09-2-2728 Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts U.S. importer ques

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 09-2-2728; Expiration Date: 6/30/11
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. IMPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
CITRIC ACID AND CERTAIN CITRATE SALTS FROM CANADA AND CHINA

This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than February 9, 2009
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/antidumping investigations concerning citric acid and certain citrate salts from
Canada and China (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-456 and 731-TA-1151-1152 (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)).

Name of firm
Address
State

City

Zip Code

World Wide Web address
Has your firm imported citric acid or certain citrate salts (as defined in the instruction booklet) from any country
at any time since January 1, 2006?

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

Title of Authorized Official

Date

Signature

Phone: (
Fax ( )

E-mail address

)

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts

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 citric acid or certain citrate salts from Canada or China into the United States or which
are engaged in exporting citric acid or certain citrate salts from Canada or China 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 citric acid or certain citrate salts?
Firm name

I-6.

Address

Address

Affiliation

Please indicate the nature of your firm’s importing operations on citric acid or certain citrate salts.
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 citric acid or certain citrate salts 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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts

Page 4

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

I-9.

Please indicate whether your firm enters citric acid or certain citrate salts 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 citric acid or certain citrate salts under the TIB
(temporary importation under bond) program.
No

I-10.

Yes

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

Yes–Please specify.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts

Page 5

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Chris Cassise (202-708-5408),
chris.cassise@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 production of citric
acid or certain citrate salts since January 1, 2006?
No

II-3.

E-mail address

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

Has your firm imported or arranged for the importation of citric acid or certain citrate salts from
Canada or China for delivery after December 31, 2008?
No

Yes–Indicate when such orders are to be delivered and the quantities
involved.
Quantity (in 1,000 dry pounds)

Date of delivery

Imports from Canada

Imports from China

II-4.

If your firm also produces citric acid or certain citrate salts in the United States, please indicate
your reasons for importing this product. If your reasons differ by source, please elaborate.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts

Page 6

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

IMPORTS FROM SUBJECT SOURCES.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s
shipments and inventories of citric acid and certain citrate salts imported from Canada by your
firm during the specified periods. (See definitions in the instruction booklet.)

CANADA
Quantity (in 1,000 dry pounds), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2006

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 distributors (quantity)
U.S. shipments to end users (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 2006, 2007, and 2008 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:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts

Page 7

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

IMPORTS FROM SUBJECT SOURCES.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s
shipments and inventories of citric acid and certain citrate salts imported from China by your firm
during the specified periods. (See definitions in the instruction booklet.)

CHINA
Quantity (in 1,000 dry pounds), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2006

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 distributors (quantity)
U.S. shipments to end users (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 2006, 2007, and 2008 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:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts

Page 8

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 citric acid and certain citrate salts 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 1,000 dry pounds), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2006

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 distributors (quantity)
U.S. shipments to end users (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 2006, 2007, and 2008 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:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts

Page 9

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

II-7.

End Use Market Segments.--Please report what volume (in 1,000 dry pounds) of your 2008 U.S.
commercial shipments were used to produce products in each of the end-use market segments
listed below. (Provide this information if you know the end use of your firm’s U.S. imports. You
may estimate, if necessary.)
Estimated 2008 U.S. commercial shipments
of product originating in:
Canada
China
(1,000 dry pounds)

Market Segment
Food and Beverage
Soft Drinks (carbonated beverages sold as a liquid)
Other Beverages
Total Beverage
Food
Subtotal, Food and Beverage
Industrial
Household detergents and cleaners
Other Industrial
Subtotal, Industrial
Pharmaceutical
Beauty and oral hygiene/cosmetics
Other Pharmaceutical
Subtotal, Pharmaceutical
Other__________________________________
Unknown
Total

II-8.

II-9.

II-10.

Of your firm’s reported 2008 U.S. imports, what percentage of the quantity consisted of:
Citric acid _____%

Sodium citrate ____%

Potassium citrate ____%

Crude calcium citrate ____%.

Of your firm’s reported 2008 U.S. imports, what percentage of the quantity consisted of citric
acid or certain citrate salts in the following forms:
Anhydrous _____%

Monohydrate ____%

Solution ____%

Other (specify___________________) ____%.

Since January 1, 2006, has your firm imported monosodium citrate?
No

Yes—Report the quantity in (1,000 dry pounds) of your 2008 U.S. imports of
that product.
________________________ 1,000 dry pounds

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts

Page 10

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-11.

Did your firm change the amounts of its imports (or do you plan to change the amounts of your
imports) of citric acid or certain citrate salts from Canada and/or China because of the filing of
the petition in these investigations?
No

II-12.

Yes–Supply specific details as to the time, nature, and amounts of any such
changes in imports or orders from Canada and/or China, also indicating whether
any increases in such imports replaced or will replace (or whether any decreases
in such imports were replaced by or will be replaced by) product produced in the
United States and/or imported from nonsubject countries.

Did your firm change the amounts of its imports (or do you plan to change the amounts of your
imports) of citric acid or certain citrate salts from Canada and/or China because of the
Department of Commerce’s preliminary determinations of subsidies or sales at less than fair
value?
No

Yes–Supply specific details as to the time, nature, and amounts of any such
changes in imports or orders from Canada and/or China, also indicating whether
any increases in such imports replaced or will replace (or whether any decreases
in such imports were replaced by or will be replaced by) such products produced
in the United States and/or imported from nonsubject countries.

II-13.

Please indicate, in order of importance, what you believe have been the principal reasons for any
changes in U.S. imports of citric acid and certain citrate salts from Canada since 2006.

II-14.

Please indicate, in order of importance, what you believe have been the principal reasons for any
changes in U.S. imports of citric acid and certain citrate salts from China since 2006.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts

Page 11

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-15.

COMPARABILITY OF CITRIC ACID, SODIUM CITRATE, AND POTASSIUM
CITRATE.–Since January 1, 2006, has your firm imported more than one of the following:
citric acid, sodium citrate, or potassium citrate?
No

Yes--Please describe the differences and similarities between citric acid,
sodium citrate, and potassium citrate with respect to the following
factors:

(a) Characteristics and uses:

(b) Interchangeability:

(c) Manufacturing processes:

(d) Channels of distribution:

(e) Customer and producer perceptions:

(f) Price:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts

Page 12

PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Amelia Preece (202-205-3250,
Amelia.Preece@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, on a delivered basis, concerning your firm’s U.S.
commercial shipments to unrelated U.S. customers of the following products imported from Canada,
China, and nonsubject countries during January 2006-December 2008:
NOTE.- All values and quantities should be reported on a dry-weight equivalent basis. For citric
acid only, dry weight prices should be expressed on an anhydrous equivalent basis.
Product 1.—Citric acid, granular, in dry form in 25 kilogram and 50 pound bags.
Product 2.—Citric acid, granular, in dry form packed in bulk sacks (“supersacks”).
Product 3.—Citric acid, in 48 to 52 percent solution form sold in bulk.
Product 4.—Sodium citrate, granular, in dry form in 25 kilogram and 50 pound bags.
Product 5.—Potassium citrate, granular, in dry form in 25 kilogram and 50 pound bags.
Please report sales on a delivered basis to your final customer, including U.S.-inland transportation
costs to your customer’s facility. Please note that total dollar values should reflect the FINAL NET
amount (i.e., should be net of all deductions for discounts or rebates). See instruction booklet.
Note:--Prices are requested separately for sales to end users and to distributors.
Note:--Prices of products 1, 2, and 3 are requested for sales on contract and spot sales separately.
Contract purchases are agreements, written or verbal, for multiple deliveries of product over a set
period of time.
Spot purchases are onetime delivery, usually made within 30 days of the purchase agreement.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts

Page 13

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

CANADA
(Quantity in 1,000 dry pounds, value in 1,000 dollars)
Product 1
Product 2
Spot sales
Contract sales
Spot sales
Contract sales
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Sales to end users

2006
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
2007
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
2008
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
Product 1
Product 2
Spot sales
Contract sales
Spot sales
Contract sales
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Sales to distributors
2006
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
2007
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
2008
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
1
Net delivered values (i.e., gross sales values less all discounts, including discounts on other supplied products,
promotional allowances, and transition allowances, allowances, rebates, prepaid freight, and the value of returned
goods), delivered to your customers’ U.S. facility (i.e., do include U.S-inland transportation costs).
2
Pricing product definitions are provided on the first page of Part IV.
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:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts

Page 14

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

CANADA
(Quantity in 1,000 dry pounds, value in 1,000 dollars)
Product 3 (dry equivalent)
Product 4
Spot sales
Contract sales
Spot and contract
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Sales to end users

Product 5
Spot and contract
Quantity
Value

2006
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
2007
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
2008
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
Product 3 (dry equivalent)
Product 4
Spot sales
Contract sales
Spot and contract
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Sales to distributors

Product 5
Spot and contract
Quantity
Value

2006
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
2007
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
2008
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
1
Net delivered values (i.e., gross sales values less all discounts, including discounts on other supplied products,
promotional allowances, and transition allowances, allowances, rebates, prepaid freight, and the value of returned
goods), delivered to your customers’ U.S. facility (i.e., do include U.S-inland transportation costs).
2
Pricing product definitions are provided on the first page of Part IV.
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 3:
Product 5:

Product 4:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts

Page 15

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

CHINA
(Quantity in 1,000 dry pounds, value in 1,000 dollars)
Product 1
Product 2
Spot sales
Contract sales
Spot sales
Contract sales
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Sales to end users

2006
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
2007
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
2008
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
Product 1
Product 2
Spot sales
Contract sales
Spot sales
Contract sales
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Sales to distributors
2006
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
2007
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
2008
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
1
Net delivered values (i.e., gross sales values less all discounts, including discounts on other supplied products,
promotional allowances, and transition allowances, allowances, rebates, prepaid freight, and the value of returned
goods), delivered to your customers’ U.S. facility (i.e., do include U.S-inland transportation costs).
2
Pricing product definitions are provided on the first page of Part IV.
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:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts

Page 16

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

CHINA
(Quantity in 1,000 dry pounds, value in 1,000 dollars)
Product 3 (dry equivalent)
Product 4
Spot sales
Contract sales
Spot and contract
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Sales to end users

Product 5
Spot and contract
Quantity
Value

2006
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
2007
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
2008
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
Product 3 (dry equivalent)
Product 4
Spot sales
Contract sales
Spot and contract
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Sales to distributors

Product 5
Spot and contract
Quantity
Value

2006
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
2007
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
2008
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
1
Net delivered values (i.e., gross sales values less all discounts, including discounts on other supplied products,
promotional allowances, and transition allowances, allowances, rebates, prepaid freight, and the value of returned
goods), delivered to your customers’ U.S. facility (i.e., do include U.S-inland transportation costs).
2
Pricing product definitions are provided on the first page of Part IV.
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 3:
Product 5:

Product 4:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts

Page 17

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

Nonsubject countries

(Quantity in 1,000 dry pounds, value in 1,000 dollars)
Product 1
Product 2
Spot sales
Contract sales
Spot sales
Contract sales
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Sales to end users
2006
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
2007
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
2008
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
Product 1
Product 2
Spot sales
Contract sales
Spot sales
Contract sales
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Sales to distributors
2006
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
2007
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
2008
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
1
Net delivered values (i.e., gross sales values less all discounts, including discounts on other supplied products,
promotional allowances, and transition allowances, allowances, rebates, prepaid freight, and the value of returned
goods), delivered to your customers’ U.S. facility (i.e., do include U.S-inland transportation costs).
2
Pricing product definitions are provided on the first page of Part IV.
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:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts

Page 18

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

Nonsubject countries

(Quantity in 1,000 dry pounds, value in 1,000 dollars)
Product 3 (dry equivalent)
Product 4
Spot sales
Contract sales
Spot and contract
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Sales to end users

Product 5
Spot and contract
Quantity
Value

2006
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
2007
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
2008
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
Product 3 (dry equivalent)
Product 4
Spot sales
Contract sales
Spot and contract
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Sales to distributors

Product 5
Spot and contract
Quantity
Value

2006
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
2007
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
2008
Jan.-Mar.
April-June
July-Sept.
Oct.-Dec.
1
Net delivered values (i.e., gross sales values less all discounts, including discounts on other supplied products,
promotional allowances, and transition allowances, allowances, rebates, prepaid freight, and the value of returned
goods), delivered to your customers’ U.S. facility (i.e., do include U.S-inland transportation costs).
2
Pricing product definitions are provided on the first page of Part IV.
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 3:
Product 5:

Product 4:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts

Page 19

PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-2d. If you sold one of the five pricing products from nonsubject countries, please list the country or
countries in which it was produced.
Product 1
Product 2
Product 3
Product 4
Product 5
III-3.

Please describe how your firm determines the prices that it charges for sales of citric acid and
certain citrate salts (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 citric acid and certain citrate salts imported from
Canada and/or China (e.g., 2/10 net 30 days)?
. On what basis are your prices
of such product usually quoted
f.o.b.
, or delivered?

III-6.

a) Approximately what share of your firm’s sales of its citric acid and certain citrate salts
imported from Canada in 2008 were on a (1) long-term contract basis (multiple deliveries for 12
months or more), (2) short-term contract basis (multiple deliveries less than 12 months), and (3)
spot sales basis (for a single delivery)?
Type of sale
Long-term contracts
Short-term contracts
Spot sales

Share of sales (percent)

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-6.

b) Approximately what share of your firm’s sales of its citric acid and certain citrate salts
imported from China in 2008 were on a (1) long-term contract basis (multiple deliveries for 12
months or more), (2) short-term contract basis (multiple deliveries less than 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 contract basis, what is the importance for your firm of the following factors on
price at the time of contract negotiations and how do each of these factors influence price?
a) Presence of product/bids from U.S. producers
Not important

Somewhat important

Very important

b) Competitive U.S. producers’ influence on price
Neutral

Downward

Upward

c) Presence of product/bids from Canadian producers
Not important

Somewhat important

Very important

d) Canadian producers’ influence on price
Neutral

Downward

Upward

e) Presence of product/bids from Chinese producers
Not important

Somewhat important

Very important

f) Chinese producers’ influence on price
Neutral

Downward

Upward

g) Presence of product/bids from Nonsubject producers
Not important

Somewhat important

Very important

h) Nonsubject producers’ influence on price
Neutral

Downward

Upward

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts

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

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?

(e)

Was the meet or release provision used?

(f)

When are contracts negotiated?
________________________________)
(Explain why.)
______________________________________________)

(g)

With whom do you make these contracts?
percent
Distributors
End users

(h)
III-9.

months
Yes

Quantity

No
Price

Yes

Yes

Both
No

No

percent

Industries of most important purchasers using these contracts

______________

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?

(e)

Was the meet or release provision used?

(f)

When are contracts negotiated?
________________________________)
(Explain why.)
______________________________________________)

(g)

With whom do you make these contracts?
percent
Distributors
End users

(h)

months
Yes

Quantity

Price
Yes

Yes

No
Both
No

No

percent

Industries of most important purchasers using these contracts

______________

III-10. If you sell on a spot basis, please answer the following questions with respect to spot sales.
(a)

When do spot sales occur?
___________________________________________)
(Explain why)
______________________________________________)

(b)

To whom do you make spot sales? End users

(c)

Industries of most important purchasers using these spot sales

(d)

How are terms set?

percent Distributors

percent

_____________

__________________________________________

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-11. If you sell on a spot basis, what is the importance for your firm of the following factors on price
at the time of contract negotiations and how do each of these factors influence price?
a) Presence of product/bids from U.S. producers
Not important

Somewhat important

Very important

b) Competitive U.S. producers’ influence on price
Neutral

Downward

Upward

c) Presence of product/bids from Canadian producers
Not important

Somewhat important

Very important

d) Canadian producers’ influence on price
Neutral

Downward

Upward

e) Presence of product/bids from Chinese producers
Not important

Somewhat important

Very important

f) Chinese producers’ influence on price
Neutral

Downward

Upward

g) Presence of product/bids from Nonsubject producers
Not important

Somewhat important

Very important

h) Nonsubject producers’ influence on price
Neutral

Downward

Upward

III-12. a) If you are a distributor from which of the following sources have you received price bids for
your spot sales?
Not a distributor (go to next question)
Distributor (continue)
U.S. producers

Importers of Canadian product

Importers of nonsubject product

Importers of Chinese product

Other sources (specify)

b) Which of the typically gave you the lowest bid in 2006 for spot sales?
U.S. product

Canadian product

Chinese product

Nonsubject product

c) Which of these typically gave you the lowest bid in 2007 for spot sales?
U.S. product

Canadian product

Chinese product

Nonsubject product

d) Which of these typically gave you the lowest bid in 2008 for spot sales?
U.S. product

Canadian product

Chinese product

Nonsubject product

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-13. What is the average lead time between a customer’s order and the date of delivery for your firm’s
sales of citric acid and certain citrate salts?

Source

Product from Canada
Share of sales,
2008
Lead time

From inventory

days

days

Produced to order

days

days

Total

III-14. (a)

100 %

Product from China
Share of sales,
2008
Lead time

100 %

What is the approximate percentage of the total delivered cost of citric acid and certain
citrate salts 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-15. What is the geographic market area in the United States served by your firm’s citric acid and
certain citrate salts? (check all that apply.)
Northeast

Mid-Atlantic

Midwest

Southeast

Southwest

Rocky Mountains

West Coast

Northwest

National

Other (describe:

)

III-16. Describe the end uses of the citric acid and certain citrate salts that you import from Canada
and/or China. For each end-use product, what percentage of the total cost is accounted for by
citric acid and certain citrate salts?
Citric Acid and certain citrate salts’
share of total cost of this end use
(percent)
End use

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-17. (a)

Can other products be substituted for citric acid and certain citrate salts?
No

Yes--Please list these substitute products in order of importance.

(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(b)

For each possible substitute product, please give examples of applications and end uses
for which they are substitutes.

(c)

Have changes in the prices of these products affected the price for citric acid and certain
citrate salts?
No

Yes

III-18. How has the demand within the United States (and outside the United States if known) for citric
acid and certain citrate salts changed since January 1, 2006? What principal factors affect
changes in demand?
Increase

No Change

Decrease

III-19. Have there been any significant changes in the product range or marketing of citric acid and
certain citrate salts since January 1, 2006?
No

Yes-- Please describe.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-20. a) For your sales of citric acid and certain citrate salts since January 1, 2006, how important of a
problem was “caking” or “clumping”?
Not a problem

Very important

Somewhat important

Not important

b) If “caking” or “clumping” was a problem, please explain why.

III-21. Did your firm import citric acid and certain citrate salts that were “caked” or “clumped” since
January 1, 2006?
No

Yes—Did you take steps to eliminate this problem?
No

Yes—If yes, what percentage did these steps add to your overall cost
for citric acid and certain citrate salts?
less than 1%

1 to 2%

2 to 5%

greater than 5%

III-22. Has your firm, your supplier, or your customers (to your knowledge) purchased any equipment or
implemented any practices to reduce “caking” in your sales of citric acid and certain citrate salts?
No

Yes—Please describe.

III-23. How often did your firm encounter problems with “caking” or “clumping” of citric acid and
certain citrate salts from the following countries since January 1, 2006?
Product from the United States:

Frequently

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

Product from Canada:

Frequently

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

Product from China:

Frequently

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

Product from other countries:

Frequently

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-24. Has your firm, your supplier or your customers (to your knowledge) experienced any instances of
rejected or cancelled orders, claims, customer complaints etc. due to instances of “caking” in your
sales of citric acid and certain citrate salts?
No

Yes-- Please describe.

III-25. Does your firm hedge against changes in the price of corn when you make contracts for citric acid
and certain citrate salts?
No

Yes

Please explain why you do or do not hedge when you make contracts citric acid and certain
citrate salts.

III-26. a) Has your firm used corn future prices in determining citric acid and certain citrate salts
contract prices since January 1 2006?
No

Yes-- Please describe how future prices are used and why.

b) Have your contracts indexed citric acid and certain citrate salts prices based on the price of
corn or corn future prices since January 1 2006?
No

Yes-- Please describe how.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-27. Has your firm allocated a certain portion of your sales of citric acid and certain citrate salts at
year end for annual contracts since January 1, 2006?
No

Yes--Please describe how your firm determines such allocations. Are the
allocations affected by purchasers’ reported requirement for citric acid and
certain citrate salts in the contract year?

III-28. Has your firm ever limited the volume of citric acid and certain citrate salts that a single
purchaser may purchase in a year since January 1, 2006?
No

Yes—Why do you limit the volume purchased by individual purchasers?
How do you determine the volume each purchaser may buy?

III-29. Has your firm placed purchasers on allocation or limited the amount of citric acid and certain
citrate salts they can purchase since January 1, 2006?
No

Yes--Please report the dates this occurred, the purchasers, and the reason for
limiting your sales.

III-30. Has your firm experienced any supply disruptions that affected your sales/shipments of citric acid
and certain citrate salts to purchasers since January 1, 2006?
No

Yes--Please report the dates this occurred, the purchasers, and the reason for
limiting your sales.

III-31. Since January 1, 2006, have prices in the U.S. market for citric acid and certain citrate salts
generally increased, decreased, or stayed the same?
Increased

Decreased

Stayed the same

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-32. If you checked “Increase” or “Decrease” in response to the previous question, please list (in order
of importance) what you believe are the principal reasons why prices changed.

III-33. Are citric acid in anhydrous form, monohydrate form, dihydrate form, and in solution
interchangeable (i.e., can they physically be used in the same applications)? Please indicate
below, using “A” to indicate that the different forms of citric acid are always interchangeable, “F”
to indicate that the different forms of citric acid are frequently interchangeable, “S” to indicate
that the forms of citric acid are sometimes interchangeable, “N” to indicate that the different
forms of citric acid are never interchangeable, and “0” to indicate no familiarity with the forms of
citric acid.1
Product form

Anhydrous

Monohydrate

Dihydrate

Solution

Anhydrous
Monohydrate
Dihydrate
1
For any forms of citric acid that are sometimes or never interchangeable, please explain the factors that
limit or preclude interchangeable use:

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-34. Are citric acid and certain citrate salts 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

United States

Canada

China

Other countries, specify:
________________

United States
Canada
China
1

For any country-pair producing citric acid and certain citrate salts which is sometimes or never
interchangeable, please explain the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable use:

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-35. Are differences other than price (i.e., quality, availability, transportation network, product range,
technical support, etc.) between citric acid and certain citrate salts produced in the United States
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

Canada

China

Other countries, specify:
________________

United States
Canada
China
1

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

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-36. Please identify below the names and addresses of your firm’s 10 largest customers for citric acid
and certain citrate salts during January 2006-December 2008. Please also provide the name and
telephone number of a contact person and the share of the quantity of your firm’s total shipments
of citric acid and certain citrate salts from Canada and China that each of these customers
accounted for in 2008.

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

Area
code and
telephone
number

Share of
2008
sales
(%)