09-4-2734 Foreign producer questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 09-4-2734; Expiration Date: 6/30/2011
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

FOREIGN PRODUCERS’/EXPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
SACCHARIN FROM CHINA

This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than February 5, 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 review of the antidumping duty order concerning saccharin from China (inv. No. 731-TA-1013
(Review)). The information requested in the questionnaire is requested under the authority of the Tariff Act of 1930, title
VII.

Name of firm
Address
World Wide Web address
Has your firm produced or exported saccharin (as defined in the instruction booklet) at any time since
January 1, 2003?

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 this review in any other import-injury investigations or reviews
conducted by the Commission on the same or similar merchandise.
I acknowledge that information submitted in this questionnaire response and throughout this review 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 this review 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.
I AGREE TO THE ABOVE CERTIFICATION

Name of Authorized Official

Title of Authorized Official

Date

Signature

Phone: (
Fax ( )

E-mail address

)

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire – Saccharin from China (731-TA-1013 (Review))

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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 30 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.

Please provide the names, street addresses (not P.O. boxes), contacts, telephone numbers, and email addresses of the FIVE largest U.S. importers of your firm’s saccharin in 2008.

No.

1

2

3

4

5

Importer’s name

Contact person

E-mail address

Area
code and
telephone
number

Share of
your 2008
exports
(%)

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

In Parts II and III of this questionnaire we request a copy of your company’s business plan. Does
your company or any related firm have a business plan or any internal documents that describe,
discuss, or analyze expected future market conditions for saccharin?
No

I-5.

Does your firm or any related firm produce, have the capability to produce, or have any plans to
produce saccharin in the United States or other countries?
No

I-6.

Yes–Please provide the requested documents. If you are not providing the
requested documents, please explain why not.

Yes--Please name the firm(s) and country(ies) below and, if U.S. producer(s),
ensure that they complete the Commission’s producer questionnaire (contact
Cynthia Trainor for copies of that questionnaire).

Does your firm or any related firm import or have any plans to import saccharin into the United
States?
No

Yes--Please name the firm(s) below and ensure that they complete the
Commission’s importer questionnaire (contact Cynthia Trainor for copies of
that questionnaire).

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Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Saccharin from China (731-TA-1013 (Review))

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PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Cynthia Trainor (202-2053354, cynthia.trainor@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.

E-mail address

Has your firm experienced any change in the character of its operations or organization relating to
the production of saccharin since January 1, 2003?
Plant openings

Relocations

Expansions

Acquisitions

Consolidations

Closures

Prolonged shutdowns1

Revised labor agreements2

Other (please identify)
1

Reasons include strikes or equipment failure; curtailment of production because of shortages of materials; or any other
change in the character of your operations or organization.
2
Changes in wages, benefits, work rules, or other changes in labor agreements.

Please supply details as to the time, nature, and significance of any such changes, and provide
underlying assumptions, together with relevant portions of business plans, public corporate
filings, or other internal documentation that address this issue.

II-3.

Does your firm anticipate any changes in the character of your operations or organization (as
noted above) relating to the importation of saccharin in the future?
No

Yes–Supply details as to the time, nature, and significance of such changes
and provide underlying assumptions, along with relevant portions of business
plans or other supporting documentation that address this issue. Include in your
response a specific projection of your firm’s capacity to produce saccharin
(in 1,000 pounds) for 2009 and 2010.

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Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Saccharin from China (731-TA-1013 (Review))

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PART III.--MARKET FACTORS
II-4.

Would your firm anticipate any changes in the character of your operations or organization (as
noted above) relating to the production of saccharin in the future if the antidumping duty order on
saccharin from China were to be revoked?
No

II-5.

Yes–Supply details as to the time, nature, and significance of such changes
and provide underlying assumptions, along with relevant portions of business
plans or other supporting documentation that address this issue.

Does your firm have any plans to add, expand, curtail, or shut down production capacity and/or
production of saccharin in China in the future?
No

II-6.

Yes–Please describe those plans, including planned dates and capacity/
production quantities involved, and the reason(s) for such change(s). If the plans
are to add or expand capacity or production, list (in descending order of
importance) the markets (countries) to which such additional capacity or
production would be directed. Provide relevant portions of business plans or
other supporting documentation that address this issue.

Describe the production technology used in the production of saccharin in China and identify
major production inputs. Also discuss any significant changes in production technology since
2003 (the year the antidumping duty order(s) under review became effective).

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PART III.--MARKET FACTORS--Continued
II-7.

Has your firm since 2003 produced, or does your firm anticipate producing in the future, other
products on the same equipment and machinery used in the production of saccharin?
No

Yes--List the following information and report your firm’s combined
production capacity and production of these products and saccharin in the periods
indicated.

Product

Period

Item

Basis for allocation of capacity data

(Quantity in 1,000 pounds)
2003 2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

AVERAGE PRODUCTION CAPACITY
PRODUCTION
II-8.

Please describe the constraint(s) that set the limit(s) on your production capacity.

II-9.

What percentage of your firm’s total sales in its most recent fiscal year was represented by sales
of saccharin?
Percent

II-10.

Is your firm able to switch production between saccharin and other products in response to a
relative change in the price of saccharin vis-a-vis the price of other products, using the same
equipment and labor?
No

Yes---Please identify the other products, the approximate time and cost
involved in switching, and the minimum relative price change required for your
firm to switch production to or from saccharin.

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PART III.--MARKET FACTORS--Continued
II-11.

Has your firm, since 2003, maintained any inventories of saccharin in the United States (not
including inventories held by firms identified in question I-3)?
No

Yes--Report the quantity of such end-of-period inventories below.

Item

(Quantity in 1,000 pounds)
2003 2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

INVENTORIES
II-12.

(a) Are your firm’s exports of saccharin subject to tariff or non-tariff barriers to trade (for
example, antidumping or countervailing duty findings or remedies, tariffs, quotas, or regulatory
barriers) in any countries other than the United States?
No

Yes--List the products(s), country(ies), the year each such barrier was
imposed, and the type of barrier.
Product

Country

Year imposed

Barrier (if tariff,
give rate)

(b) Are your firm’s exports of saccharin subject to current investigations in any countries other
than the United States that might result in tariff or non-tariff barriers to trade?
No

Yes--List the products(s), country(ies), and type of investigation.
Product

Country

Type of investigation

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PART III.--MARKET FACTORS--Continued
II-13.

Identify export markets (other than the United States) that you have developed or where you have
increased your sales of saccharin as a result of the antidumping duty order on saccharin from
China. Please identify and discuss below.

II-14.

Describe the significance of the existing antidumping duty order covering imports of saccharin
from China in terms of its effect on your firm’s production capacity, production, home market
shipments, exports to the United States and other markets, and inventories. You may wish to
compare your firm’s operations before and after the imposition of the order.

II-15.

Would your firm anticipate any changes in its production capacity, production, home market
shipments, exports to the United States and other markets, or inventories relating to the
production of saccharin in the future if the antidumping duty order on saccharin from China were
to be revoked?
No

Yes–Supply details as to the time, nature, and significance of such changes
and provide underlying assumptions, along with relevant portions of business
plans or other supporting documentation for any trends or projections you may
provide.

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PART III.--MARKET FACTORS--Continued
II-16.

(a) Report production capacity, production, shipments, and inventories of saccharin produced by
your firm in China during the specified periods. (See definitions in the instruction booklet.)
Quantity (in 1,000 pounds) and value (in $1,000)
Item

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

1

Average production capacity (quantity)
Beginning-of-period inventories
(quantity)
Production2 (quantity)
Home market shipments:
Internal consumption/transfers:
Quantity
Commercial shipments:
Quantity
Value
Exports to the United States:3
Quantity
Value
Exports to the European Union:4
Quantity
Value
Exports to Asia:5
Quantity
Value
Exports to other markets:6
Quantity
Value
End-of-period inventories7 (quantity)
1

The production capacity (see definitions in instruction booklet) reported is based on operating
hours per week,
weeks per year. Please describe the methodology used to calculate production capacity, and explain any changes in
reported capacity.
2

Please estimate the percentage of total production of saccharin in China accounted for by your firm’s production in 2008:
Percent
3
Please estimate the percentage of total exports to the United States of saccharin in China accounted for by your firm’s
Percent
exports in 2008:
4
Identify your principal European Union export markets:
.
5
Identify your principal Asian export markets:
.
6
Identify your principal other export markets:
.
7
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?
Yes
No--Please explain:
.

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PART III.--MARKET FACTORS--Continued
II-16. (b) Exports of saccharin to the United States, by type.—If you reported exports of saccharin to the
United States in section II-16 (a), report your firm’s exports of saccharin to the United States by the
following types of saccharin during the specified periods. (See definitions in the instruction booklet.)
These data should sum to the exports to the United States reported in section II-16 (a).

Quantity (in 1,000 pounds)
Item

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

Sodium saccharin (American Chemical
Society Chemical Abstract Service
(CAS) Registry #128-44-9)
Calcium saccharin
(CAS Registry #6485-34-3
Acid or insoluble saccharin
(CAS Registry #81-07-2)
Research grade saccharin
All other saccharin1
1

Identify these types of saccharin and describe their uses.

Reconciliation of data.--Please note that the quantities reported above should equal the total quantity of exports of
saccharin to the United States reoorted in section II-16 (a). Do the data reported reconcile?
Yes
No--Please explain:

II-17.

Has your firm commercially sold the crude insoluble form of saccharin since January 2003?
No

Yes–State the nature of the sales (domestic, export, and if export, to which
market), the year(s) those sales were made, and the corresponding quantities (in
pounds) of such sales.

.

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PART III.--MARKET FACTORS--Continued
II-18.

In the Maumee saccharin production process, a crude form of insoluble saccharin is processed
into sodium saccharin which is then purified to a grade acceptable for use by any customer. Pure
sodium saccharin can then be processed into pure acid (insoluble) saccharin. Pure acid
(insoluble) saccharin can then be processed into pure calcium saccharin.
Using your production process, is sodium saccharin produced without first producing the crude
insoluble form of saccharin?
No

Yes

Using your production process, is pure acid (insoluble) saccharin produced without first
producing pure sodium saccharin?
No

Yes

Using your production process, is pure calcium saccharin produced without first producing pure
acid (insoluble) saccharin?
No

Yes

Identify the production process your firm uses (Maumee, Remsen-Falberg, etc.).

Describe the production process your firm uses. Clearly state when pure sodium saccharin, pure
acid (insoluble) saccharin, and pure calcium saccharin is produced in your production line and
how your production process differs from the Maumee production process described above.

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PART III.--MARKET FACTORS--Continued
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 market factors information?
Company contact:
Name and title
(
)
Phone number

III-2.

E-mail address

Approximately what share of your firm’s sales of saccharin to U.S. customers 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-3.

III-4.

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?

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?

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PART III.--MARKET FACTORS--Continued
III-5.

What is the average lead time between a customer’s order and the date of delivery for your firm’s
sales of saccharin?
Share of sales,
2008

Source

Lead time

From inventory
Produced to order
Total

100 %

III-6. To what extent have changes in the prices of raw materials affected your firm’s selling prices for
saccharin during January 2003-December 2008? Also discuss any anticipated changes in your
raw material costs in the future, identifying the time period(s) involved and the factor(s) that you
believe would be responsible for such changes. Provide any underlying assumptions, along with
relevant portions of business plans or other supporting documentation that address this issue.

III-7.

Have any changes occurred in any other factors affecting supply (e.g., changes in availability or
prices of energy or labor; transportation conditions; production capacity and/or methods of
production; technology; export markets; or alternative production opportunities) that affected the
availability of China-produced saccharin in the U.S. market since 2003?
No

III-8.

Yes--Please note the time period(s) of any such changes, the factors(s)
involved, and the impact such changes had on your shipment volumes and prices.

(a) Do you anticipate any changes in terms of the availability of China-produced saccharin in the
U.S. market in the future?
Increase

No change

Decrease

(b) If you anticipate changes in supply, please identify the changes, including the time period and
the impact of such changes on shipment volumes and prices. Provide any underlying
assumptions, along with relevant portions of business plans or other supporting documentation
that address this issue.

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PART III.--MARKET FACTORS--Continued

III-9.

Describe how easily your firm can shift its sales of saccharin between the U.S. market and
alternative country markets. In your discussion, please describe any contracts, other sales
arrangements, or other constraints (including any third-country trade barriers such as tariffs,
quotas, or other non-tariff barriers) that would prevent or retard your firm from shifting saccharin
between the U.S. and alternative country markets within a 12-month period. Provide any
underlying assumptions, along with relevant portions of business plans or other supporting
documentation that address this issue.

III-10. Is the product range, product mix, or marketing (including sales over the internet) of saccharin in
your home market significantly different from the product range, product mix, or marketing of
saccharin for export to the United States or to third-country markets? Have there been any
significant changes in the product range, product mix, or marketing of saccharin in your home
market, for export to the United States, or for export to third-country markets since 2003?
No

Yes--Please describe and quantify if possible.

III-11. Please discuss any anticipated changes in terms of the product range, product mix, or marketing
(including sales over the internet) of saccharin in your home market, for export to the United
States, or for export to third-country markets in the future, identifying the time period(s) involved
and the factor(s) that you believe would be responsible for such changes. Provide any underlying
assumptions, along with relevant portions of business plans or other supporting documentation
that address this issue.

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PART III.--MARKET FACTORS--Continued

III-12. (a) Can other products be substituted for saccharin?
No
(1)

Yes--Please list these substitute products in order of importance.
(2)

(3)

(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 saccharin?
No

Yes--To what degree do changes in their prices affect the price for
saccharin? Does this effect have a time lag? If so, how long is the time lag for
each substitute product? Does this vary by type of saccharin or final end use?

III-13. Have there been any changes in the number or types of products that can be substituted for
saccharin since 2003?
No

Yes—Please explain.

III-14. Do you anticipate any changes in terms of the substitutability of other products for saccharin in
the future?
No

Yes—Please describe. Provide any underlying assumptions, along with
relevant portions of business plans or other supporting documentation that
address this issue.

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PART III.--MARKET FACTORS--Continued

III-15. Is the saccharin produced by your firm and sold in its home market interchangeable
(i.e., can be used in the same applications) with your firm’s saccharin sold to the United States
and/or to third-country markets?
Yes

No—Identify the market(s) and any differences in the products.

III-16. Describe the end uses of the saccharin that you manufacture and sell to your home market. If
these end uses differ from those of the saccharin you sell to the U.S. market or to third-country
markets, explain.

III-17. Have there been any changes in the end uses of saccharin since 2003?
No

Yes—Please describe.

III-18. Do you anticipate any changes in terms of the end uses of saccharin in the future?
No

Yes--Please describe and identify the time period. Provide any underlying
assumptions, along with relevant portions of business plans or other supporting
documentation that address this issue.

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PART III.--MARKET FACTORS--Continued

III-19. How has demand within your home market and the United States and, if known, the rest of the
world, for saccharin changed since 2003?
Increased

No change

Decreased

What principal factors affect changes in demand?

III-20. Do you anticipate any future changes in saccharin demand in your home market and the United
States and, if known, the rest of the world?
No

Yes--Please describe and identify the time period. Provide any underlying
assumptions, along with relevant portions of business plans or other supporting
documentation that address this issue.

III-21. Please compare market prices of saccharin in your home market, the United States, and thirdcountry markets, if known. Provide specific information as to time periods and regions for any
price comparisons.

III-22. Describe briefly your home market for saccharin, including the number of, and competition
between, producers.

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PART III.--MARKET FACTORS--Continued

III-23. Do you face competition from imports of saccharin in your home market?
No

Yes--Please identify the country sources of any imports of saccharin into your
home market.

III-24. Please provide as a separate attachment to this request any studies, surveys, etc. that you are
aware of that quantify and/or otherwise discuss saccharin supply (including production capacity
and capacity utilization) and demand in (1) the United States, (2) each of the other major
producing/consuming countries, including China, and (3) the world as a whole. Of particular
interest is such data from 2003 to the present and forecasts for the future.
III-25. Does your firm sell saccharin over the internet?
No

Yes--Please describe, noting the estimated percentage of your firm’s total
sales of saccharin in 2008 accounted for by internet sales.