers
Export shipments:3
Quantity of export shipments
Value of export shipments
End-of-period inventories4 (quantity)
Channels of distribution:
U.S. shipments to wholesalers/distributors
(quantity)
U.S. shipments to convenience/grocery
stores (quantity)
U.S. shipments to food service companies
(quantity)
U.S. shipments to membership warehouses
(quantity)
U.S. shipments to other (describe ________)
(quantity)
1

Please identify the sources and foreign producers, if known:

2

Sales to related firms (including internal consumption) must be valued at fair market value. In the event that you use a
different basis for valuing these sales within your company, please specify that basis (e.g., cost, cost plus, etc.) and provide
value data using that basis for 2005, 2006, and 2007 below:
3

Identify your principal export markets:
Reconciliation of data.--Please note that the quantities reported above should reconcile as follows: beginning-of-period
inventories, plus production, less total shipments, equals end-of-period inventories. Do the data reported reconcile?
4

Yes

No--Please explain:

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Commodity Matchbooks

Page 8

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-7.

Since January 1, 2005, has your firm imported promotional matchbooks?
No

Yes--Please describe the differences and similarities between commodity and
promotional matchbooks 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.
For each of the above factors, please indicate whether product comparisons are
“fully” comparable or the same, i.e., have no differentiation between them;
“mostly” comparable or similar; “somewhat” comparable or similar; “never” or
not-at-all comparable or similar; or “no familiarity.”

(a) Characteristics and uses:
Fully

Mostly

Somewhat

Rarely

Never

No familiarity

Somewhat

Rarely

Never

No familiarity

Somewhat

Rarely

Never

No familiarity

(b) Interchangeability:
Fully

Mostly

(c) Manufacturing processes:
Fully

Mostly

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Commodity Matchbooks

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PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-7.

(d) Channels of distribution:
Fully

Mostly

Somewhat

Rarely

Never

No familiarity

(e) Customer and producer perceptions:
Fully

Mostly

Somewhat

Rarely

Never

No familiarity

Mostly

Somewhat

Rarely

Never

No familiarity

(f) Price:
Fully

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Commodity matchbooks

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Ioana Mic (202-205-3196,
ioana.mic@usitc.gov)
III-1.

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

E-mail address

PRICE DATA
This section requests quarterly price and quantity data, f.o.b. your U.S. point of shipment, concerning
your firm’s U.S. commercial shipments to unrelated U.S. customers of the following products imported
from India during January 2005-June 2008.

Product 1. — Paper matchbooks with 20 match stems, secured into a plain white cover
(referred to as “plain white)” packed into trays of 50 books each, wrapped in a paper
sleeve and packed 50 trays to a carton/case. Price should be reported in dollars per case,
which contains 2,500 matchbooks.
Product 2. — Paper matchbooks with 20 match stems, secured into a cover imprinted with a
logo or THANK YOU, packed into trays of 50 books each, wrapped in a paper sleeve
and packed 50 trays to a carton/case. Price should be reported in dollars per case, which
contains 2,500 matchbooks.
Please note that total dollar values should be f.o.b., U.S. point of shipment and should not include
U.S.-inland transportation costs. Total dollar values should reflect the final net amount paid to you
(i.e., should be net of all deductions for discounts or rebates). See instruction booklet.
Please also note that the two specified products do not include promotional (“not for sale” or
“specialty advertising”) or wooden matchbooks. See instruction booklet.
Report the requested pricing data in the tables on the following pages for sales of each of the two
specified products that your firm imported from India and sold to U.S. customers. Also, please report
your firm’s sales of the two specified products that your firm imported from your two largest (based on
quantity) nonsubject-country sources.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire –Commodity matchbooks

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-2a. Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from India and sold by your
firm.

INDIA
Period of shipment

(Quantity in number of CASES, value in dollars)
Product 1
Product 2
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value

2005
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2006
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2007
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2008
January-March
April-June
1
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.
2
Pricing product definitions are provided on the first page of Part III.
Note.--If your product does not exactly meet the product specifications but is competitive with the specified product,
provide a description of your product:
Product 1:
Product 2:

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire –Commodity matchbooks

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-2b. Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from YOUR LARGEST
NONSUBJECT-COUNTRY SOURCE and sold by your firm. Please specify country below.

COUNTRY (
Period of shipment

)

(Quantity in number of cases, value in dollars)
Product 1
Product 2
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value

2005
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2006
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2007
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2008
January-March
April-June
1
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.
2
Pricing product definitions are provided on the first page of Part III.
Note.--If your product does not exactly meet the product specifications but is competitive with the specified product,
provide a description of your product:
Product 1:
Product 2:

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire –Commodity matchbooks

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-2c. Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from YOUR SECOND
LARGEST NONSUBJECT-COUNTRY SOURCE and sold by your firm. Please specify
country below.

COUNTRY (

)

(Quantity in number of cases, value in dollars)
Product 1
Product 2
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value

Period of shipment
2005
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2006
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2007
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2008
January-March
April-June
1
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.
2
Pricing product definitions are provided on the first page of Part III.

Note.--If your product does not exactly meet the product specifications but is competitive with the specified product,
provide a description of your product:
Product 1:
Product 2:

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire –Commodity matchbooks

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-3.

Please describe how your firm determines the prices that it charges for sales of commodity
matchbooks (transaction by transaction negotiation, contracts for multiple shipments, set price
lists, etc.). If your firm issues price lists, please include a copy of a recent price list with your
submission. If your price list is large, please submit sample pages.

III-4.

Please describe your firm’s discount policy (quantity discounts, annual total volume discounts,
etc.).

III-5.

What are your firm’s typical sales terms for commodity matchbooks imported from India (e.g.,
2/10 net 30 days)?
. On what basis are your prices of such product usually
quoted (e.g., f.o.b. warehouse, or delivered)?
.

III-6.

Approximately what share of your firm’s sales of its commodity matchbooks imported from India
in 2007 were on a (1) long-term contract basis (multiple deliveries for more than 12 months), (2)
short-term contract basis (multiple deliveries up to 12 months), and (3) spot sales basis (for a
single delivery)?
Type of sale

Share of sales (percent)

Long-term contracts
Short-term contracts
Spot sales
III-7.

If you sell on a long-term contract basis, please answer the following questions with respect to
provisions of a typical long-term contract.
(a)

What is the average duration of a contract?

(b)

Can prices be renegotiated during the contract period?

(c)

Does the contract fix quantity, price, or both?

(d)

Does the contract have a meet or release provision?

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire –Commodity matchbooks

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-8.

III-9.

If you sell on a short-term contract basis, please answer the following questions with respect to
provisions of a typical short-term contract.
(a)

What is the average duration of a contract?

(b)

Can prices be renegotiated during the contract period?

(c)

Does the contract fix quantity, price, or both?

(d)

Does the contract have a meet or release provision?

What is the average lead time between a customer’s order and the date of delivery for your firm’s
sales of commodity matchbooks?

Source

Share of sales,
2007

Lead time

From inventory
Produced to order
Total

III-10. (a)

100 %

What is the approximate percentage of the total delivered cost of commodity matchbooks
that is accounted for by U.S. inland transportation costs?
percent.

(b)

Who generally arranges the transportation to your customers’ locations? (check one)
Your firm
or purchaser

(c)

What proportion of your sales occur within 100 miles of your storage or production
facility?
percent. Within 101 to 1,000 miles?
percent. Over 1,000 miles?
percent.

III-11. What is the geographic market area in the United States served by your firm’s commodity
matchbooks? (check all that apply)
Northeast

Mid-Atlantic

Midwest

Southeast

Southwest

Rocky Mountains

West Coast

Northwest

National

Other (describe:

)

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire –Commodity matchbooks

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-12. How has the demand within the United States (and outside the United States if known) for
commodity matchbooks changed since January 1, 2005? What principal factors affect changes in
demand?
Increase

No Change

Decrease

III-13. Have there been any significant changes in the product range or marketing of commodity
matchbooks since January 1, 2005?
No

Yes-- Please describe.

III-14. Does your firm sell commodity matchbooks over the internet?
No

Yes-- Please describe, noting the estimated percentage of your firm’s total
sales of commodity matchbooks in 2007 accounted for by internet sales.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire –Commodity matchbooks

Page 17

PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-15. Are commodity matchbooks produced in the United States, in India, 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

United States

India

Other countries

United States
India
1

For any country-pair producing commodity matchbooks which is sometimes or never interchangeable,
please explain the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable use:

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire –Commodity matchbooks

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-16. Are differences other than price (i.e., quality, availability, transportation network, product range,
technical support, etc.) between commodity matchbooks produced in the United States, in India,
and in other countries a significant factor in your firm’s sales of the products? Please indicate
below, using “A” to indicate that such differences are always significant, “F” to indicate that such
differences are frequently significant, “S” to indicate that such differences are sometimes
significant, “N” to indicate that such differences are never significant, and “0” to indicate no
familiarity with products from a specified country-pair.1
Country-pair

United States

India

Other countries

United States
India
1

For any country-pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant factor in
your firm’s sales of commodity matchbooks, identify the country-pair and report the advantages or
disadvantages imparted by such factors:

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire –Commodity matchbooks

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-17. Please identify below the names and addresses of your firm’s 10 largest customers for commodity
matchbooks during 2005-2007. Please also provide the name, telephone number, and email
address of a contact person and the share of the quantity of your firm’s total shipments of
commodity matchbooks from India that each of these customers accounted for in 2007.

No.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Customer’s name

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

Contact person and
email address

Area code
and
telephone
number

Share of
2007
sales
(%)