11-3-2916 US Purchaser questionnaire

Information collections for import injury investigations (producers, importers, purchasers, and foreign producer questionnaires and institution notices for 5-year reviews)

CMC Review -- US purchaser q

Purified Carboxymethylcellulose from Finland, Mexico, Netherlands, and Sweden (R)

OMB: 3117-0016

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OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 11-3-2916; Expiration Date: 6/30/2011
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U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
PURIFIED CARBOXYMETHYLCELLULOSE
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than December 3, 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 review of the antidumping duty order concerning purified carboxymethylcellulose (purified CMC)
from Finland, Mexico, Netherlands, and Sweden (invs. Nos. 731-TA-1084-1087 (Review). 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 Clark Workman (202-205-3248, clark.workman@usitc.gov).

Name of firm
Address
State

City

Zip Code

World Wide Web address
Has your firm purchased purified purified CMC (as defined in the instruction booklet) from any source (domestic
or foreign) at any time since January 1, 2005?

(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 reviews in any other import-injury proceedings or reviews
conducted by the Commission on the same or similar merchandise.
I acknowledge that information submitted in this questionnaire response and throughout these reviews 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 reviews or related proceedings for which this information is submitted, or in internal audits and
proceedings 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 (

)

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Purified CMC (731-TA-1084-1087 (Review))

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.

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.

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 purified CMC from Finland, Mexico,
Netherlands, and/or Sweden into the United States or which are engaged in exporting purified
CMC from Finland, Mexico, Netherlands, and/or Sweden to the United States?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

Address

Affiliation

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Purified CMC (731-TA-1084-1087 (Review))

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 purified CMC from countries other than
Finland, Mexico, Netherlands, and Sweden into the United States or which are engaged in
exporting purified CMC from countries other than Finland, Mexico, Netherlands, and Sweden to
the United States?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name and country

I-6.

I-7.

Address

Affiliation

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

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

Address

Affiliation

Business plan.--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 market conditions for purified CMC?
No

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Purified CMC (731-TA-1084-1087 (Review))

Page 4

PART II.--PURCHASES

II-1.

Purchases.--Report, as indicated below, your firm’s purchases (either directly or through a sales
agent or broker) of purified CMC. Report based on delivery date, not order date.

2005
2006
Item
Purchases of purified CMC produced in-The United States:
Quantity
Value
Finland:
Quantity
Value
Mexico:
Quantity
Value
The Netherlands:
Quantity
Value
Sweden:
Quantity
Value
All other countries:1
Quantity
Value
1
Please identify these countries:

Quantity (in pounds) and value (in $1,000)
JanuarySeptember
2007
2008
2009
2010

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Purified CMC (731-TA-1084-1087 (Review))

Page 5

PART II.--PURCHASES--Continued
II-2.

Purchases before and after order.-(a)

Did your firm purchase purified CMC from Finland, Mexico, Netherlands, and Sweden
before 2005?
No--skip to (c)

(b)

Yes --

Finland

Mexico

Netherlands

Sweden

If yes, has your pattern of purchasing purified CMC from Finland, Mexico, Netherlands,
and Sweden changed since 2005?
No, our pattern of purchasing is essentially unchanged.
Yes, we discontinued purchases from
Finland,
Mexico,
Netherlands,
Sweden because of the order.
Yes, we reduced purchases from
Finland,
Mexico,
Netherlands,
Sweden because of the order.
Yes, but we changed the pattern of purchases from
Finland,
Mexico,
Netherlands,
Sweden for reasons other than the order (please explain
below).

(c)

Has your pattern of purchasing purified CMC from nonsubject foreign sources (i.e.,
countries other than Finland, Mexico, Netherlands, and Sweden) changed since 2005.
We did not purchase from nonsubject foreign sources before or after the order.
No, our pattern of purchasing is essentially unchanged.
Yes, we increased purchases from nonsubject countries because of the order.
Yes, but we changed our pattern of purchases from nonsubject countries for reasons
other than the order (please explain below).

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Purified CMC (731-TA-1084-1087 (Review))

Page 6

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

Changes in purchasing patterns.-- Please indicate how the relative levels of your firm’s
purchases of purified CMC from different sources (both domestic and foreign) have changed
since 2005 (the year the antidumping duty orders under review became effective).
Source of purchases
The United States

Trend
Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated

Finland

Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated

Mexico

Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated

Netherlands

Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated

Sweden

Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated

All other countries

Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated

Explanation for trend

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Purified CMC (731-TA-1084-1087 (Review))

Page 7

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

Purchases from one country only.--If your firm has purchased purified CMC from only one
country, please explain the reasons for doing so.

II-5.

Supplier identification.--Please identify below the names and addresses of your firm’s FIVE
largest suppliers for purified CMC since 2005. Please also provide the name and telephone
number of a contact person and the share of the quantity of your firm’s total shipments of purified
CMC that each of these customers accounted for in 2009.
Supplier’s
name

No.
1

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

Contact person

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Purified CMC (731-TA-1084-1087 (Review))

Page 8

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

Firm type.—
(a) Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of purified CMC (check all
that apply)?
Distributor/reseller
Blender
End user (other than a blender) that uses purified CMC to produce a downstream product for
its own use or for subsequent sale
Other (Describe:
)
(b) Please identify, if known, the following types of end uses for the purified CMC that you sold
(if a distributor) or purchased as a blender/end user (check all that apply).
Food
Oilfield
Paper/board
Personal care/pharmaceuticals
Other (Describe:

III-2.

)

Competition for sales.--If you are a distributor or reseller of purified CMC, do you compete for
sales to your customers with the manufacturers or importers from which you purchase purified
CMC?
No

Yes--Please describe

III-3.

Types of customers.--If your firm is a distributor or reseller of purified CMC, what are the major
types of consumers to which you sell purified CMC?

III-4.

End uses.--If your firm is an end user of purified CMC, list the top 3 products for which your
firm purchases purified CMC as an input, and the percentage of the total cost of the end use
product that is accounted for by purified CMC and by other inputs.

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

Share of cost of this product accounted for by
Purified CMC (percent) Other inputs (percent)

Total
100%
100%
100%

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Purified CMC (731-TA-1084-1087 (Review))

Page 9

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

Demand for end use products.-(a)

If your firm is an end user of purified CMC, has the demand for your firm’s final
products incorporating purified CMC changed since 2005?
Increased

(b)

No change

Yes--Please describe.

Changes in end uses.--Have there been any changes in the end uses of purified CMC since
2005?
No

III-7.

Fluctuated

Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for purified CMC?
No

III-6.

Decreased

Yes--Please describe.

Anticipated changes in end uses.--Do you anticipate any future changes in the end uses of
purified CMC?
No

Yes--Please describe.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Purified CMC (731-TA-1084-1087 (Review))

Page 10

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-8.

Substitutes in demand in the U.S. market for the subject purified CMC.—

Substitution in demand refers to products that can, based on market price considerations and householdconsumer/industrial-user preferences or technical requirements, reasonably be expected to substitute for
each other when the price of one product changes vis-a vis the price of the other product—some
consumers/industrial users may require greater price changes than others before they switch among the
alternative products.
a) Do substitutes (e.g., crude/unrefined CMC, CMC FPS, cross-linked purified CMC, other
hydrocolloids, etc.) for purified CMC exist in the U.S. market?
No

Yes

If yes, please list in descending order of importance any products, other than the subject purified
CMC, that may be substituted for purified CMC in the U.S. market during January 2005September 2010. For each possible substitute product, please give examples of applications and
end uses involving the substitute and indicate whether changes in the price of the substitute affect
the price and/or quantity of purified CMC (also estimate the length of any time lag of such an
effect).

Substitute product

Have changes in the prices of this
substitute affected the price and/or
Description of applications quantity of purified CMC during January
and end uses
2005-September 2010?

Yes—Please explain.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Purified CMC (731-TA-1084-1087 (Review))

Page 11

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-8.

Substitutes in demand in the U.S. market for the purified CMC.—Continued
b) Have there been any changes in the number or types of products that can be substituted for
purified CMC or changes in the relative importance/mix of existing substitutes during January
2005-September 2010?
No

Yes--Please explain.

c) Do you anticipate any changes in the number or types of products that can be substituted for
purified CMC or changes in the relative importance/mix of existing substitutes 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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Purified CMC (731-TA-1084-1087 (Review))

Page 12

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

Substitutes in demand in the U.S. market among types/grades of purified CMC.-a) Do various types/grades of purified CMC substitute for each other in the U.S. market?
No

Yes

If yes, please discuss below the extent to which purified CMC products could substitute for each
other during January 2005-SeptemberJune 2010 and identify the end uses in which this
substitution could occur. For each possible substitution discussed, please indicate the extent to
which any such substitution actually occurred during January 2005-September 2010.

b) Do you anticipate any changes in the number or types of purified CMC products that can be
substituted for each other or changes in the relative importance/mix of existing substitutes 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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Purified CMC (731-TA-1084-1087 (Review))

Page 13

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-10. Demand trends.-(a)

How has the demand within the United States for purified CMC changed since 2005?
What principal factors affect changes in demand?
Increased

(b)

Decreased

Fluctuated

No change

How has the demand outside the United States for purified CMC changed since 2005?
What principal factors affect changes in demand?
Increased

Decreased

Fluctuated

No change

III-11. Anticipated demand trends.-(a)

How do you anticipate demand will change within the United States for purified CMC in
the future? What principal factors that will affect these changes in demand?
Increase

(b)

Decrease

Fluctuate

No change

How do you anticipate demand will change outside the United States for purified CMC to
in the future? What principal factors that will affect these changes in demand?
Increase

Decrease

Fluctuate

No change

III-12. Market studies.--Please provide as a separate attachment to this request any studies, surveys, etc.
that you are aware of that quantify and/or otherwise discuss purified CMC supply (including
production capacity and capacity utilization) and demand in (1) the United States, (2) each of the
other major producing/consuming countries, including Finland, Mexico, the Netherlands, and
Sweden, and (3) the world as a whole. Of particular interest is such data from 2005 to the present
and forecasts for the future.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Purified CMC (731-TA-1084-1087 (Review))

Page 14

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-13. Changes in factors affecting supply.--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 U.S.-produced purified CMC in the U.S.
market since 2005?
No

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.

III-14. 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 purified CMC (check ALL that
apply)?
No
Yes--Purchases of domestic product are required by law or regulation (for example,
percent of
government purchases under “Buy American” provisions). This involves
all our purchases of purified CMC.
Yes--Purchases of domestic product are not required by law or regulation, but are by our
percent of all our purchases of purified CMC.
customers. This involves
Yes--Purchases of domestic product are required for other reasons (please specify these
percent of all our purchases of purified CMC.
reasons below). This involves

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Purified CMC (731-TA-1084-1087 (Review))

Page 15

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-15. Cyclical/seasonal U.S. demand.—Was total U.S. demand for purified CMC subject to any
cyclical/seasonal fluctuations, product cycles, or other U.S. conditions of competition distinctive
to purified CMC during January 2005-September 2010?
No--skip to the next question

Yes

If yes—
(a) Please check below the type(s) of demand fluctuations and then discuss the nature and timing
of these fluctuations during January 2005-September 2010. In addition indicate whether any
business cycles result from changes in the overall economy and/or specific downstream sectors.
Cyclical (longer than one year for complete cycle)
Seasonal (within one year for complete cycle)
Product cycle (completed

within one year, or

longer than one year—Check one)

Other competitive condition(s) (specify

)

Discussion: --In addition, identify, if applicable, peak and lowest demand months in a year.

(b) Have there been any changes in the business cycles or conditions of competition in specific
U.S. sectors using purified CMC or for total purified CMC in the U.S. market since January
2005?
No

Yes-- Please describe.

(c) Explain how any U.S. cyclical/seasonal/other demand fluctuations affected your firm’s
purchase prices and quantities of purified CMC in the U.S. market at any time(s) during January
2005-September 2010.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Purified CMC (731-TA-1084-1087 (Review))

Page 16

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-16. Decisions based on producer.--Does your firm, and to the extent that you know, do your
customers make purchasing decisions involving purified CMC based on the producer of the
purified CMC 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:

III-17. Decisions based on country-of-origin.--Does your firm, and to the extent that you know, do
your customers make purchasing decisions involving purified CMC based on the country of
origin of the purified CMC 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:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Purified CMC (731-TA-1084-1087 (Review))

Page 17

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-18. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

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

(b)

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Annually

)

Do you expect this purchasing pattern to change in the next two years?
No

Yes-- How and why do you expect these changes to occur?

III-19. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers do you generally contact before making a
purchase?
firms
III-20. Supplier negotiations.-(a)

Do purchases of purified CMC 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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Purified CMC (731-TA-1084-1087 (Review))

Page 18

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-21. Change in suppliers.--Have you changed suppliers since 2005?
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-22. New suppliers.-(a)

Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have entered the
market since 2005?
No

(b)

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

Do you expect new purified CMC suppliers to enter the U.S. market in the future?
No

Yes--Please provide details, noting the specific future time period in
your response.

III-23. Supplier qualification
(a) Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified to sell purified CMC to
your firm?
No

Yes--

percent of value 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.)

days.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Purified CMC (731-TA-1084-1087 (Review))

Page 19

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-24. Failure to certify.--Since 2005, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their attempts to
certify or qualify their purified CMC 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.

III-25. Purchasing factors.--For the factors listed below, please rate each in terms of its importance in
your purchase decision for purified CMC.
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 .........................
Technical support/service ...............
U.S. transportation costs .................
Other (specify):
........
........
........

Somewhat
important

Not
important

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Purified CMC (731-TA-1084-1087 (Review))

Page 20

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-26. 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 purified CMC for any one
order (examples include current availability, extension of credit, prearranged contracts, price,
quality, range of supplier’s product line, traditional supplier, etc.).
1.
2.
3.
Other factors or comments:

III-27. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of purified CMC?

III-28. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the purified CMC
that is offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

III-29. Price leaders.—(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). Please list the names of any firms you considered price leaders in the purified CMC
market since 2005, 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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Purified CMC (731-TA-1084-1087 (Review))

Page 21

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-30. Changes in U.S. industry.-(a)

Please identify and discuss any improvements/changes in the U.S. purified CMC industry
since 2005 and explain the factors, including the orders under review, that were
responsible for each improvement/change.

(b)

Please discuss any improvements/changes that you anticipate in the future in the U.S.
purified CMC industry. Identify the time period and causes for these
improvements/changes.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Purified CMC (731-TA-1084-1087 (Review))

Page 22

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-31. Effect of revocation.--What do you think will be the likely effects of any revocation of the
antidumping duty orders for imports of purified CMC from Finland, Mexico, the Netherlands,
and Sweden? As appropriate, please discuss any potential effects of revocation of the
antidumping duty order on (1) the future activities of your firm and (2) the U.S. market as a
whole. Please note the future time period to which you are referring. Attach additional pages if
necessary.
(1) Activities of your firm:

(2) Entire U.S. market:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Purified CMC (731-TA-1084-1087 (Review))

Page 23

PART IV.-- PRODUCT COMPARISIONS
IV-1.

Country knowledge.--Please indicate the countries of origin for purified CMC for which your
firm has actual marketing/pricing knowledge.
United States

Finland

Mexico

Netherlands

Sweden

Other countries (Please specify
IV-2.

)

Interchangeability by country-pair.--Is purified CMC 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 countrypair.1
Country-pair

Finland

Mexico

Netherlands

Sweden

Other countries

United States

Finland
Mexico
Netherlands
Sweden
1

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Purified CMC (731-TA-1084-1087 (Review))

Page 24

PART IV.-- PRODUCT COMPARISIONS--Continued
IV-3.

Factors other than price.--Are differences other than price (i.e., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between purified CMC produced in
the United States and in other countries a significant factor in your firm’s purchases 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

Finland

Mexico

Netherlands

Sweden

Other countries

United States

Finland
Mexico
Netherlands
Sweden
1
For any country-pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant factor in your
firm’s purchases of purified CMC, identify the country-pair and report the advantages or disadvantages
imparted by such factors:

IV-4.

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

IV-5.

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

Choice of product not based on price.--If you purchased purified CMC from one source
although a comparable product was available from another source at a lower price, please explain
your reasons for doing so (please specify by country, including the United States and both subject
and nonsubject foreign countries). Possibilities might include transaction characteristics such as
length of time to fill orders, minimum order size, reliability of supply, etc.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Purified CMC (731-TA-1084-1087 (Review))

Page 25

PART IV.-- PRODUCT COMPARISIONS--Continued
IV-6. Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how purified CMC
produced in each country you identified in your response to the first question in Part IV compares with
purified CMC 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..........................................
Reliability of supply .................................
Technical support/service .......................
U.S. transportation costs1 .......................
Other (specify):

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

compared to
product from

Superior

compared to
product from

Inferior

product from

Comparable

product from

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Quality

Superior

product from
United States
compared to
product from

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Purified CMC (731-TA-1084-1087 (Review))

Page 26

PART IV.-- PRODUCT COMPARISIONS--Continued

Continued.

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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Purified CMC (731-TA-1084-1087 (Review))

Page 27

PART IV.-- PRODUCT COMPARISIONS--Continued
IV-7.

Minimum quality.-(a)

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

(b)

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or never

How often does imported subject purified CMC meet minimum quality specifications for
your uses or your customers’ uses?

Source

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or
never

Finland
Mexico
Netherlands
Sweden

(c)

How often does imported nonsubject purified CMC (i.e., purified CMC from countries
other than Finland, Mexico, Netherlands, and Sweden) meet minimum quality
specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?
Source
_____________
_____________
_____________

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or
never

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Purified CMC (731-TA-1084-1087 (Review))

Page 28

PART IV.-- PRODUCT COMPARISIONS--Continued
IV-8.

Change in price.-(a)

Since 2005, has there been a change in the price of purified CMC? If so, has the price of
U.S.-produced purified CMC changed more or less than the price of imported purified
CMC from Finland, Mexico, Netherlands, and Sweden?
No change in price
Prices have changed by the same amount
Price of U.S.-produced purified CMC has changed relative to the price of purified
CMC from Finland
Price of U.S.-produced purified CMC has changed relative to the price of purified
CMC from Mexico
Price of U.S.-produced purified CMC has changed relative to the price of purified
CMC from Netherlands
Price of U.S.-produced purified CMC has changed relative to the price of purified
CMC from Sweden

(b)

If the price of U.S.-produced purified CMC has changed relative to the price of purified
CMC from Finland, Mexico, Netherlands, and Sweden, the price of U.S.-produced
purified CMC is now relatively
Higher
Higher
Higher
Higher

Lower - than purified CMC from Finland
Lower - than purified CMC from Mexico
Lower - than purified CMC from Netherlands
Lower - than purified CMC from Sweden

File Type	application/pdf
File Title	T:\Active Cases\Carboxymethylcellouse Review\Questionnaires\OMB Submission Form.wpd
Author	cynthia.trainor
File Modified	2010-10-29
File Created	2010-10-21