10-3-2892 US purchaser questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 10-3-2892; Expiration Date: 6/30/2011
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
SEAMLESS REFINED COPPER PIPE AND TUBE

This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than August 9, 2010
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 investigation concerning seamless refined copper pipe and tube from China and Mexico
(inv. Nos. 731-TA-1174-1175 (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 (202-708-5403,
james.fetzer@usitc.gov).

Name of firm
Address
State

City

Zip Code

World Wide Web address
Has your firm purchased seamless refined copper pipe and tube (as defined in the instruction booklet) from any
source (domestic or foreign) at any time since January 1, 2007?

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
Phone: (

Date

)

Signature

E-mail address
Fax (

)

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Seamless Refined Copper Pipe and Tube

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.

OMB statistics.--Please report 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.

OMB feedback.--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.

Establishments covered.--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?

I-4.

No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

Address

Extent of
ownership

Related SUBJECT importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either
domestic or foreign, which are engaged in importing seamless refined copper pipe and tube from
China and Mexico into the United States or which are engaged in exporting seamless refined
copper pipe and tube from China and Mexico to the United States?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

Address

Affiliation

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Seamless Refined Copper Pipe and Tube

Page 3

PART I.--GENERAL INFORMATION--Continued
I-5.

Related NONSUBJECT importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either
domestic or foreign, which are engaged in importing seamless refined copper pipe and tube from
countries other than China and Mexico into the United States or which are engaged in exporting
seamless refined copper pipe and tube from countries other than China and Mexico to the United
States?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name and country

I-6.

Address

Affiliation

Related producers.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, which
are engaged in the production of seamless refined copper pipe and tube?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

Address

Affiliation

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Seamless Refined Copper Pipe and Tube

Page 4

PART II.--PURCHASES
Contact information (Purchases).--Who should be contacted regarding the information requested in
parts II to IV?
Company contact:
Name and title
(
)
Phone number
II-1.

E-mail address

Purchases.--Report, as indicated below, your firm’s purchases (either directly or through a sales
agent or broker) of seamless refined copper pipe and tube. Report based on delivery date, not
order date.
Quantity (in 1,000 pounds) and value (in $1,000)
Item

Plumbing applications:
Purchases of seamless refined copper
pipe and tube produced in-The United States:
Quantity
Value
China:
Quantity
Value
Mexico:
Quantity
Value
All other countries:1
Quantity
Value

Industrial applications:
Purchases of seamless refined copper
pipe and tube produced in-The United States:
Quantity
Value
China:
Quantity
Value
Mexico:
Quantity
Value
All other countries:1
Quantity
Value
1
Please identify these countries:

2007

2008

2009

Jan.-June
2010

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Seamless Refined Copper Pipe and Tube

Page 5

PART II.--PURCHASES--Continued
When responding to questions, please indicate when your response varies by plumbing
applications or industrial applications.

II-2.

Changes in purchasing patterns.—Please indicate how the relative levels of your firm’s
purchases of seamless refined copper pipe and tube from different sources (both domestic and
foreign) have changed in the last three years.
Source of purchases
The United States

Trend
Decreased

Explanation for trend

Increased
Constant
Fluctuated
China

Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated

Mexico

Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated

All other countries

Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated

II-3.

Purchases from one country only.--If your firm has purchased seamless refined copper pipe and
tube from only one country, please explain the reasons for doing so.

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Page 6

PART II.--PURCHASES--Continued
II-4.

Supplier identification.--Please identify below the names and addresses of your firm’s FIVE
largest suppliers for seamless refined copper pipe and tube since 2007. 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 seamless refined copper pipe and tube that each of these suppliers accounted for in
2009.
Supplier’s
name

No.
1

2

3

4

5

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

Contact person

Share of
2009
Telephone number
or e-mail address purchases
(%)

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Seamless Refined Copper Pipe and Tube

Page 7

PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES
III-1.

Firm type.--Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of seamless refined
copper pipe and tube (check all that apply)?
End user
Distributor
Other (Describe:

III-2.

)

Competition for sales.--If you are a distributor or reseller of seamless refined copper pipe and
tube, do you compete for sales to your customers with the manufacturers or importers from which
you purchase seamless refined copper pipe and tube?
No

Yes--Please describe

III-3.

Types of customers.--If your firm is a distributor or reseller of seamless refined copper pipe and
tube, what are the major types of consumers to which you sell seamless refined copper pipe and
tube?

III-4.

End uses.--If your firm is an end user of seamless refined copper pipe and tube, list the top 3
products for which your firm purchases seamless refined copper pipe and tube as an input, the
percentage of your total purchases of seamless refined copper pipe and tube accounted for by each
end use, and the percentage of the total cost of the end use product that is accounted for by
seamless refined copper pipe and tube.

Product(s) you produce
1.
2.
3.

Share of seamless refined
copper pipe and tube you
purchase that is used in this
end use (percent)

Share of cost of this
product accounted for by
seamless refined copper
pipe and tube (percent)

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Seamless Refined Copper Pipe and Tube

Page 8

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

Demand for end use products.-(a)

If your firm is an end user of seamless refined copper pipe and tube, has the demand for
your firm’s final products incorporating seamless refined copper pipe and tube changed
since 2007?
Increased

(b)

Fluctuated

No change

Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for seamless refined copper pipe and tube?
No

III-6.

Decreased

Yes--Please describe.

Substitutes.-(a) Can other products be substituted for seamless refined copper pipe and tube? (ex. plastic tube
(such as PEX or PVC), aluminum tube, and stainless steel tube).
No

Yes--Please complete (b).

(b) Please list in order of importance any products that may be substituted for seamless refined
copper pipe and tube. 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 seamless refined copper pipe and tube, and to what degree, and the
length of any time lag of such an effect.

Substitute

Description

Have changes in the prices of this
substitute affected the price for
seamless refined copper pipe and tube?

1.

No

Yes--Please explain.

2.

No

Yes--Please explain.

3.

No

Yes--Please explain.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Seamless Refined Copper Pipe and Tube

Page 9

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

Demand trends.-(a)

How has the demand within the United States for seamless refined copper pipe and tube
changed since 2007? What principal factors (such as substitution to and from other
products, changes in regulations, etc.) affect changes in demand?
Increased

(b)

Fluctuated

No change

How has the demand outside the United States (if known) for seamless refined copper
pipe and tube changed since 2007? What principal factors (such substitution to and from
other products, changes in regulations, etc.) affect changes in demand?
Increased

III-8.

Decreased

Decreased

Fluctuated

No change

Importance of purchasing domestic product.--Is buying a product that is produced in the
United States an important factor in your firm’s purchases of seamless refined copper pipe and
tube (check ALL that apply)?
No
Yes--Purchases of domestic product are required by law or regulation (for example,
government purchases under “Buy American” provisions). This involves
percent of
all purchases of seamless refined copper pipe and tube.
Yes--Purchases of domestic product are not required by law or regulation, but are by your
customers. This involves
percent of all purchases of seamless refined copper pipe
and tube.
Yes--Purchases of domestic product are required for other reasons (please specify these
reasons below). This involves
percent of all purchases of seamless refined copper
pipe and tube.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Seamless Refined Copper Pipe and Tube

Page 10

PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-9

Conditions of competition.-(a)

Is the seamless refined copper pipe and tube market subject to business cycles or
conditions of competition distinctive to seamless refined copper pipe and tube?
No

(b)

Yes--Please explain and estimate the duration of any such cycle.

Has the emergence of new markets for seamless refined copper pipe and tube since 2007
affected the business cycles or conditions of competition distinctive to seamless refined
copper pipe and tube?
No

Yes--Please explain any such changes.

III-10. Decisions based on producer.--Does your firm, and to the extent that you know, do your
customers make purchasing decisions involving seamless refined copper pipe and tube based on
the producer of the seamless refined copper pipe and tube you purchase?
Your firm:

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

Your customers:

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

If at least sometimes, please discuss how your firm or your customers determine the producer and
why this information is important.
Your firm:

Your customers:

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Seamless Refined Copper Pipe and Tube

Page 11

PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-11. Decisions based on country-of-origin.--Does your firm, and to the extent that you know, do
your customers make purchasing decisions involving seamless refined copper pipe and tube based
on the country of origin of the seamless refined copper pipe and tube you purchase?
Your firm:

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

Your customers:

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

If at least sometimes, please discuss how your firm or your customers determine the source and
why this information is important.
Your firm:

Your customers:

III-12. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

How frequently do you make purchases?
Daily
Other (specify)

(b)

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Annually

)

Have you made significant changes in your purchasing patterns (e.g., frequency) since
2007?
No
Yes—Please describe.

III-13. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers do you generally contact before making a
purchase?
firms

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Seamless Refined Copper Pipe and Tube

Page 12

PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-14. Supplier negotiations.-(a)

Do purchases of seamless refined copper pipe and tube usually involve negotiations
between supplier and purchaser?
No

(b)

Yes--Please describe these negotiations. In your response, please
comment on whether purchasers generally quote competing
prices as part of the negotiation process.

Does your firm tend to vary its purchases from a given supplier within a specified time
period based on the price offered for that period?
No

Yes--Specify the time period.

III-15. Change in suppliers.--Have you changed suppliers since 2007?
No

Yes--Please list the supplier or suppliers and indicate whether the firm was
added or dropped as a supplier. Also give the reasons for the change
and how frequently you change suppliers.

III-16. New suppliers.--Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have
entered the market since 2007?
No

Yes --Please identify the firms and indicate how you became aware of them.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Seamless Refined Copper Pipe and Tube

Page 13

PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-17. Supplier qualification
(a) Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified to sell seamless refined
copper pipe and tube to your firm?
No

Yes--

percent of purchases in 2009

Yes--all purchases

(b) Please provide a general description of the certification or qualification process. Briefly
describe the factors that you consider when qualifying a new supplier (e.g., quality of product,
reliability of supplier, etc.)

(c) How long does it take to qualify a new supplier?

days.

III-18. Failure to certify.--Since 2007, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their attempts to
certify or qualify their seamless refined copper pipe and tube 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.

III-19. Supply constraints.--Since 2007, have any domestic or foreign producers refused, declined, or
been unable to supply your firm with seamless refined copper pipe and tube (examples include
placing customers on allocation or “controlled order entry,” declining to accept new customers or
renew existing customers, delivering less than the quantity promised, being unable to meet timely
shipment commitments, being unable to supply product due to patent constraints)?
No

Yes--Please identify these firms, the countries where they are located, the
products involved and describe the supply constraint.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Seamless Refined Copper Pipe and Tube

Page 14

PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-20. Purchasing factors.--For the factors listed below, please rate each in terms of its importance in
your purchase decision for seamless refined copper pipe and tube.
Very
important
Availability .......................................
Delivery terms .................................
Delivery time ...................................
Discounts offered ............................
Extension of credit...........................
Price ................................................
Minimum qty requirements..............
Packaging .......................................
Product consistency ........................
Quality meets industry standards....
Quality exceeds industry standards
Product range..................................
Reliability of supply .........................
Rebate program ..............................
Technical support/service ...............
U.S. transportation costs.................
Other (specify):
........
........
........

Somewhat
important

Not
important

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Seamless Refined Copper Pipe and Tube

Page 15

PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-21. Major purchasing factors.--Please list, in order of their importance, the three major factors
generally considered by your firm in deciding from whom to purchase seamless refined copper
pipe and tube 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, rebate programs, etc.).
1.
2.
3.
Other factors or comments:

III-22. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of seamless refined copper pipe and tube?

III-23. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the seamless
refined copper pipe and tube that is offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

III-24. Price leaders.--Please list the names of any firms you considered price leaders in the seamless
refined copper pipe and tube market since 2007. 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. Please describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Seamless Refined Copper Pipe and Tube

Page 16

PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-25. Copper pricing.--Since 2007, how has the international trading (e.g. COMEX and LME) value
of copper influenced the pricing of seamless refined copper pipe and tube?

III-26. Rebates.--Since 2007, have any domestic or foreign producers offered comparable rebates for
your purchases of seamless refined copper pipe and tube? Please include any rebates related to
your purchases of seamless refined copper pipe and tube that are paid to a related company, such
as your parent company.
Yes

No--Please indicates which rebate programs are more favorable to your firm.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Seamless Refined Copper Pipe and Tube

Page 17

PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS

IV-1.

Country knowledge.--Please indicate the countries of origin for seamless refined copper pipe
and tube for which your firm has actual marketing/pricing knowledge.
United States
China
Mexico
Other countries (Please specify)

IV-2.

)

Interchangeability by country-pair.--Is seamless refined copper pipe and tube 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

Mexico

Canada

Malaysia

Other countries

United States
China
Mexico
Canada
Malaysia

1
For any country-pair producing seamless refined copper pipe and tube which is sometimes or never
interchangeable, please explain the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable use:

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Seamless Refined Copper Pipe and Tube

Page 18

PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
IV-3.

Country preferences.--Do you or your customers ever specifically order seamless refined copper
pipe and tube from one country in particular over other possible sources of supply?
No

IV-4.

Availability of merchandise.--Are certain grades/types/sizes of seamless refined copper pipe and
tube available from only a single source (domestic or foreign, including both subject and
nonsubject countries)?
No

IV-5.

Yes--Please identify all relevant countries (including the United States and
both subject and nonsubject foreign countries) from which you or your
customers prefer to order, and indicate why seamless refined copper
pipe and tube 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.

Choice of product not based on price.--If you purchased seamless refined copper pipe and tube
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.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Seamless Refined Copper Pipe and Tube

Page 19

PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
IV-6. Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how seamless refined
copper pipe and tube produced in each country you identified in your response to the first question in Part
IV compares with seamless refined copper pipe and tube produced in each of the other countries you
identified (including the United States and both subject and nonsubject foreign countries).

Availability ...............................................
Delivery terms .........................................
Delivery time ...........................................
Discounts offered ....................................
Extension of credit...................................
Price1 .......................................................
Minimum quantity requirements..............
Packaging ...............................................
Product consistency ................................
Quality meets industry standards............
Quality exceeds industry standards ........
Product range..........................................
Rebate program ............................
Reliability of supply .................................
Technical support/service .......................
U.S. transportation costs1 .......................
Other (specify):

1

A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicatees 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
Mexico

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

product from
United States
compared to
product from
Mexico

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Quality

Superior

product from
United States
compared to
product from
China

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Seamless Refined Copper Pipe and Tube

Page 20

PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
Continued.

Availability ...............................................
Delivery terms .........................................
Delivery time ...........................................
Discounts offered ....................................
Extension of credit...................................
Price1 .......................................................
Minimum quantity requirements..............
Packaging ...............................................
Product consistency ................................
Quality meets industry standards............
Quality exceeds industry standards ........
Product range..........................................
Rebate program ............................
Reliability of supply .................................
Technical support/service .......................
U.S. transportation costs1 .......................
Other (specify):

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

compared to
product from

Inferior

compared to
product from

Comparable

compared to
product from

Superior

product from

Inferior

product from

Comparable

Quality

product from

Superior

IV-6.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Seamless Refined Copper Pipe and Tube

Page 21

PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued

IV-7.

Minimum quality.-(a)

How often does domestically produced seamless refined copper pipe and tube meet
minimum quality specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?
Always

(b)

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or never

How often does imported subject seamless refined copper pipe and tube meet minimum
quality specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?

Source

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or
never

China
Mexico

(c)

How often does imported nonsubject seamless refined copper pipe and tube (i.e.,
seamless refined copper pipe and tube from countries other than China and Mexico) meet
minimum quality specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?
Source
Canada
Malaysia

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or
never