08-3-2717 US purchaser questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 08-3-2717; Expiration Date: 6/30/11
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
HEDP FROM CHINA AND INDIA

This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than December 17, 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 antidumping duty investigation concerning 1-Hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid (HEDP) from
China and India (Inv. Nos. 731-TA-1146-1147 (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 James Fetzer, Economist (202-708-5403).

Name of firm
Address
State

City

Zip Code

World Wide Web address
Has your firm purchased HEDP (as defined in the instruction booklet) 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 - HEDP (Final)

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.

Ownership.--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. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - HEDP (Final)

Page 3

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

Related importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or
foreign, which are engaged in importing HEDP from China and India into the United States or
which are engaged in exporting HEDP from China and India to the United States?
No
Firm name

I-5.

Yes--List the following information
Address

Affiliation

Related producers.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, which
are engaged in the production of HEDP?
No
Firm name

Yes--List the following information
Address

Affiliation

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - HEDP (Final)

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PART II.--PURCHASES
II-1.

Who should be contacted regarding the requested purchase 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 HEDP. Report based on delivery date, not order date.
Quantity (in 1,000 pounds) and value (in $1,000)

Item
Purchases of HEDP produced in-The United States:
Quantity
Value
China:
Quantity
Value
India:
Quantity
Value
United Kingdom:1
Quantity
Value
All other countries:1
Quantity
Value
1

Please identify these countries:

2005

Calendar year
2006

2007

JanuarySeptember
2008

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - HEDP (Final)

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

II-4.

Changes in sourcing.--Referring to your firm’s purchases HEDP from different sources (both
domestic and foreign) as reported in question II-2 for the period 2005-07, and first three quarters
in 2008, please indicate the trend of your purchases of HEDP from each of the sources identified
(i.e., whether they increased, decreased, remained constant, or fluctuated) and provide an
explanation for that trend.
Source
Purchases of HEDP
produced in--

Trend

The United States

Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated

China

Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated

India

Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated

United Kingdom

Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated

All other countries

Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated

Explanation for trend

Sole sourcing.--If your firm has purchased HEDP from only one country, please explain the
reasons for doing so.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - HEDP (Final)

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES
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.

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

III-3.

E-mail address

(

)

Compounder/formulator (

)

Distributor (

)

Other (

)

Distributor competition.-(a) If your firm is a distributor or reseller of HEDP, what are the major types of consumers to
which you sell HEDP?

(b) Do you compete for sales to your customers with the manufacturers or importers from which
you purchase HEDP?

III-4.

End uses.--If your firm is an end user or compounder/formulator of HEDP, list in order of
quantity of HEDP consumed, the top 3 products for which your firm purchases HEDP as a
component part or input. Please indicate what percentage of the total cost is accounted for by
HEDP(and NOTE: this percentage should not add to 100 percent).
Product you produce

Percent of cost accounted for by HEDP

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - HEDP (Final)

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

Demand trends.-(a) If your firm is an end user of HEDP, has the demand for your firm’s final products
incorporating HEDP changed since January 1, 2005?
Increased

Decreased

Fluctuated

No change

(b) Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for HEDP?

III-6.

Substitutes.--Please list in order of importance any products that may be substituted for HEDP.
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
HEDP, and to what degree, the length of any time lag of such an effect.

Substitute(s) for HEDP:

Description / End use

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

1.

No

Yes--Please explain.

2.

No

Yes--Please explain.

3.

No

Yes--Please explain.

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

Knowledge of source.--Are you aware whether the HEDP you are purchasing is U.S.-produced
or imported?
Always

III-8.

Sometimes

Never

Knowledge of manufacturer.--Do you know the manufacturer of the HEDP that you purchase?
Always

III-9.

Usually

Usually

Sometimes

Never

Buyers’ knowledge of source.--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. Changes in purchasing patterns Have you made significant changes in your purchasing patterns
(e.g., frequency) since 2005?
No

Yes--Please describe.

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

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-12. Changes in specific suppliers.--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.
Supplier

Action

Explanation for action

Added
Dropped
Added
Dropped
Added
Dropped
Added
Dropped
Added
Dropped

III-13. New suppliers.-- 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. Certification.--Do you require your suppliers to become certified or prequalified with respect to
the quality, chemistry, strength, or other performance characteristic of the HEDP 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.

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-15. Standards.--Do you require your suppliers to be certified with respect to National Sanitation
Foundation standard 60?
No

Yes--

percent of purchases in 2007

Yes--All purchases

Please explain why NSF certification is necessary for your suppliers.

III-16. Important factors for new 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-17. Failed certification/quality tests.--Since January 1, 2005, have any domestic or foreign
producers failed in their attempts to certify or qualify their HEDP 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.

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-18. Purchasing factors.-(a) For the factors listed below, please rate each in terms of its importance in your purchase
decision for HEDP.
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.
NSF certification ............................
Product range ..................................
Reliability of supply........................
Technical support/service ...............
U.S. transportation costs .................
Other (specify):
........
........
........

SOMEWHAT
IMPORTANT

NOT
IMPORTANT

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - HEDP (Final)

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-18. (b) Please list, in order of their importance, the three major factors generally considered by your
firm in deciding from whom to purchase HEDP 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, NSF certification,
etc.).
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
Other factors or comments:
III-19. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of HEDP?

III-20. Frequency of accepting lowest price.--How often does your firm purchase the HEDP that is
offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

III-21. Price leaders in market.--Please list the names of any firms you considered price leaders in the
HEDP market 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.

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-22. Explanation on price leadership.--Please describe how the above firm(s) exhibited price
leadership.

III-23. Internet sales.--Does your firm purchase HEDP over the internet?
No

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

III-24. Price determination.--Please describe how your prices are determined for your firm’s purchases
of HEDP (reverse auctions, transaction by transaction negotiation, contracts for multiple
shipments, set price lists, etc.).

III-25. Reverse auctions.--Does your firm participate in reverse auctions to purchase HEDP?
No

Yes--

percent of purchases in 2007

Please describe how prices are determined in reverse auctions.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - HEDP (Final)

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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

Knowledge of sources.--Please indicate the countries of origin for HEDP for which your firm
has actual marketing/pricing knowledge.
United States
China
India
United Kingdom
Other countries (Please specify:

IV-3.

)

Interchangeability.--Is HEDP 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

India

United Kingdom

Other countries

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

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - HEDP (Final)

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

Specifying source.--Do you or your customers ever specifically order HEDP from one country in
particular over other possible sources of supply?
No

IV-5.

Differences in sources.--Are certain grades/types/container sizes of HEDP available from only a
single source (domestic or foreign, including both subject and nonsubject countries)?
No

IV-6.

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 HEDP from these countries
is preferred over product from other countries (please note the specific
product in your response).

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

Reason(s) for not purchasing lowest priced product.--If you purchased HEDP 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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - HEDP (Final)

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PART IV.--PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
Factor comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how HEDP produced in each
country you identified in your response to question IV-2 compares with HEDP 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. Use the second page to compare HEDP produced in nonsubject
countries with HEDP produced in subject countries (photocopy the page as necessary).

Availability ...............................................
Delivery terms .........................................
Delivery time ...........................................
Discounts offered ....................................
Extension of credit...................................
Lower price1 ............................................
Minimum quantity requirements..............
Packaging................................................
Product consistency ................................
Quality meets industry standards............
Quality exceeds industry standards ........
NSF certification......................................
Product range..........................................
Reliability of supply .................................
Technical support/service .......................
Lower U.S. transportation costs1 .............
Other (specify):

1

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

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
China
compared to
product from
India

Superior

Inferior

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
India
Comparable

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
China

Superior

IV-7.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - HEDP (Final)

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PART IV.--PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
Factor comparisons.—Continued

Availability ...............................................
Delivery terms .........................................
Delivery time ...........................................
Discounts offered ....................................
Extension of credit...................................
Lower price1 ............................................
Minimum quantity requirements..............
Packaging................................................
Product consistency ................................
Quality meets industry standards............
Quality exceeds industry standards ........
NSF certification......................................
Product range..........................................
Reliability of supply .................................
Technical support/service .......................
Lower U.S. transportation costs1 .............
Other (specify):

1

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

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
India
compared to
product from
United Kingdom

Superior

Inferior

Product from
China
compared to
product from
United Kingdom
Comparable

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
United Kingdom

Superior

IV-7.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - HEDP (Final)

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PART IV.--PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
Factor comparisons.—Continued

Availability ...............................................
Delivery terms .........................................
Delivery time ...........................................
Discounts offered ....................................
Extension of credit...................................
Lower price1 ............................................
Minimum quantity requirements..............
Packaging................................................
Product consistency ................................
Quality meets industry standards............
Quality exceeds industry standards ........
NSF certification......................................
Product range..........................................
Reliability of supply .................................
Technical support/service .......................
Lower U.S. transportation costs1 .............
Other (specify):

1

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

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

compared to
product from

Inferior

compared to
product from

Comparable

compared to
product from

Superior

Product from

Inferior

Product from

Comparable

Factor

Product from

Superior

IV-7.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - HEDP (Final)

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PART IV.--PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
IV-8.

Minimum quality.-(a)

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

(b)

Usually

Sometimes

Never

How often does imported subject HEDP meet minimum quality specifications for your
uses or your customers’ uses?
China
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

Usually

Sometimes

Never

India
Always
(c)

How often does imported nonsubject HEDP meet minimum quality specifications for
your uses or your customers’ uses?
United Kingdom
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

Usually

Sometimes

Never

Usually

Sometimes

Never

Usually

Sometimes

Never

From (indicate country):
Always
From (indicate country):
Always
From (indicate country):
Always

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - HEDP (Final)

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PART V.—SUPPLIER IDENTIFICATION
V-1.

No.

1

2

3

4

5

Major suppliers.--Please provide the names and addresses of your firm’s five largest suppliers
from which you purchased HEDP 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 HEDP
that each of these suppliers accounted for 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
(%)