Form 11-3-2920 US Purchaser questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 11-3-2920; Expiration Date: 6/30/2011
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
CERTAIN HOT-ROLLED FLAT-ROLLED CARBON-QUALITY STEEL PRODUCTS FROM
BRAZIL, JAPAN, AND RUSSIA

This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than January 10, 2011
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 five-year reviews concerning the countervailing duty order (Brazil), antidumping duty orders (Brazil
and Japan), and suspension agreement (Russia) on hot-rolled steel (inv. nos. 701-TA-384 and 731-TA-806-808 (Second
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 Craig Thomsen (202-205-3226, craig.thomsen@usitc.gov).

Name of firm
Address
State

City

Zip Code

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

NO

(Sign the certification below and promptly return only this page of the questionnaire to the Commission)

YES

(Read the instruction booklet carefully, complete all parts of the questionnaire, and return the entire
questionnaire to the Commission so as to be received by the date indicated above)

CERTIFICATION
I certify that the information herein supplied in response to this questionnaire is complete and correct to the best of my knowledge
and belief and understand that the information submitted is subject to audit and verification by the Commission.
By 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 proceeding 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 this proceeding 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 proceeding 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 (

)

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Hot-Rolled Steel

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.

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 hot-rolled steel from Brazil, Japan, and
Russia into the United States or which are engaged in exporting hot-rolled steel from Brazil,
Japan, and Russia to the United States?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

Address

Affiliation

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Hot-Rolled Steel

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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 hot-rolled steel from countries other than
Brazil, Japan, and Russia into the United States or which are engaged in exporting hot-rolled steel
from countries other than Brazil, Japan, and Russia 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 hot-rolled steel?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

Address

Affiliation

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 hot-rolled steel?
No

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

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Hot-Rolled Steel

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PART II.--PURCHASES
Please identify the individual to be contacted regarding the confidential information requested in
parts II, III, and IV.
Name and title:
Please indicate the manner by which Commission staff may contact the individual responsible for
parts II to IV with questions regarding the submitted confidential information.
E-mail:
Fax: (
II-1.

Telephone: (

)

)

Purchases.--Report, as indicated below, your firm’s purchases (either directly or through a sales
agent or broker) of hot-rolled steel. Report based on delivery date, not order date.
If exact full-year 2010 data are unavailable by January 10, 2011, you may enter an estimate for
2010, but full-year 2010 data must be updated no later than February 7, 2011.

Quantity (in SHORT TONS) and value (in $1,000)
Item
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Purchases of hot-rolled steel produced in-The United States:
Quantity
Value
Brazil:
Quantity
Value
Japan:
Quantity
Value
Russia:
Quantity
Value
All other countries:1
Quantity
Value
1
Please identify these countries:

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

Purchases before and after order.-(a)

Did your firm purchase hot-rolled steel from Brazil, Japan, and Russia before 1999?
No--skip to (c)

(b)

Yes (Please specify country

)

If yes, has your pattern of purchasing hot-rolled steel from Brazil, Japan, and Russia
changed since 1999?
No, our pattern of purchasing is essentially unchanged.
Yes, we discontinued purchases from Brazil, Japan, and Russia because of the
orders/suspension agreement.
(Please specify country
)
Yes, we reduced purchases from Brazil, Japan, and Russia because of the
orders/suspension agreement.
(Please specify country
)
Yes, but we changed the pattern of purchases from Brazil, Japan, and Russia for
reasons other than the orders/suspension agreement.
(Please explain and specify country

)

(c)

Has your pattern of purchasing hot-rolled steel from nonsubject foreign sources (i.e.,
countries other than Brazil, Japan, and Russia) changed since 1999?
We did not purchase from nonsubject foreign sources before or after the
orders/suspension agreement.
No, our pattern of purchasing is essentially unchanged.
Yes, we increased purchases from nonsubject countries because of the
orders/suspension agreement.
Yes, but we changed our pattern of purchases from nonsubject countries for reasons
other than the order (please explain below).

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Hot-Rolled Steel

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

Changes in purchasing patterns.-- Please indicate how the relative levels of your firm’s
purchases of hot-rolled steel from different sources (both domestic and foreign) have changed
since 1999 (the year the orders and suspension agreement under review became effective).
Source of purchases
The United States

Trend
Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated

Brazil

Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated

Japan

Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated

Russia

Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated

All other countries

Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated

Explanation for trend

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Hot-Rolled Steel

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

Purchases from one country only.--If your firm has purchased hot-rolled steel 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 hot-rolled steel based on quantity supplied/purchased since 2005. Please also
provide the name and telephone number of a contact person and the share of the quantity of your
firm’s total purchases of hot-rolled steel that each of these suppliers accounted for in 2010.
Supplier’s
name

No.
1

2

3

4

5

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

Contact person

Share of
Telephone number
2010
or e-mail address purchases
(%)

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

III-2.

Firm type.--Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of hot-rolled steel
(check all that apply, noting the specific end uses if known)?
Automotive assembler/supplier (

)

Transportation (non-automotive) equipment producer (

)

Machinery and equipment producers (

)

Construction equipment producer (

)

Consumer and household goods producer (

)

Tubular products producer (

)

Processor/service center (

)

Distributor (

)

Other (Describe:

)

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

III-3.

Yes--Please describe

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

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PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-4.

Contract versus spot.--Approximately what share of your firm’s purchases of hot-rolled steel in
2010 were on a (1) long-term contract basis (multiple deliveries for more than 12 months), (2)
short-term contract basis (multiple deliveries up to and including 12 months), and (3) spot sales
basis (for a single delivery)?

Type of sale

Share of purchases (percent)
United States

Subject countries

Nonsubject countries

Long-term
contracts
Short-term
contracts
Spot sales

III-5.

III-6.

Long-term contact provisions.--If you purchase 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?

Yes

Quantity

No
Price

Yes

Both
No

Short-term contract provisions.--If you purchase 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?

Yes

Quantity

No
Price

Yes

Both
No

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Hot-Rolled Steel

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

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

Product(s) you produce

Share of cost accounted for by
hot-rolled steel (percent)

1.
2.
3.

III-8.

Demand for end use products.-(a)

If your firm is an end user of hot-rolled steel, has the demand for your firm’s final
products incorporating hot-rolled steel changed since 2005?
Increased

(b)

Fluctuated

No change

Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for hot-rolled steel?
No

III-9.

Decreased

Yes--Please describe.

Changes in end uses.--Have there been any changes in the end uses of hot-rolled steel
since 2005?
No

Yes--Please describe.

III-10. Anticipated changes in end uses.--Do you anticipate any changes in terms of the end uses of
hot-rolled steel in the future?
No

Yes--Please describe.

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PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-11. Substitutes.--Can other products be substituted for hot-rolled steel?
No

Substitute product

Yes--Please fill out the table below.

Description of applications
or end uses

Have changes in the prices of this substitute
affected the price of hot-rolled steel since
January 1, 2005

1.

No

Yes--please explain.

2.

No

Yes--please explain.

3.

No

Yes--please explain.

III-12. Changes in substitutes.--Have there been any changes in the number or types of products that
can be substituted for hot-rolled steel since 2005?
No

Yes--Please explain.

III-13. Anticipated changes in substitutes.--Do you anticipate any changes in terms of the
substitutability of other products for hot-rolled steel in the future?
No

Yes--Please describe.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Hot-Rolled Steel

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PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-14. Demand trends.-(a)

How has the demand within the United States for hot-rolled steel changed since 2005?
What principal factors affect changes in demand?
Increased

(b)

Decreased

Fluctuated

No change

How has the demand outside the United States (if known) for hot-rolled steel changed
since 2005? What principal factors affect changes in demand? If your answer differs for
specific markets outside the United States (i.e., specific regions, or developed v.
developing markets), please specify.
Increased

Decreased

Fluctuated

No change

III-15. Anticipated demand trends.-(a)

How do you anticipate demand will change within the United States for hot-rolled steel in
the future? What principal factors are likely to affect demand?
Increase

(b)

Decrease

Fluctuate

No change

How do you anticipate demand will change outside the United States for hot-rolled steel
to in the future? What principal factors are likely to affect demand?
Increase

Decrease

Fluctuate

No change

III-16. 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 hot-rolled steel supply (including
production capacity and capacity utilization) and demand in (1) the United States, (2) each of the
other major producing/consuming countries, including Brazil, Japan, and Russia, and (3) the
world as a whole. Of particular interest is such data from 2005 to the present and forecasts for the
future.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Hot-Rolled Steel

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PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-17. Changes in factors affecting supply.--Have any changes occurred in any other factors affecting
supply e.g., safeguard or other trade actions; changes in availability or prices of raw materials,
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 and/or imported hot-rolled steel 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-18. 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 hot-rolled steel (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 hot-rolled steel.
Yes--Purchases of domestic product are not required by law or regulation, but are by our
percent of all our purchases of hot-rolled steel.
customers. This involves
Yes--Purchases of domestic product are required for other reasons (please specify these
percent of all our purchases of hot-rolled steel.
reasons below). This involves

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PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-19. Conditions of competition.-(a) Is the hot-rolled steel market subject to business cycles or conditions of competition other than
the changes in the overall economy?
No

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

(b) Have the business cycles or conditions of competition for hot-rolled steel changed since
January 1, 2005?
No

Yes-- Please describe any such change.

III-20. Decisions based on producer.--Does your firm, and to the extent that you know, do your
customers make purchasing decisions involving hot-rolled steel based on the producer of the hotrolled steel 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 - Hot-Rolled Steel

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PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-21. Decisions based on country-of-origin.--Does your firm, and to the extent that you know, do
your customers make purchasing decisions involving hot-rolled steel based on the country of
origin of the hot-rolled steel 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-22. 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-23. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers do you generally contact before making a
purchase?
firms

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PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-24. Supplier negotiations.-(a)

Do purchases of hot-rolled steel 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-25. 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.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Hot-Rolled Steel

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PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-26. 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 hot-rolled steel 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-27. Supplier qualification.-(a) Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified to sell hot-rolled steel
to your firm?
No

Yes--

percent of value of purchases in 2010

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-28. Failure to certify.--Since 2005, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their attempts to
certify or qualify their hot-rolled steel 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.

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PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-29. Product characteristics.--Indicate in the table below whether you require any of the listed
product characteristics in the hot-rolled steel that you purchase and, if so, whether you would
consider purchasing hot-rolled steel from the countries listed:

DO YOU REQUIRE (Y or N):

If “yes,” would you purchase from (indicate Y, N,
or 0 for Ano knowledge@):

U.S.
surface quality (i.e. skin passed)
tight gauge control
steel cleanliness
coil-to-coil and batch-to-batch consistency
cut-edge
tight chemistry tolerances (carbon or other
elements)
formability

Brazil

Japan

Russia

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Hot-Rolled Steel

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PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-30. Purchasing factors.--For the factors listed below, please rate each in terms of its importance in
your purchase decision for hot-rolled steel.
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

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PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-31. 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 hot-rolled steel for any one
order (examples include availability, extension of credit, contracts, price, quality, range of
supplier=s product line, traditional supplier, etc.).
1.
2.
3.
Other factors or comments:

III-32. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of hot-rolled steel?

III-33. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the hot-rolled steel
that is offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

III-34. Surcharges.-(a)

Since 2005, has your firm paid surcharges on its purchases of hot-rolled steel for:
Raw materials

Fuel

Energy

Transportation

Other:

(b)

Which suppliers utilized surcharges and during what time frame?

(c)

How were the surcharge(s) determined (e.g., which indices were used)?

(d)

Please describe how surcharges have changed since 2005?

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PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-35. Price leaders.--Please list the names of any firms you considered price leaders in the hot-rolled
steel market since 2005. A price leader is defined as (1) one or more firms that initiate a
price change, either upward or downward, that is followed by other firms, or (2) one or
more firms that have a significant impact on prices. A price leader does not necessarily
have to be the lowest priced supplier. For those firms identified as a price leader, please
specify the time period in which a price change was communicated, whether the price
change was upward or downward, and whether it covered a specific geographic region or
a specific product type. Please describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership.

III-36. Changes in U.S. industry.-(a)

Please identify and discuss any improvements/changes in the U.S. hot-rolled steel
industry since 2005 and explain the factor(s), including the orders/suspension agreement
under review, that was/(were) responsible for each improvement/change.

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PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-37. Changes in U.S. industry.--Continued
(b)

Please discuss any improvements/changes that you anticipate in the future in the U.S.
hot-rolled steel industry. Identify the time period and causes for these
improvements/changes.

III-38. Effect of revocation.-What do you think will be the likely effects of any revocation of the subject
countervailing duty order (Brazil), antidumping duty orders (Brazil and Japan), and suspension
agreement (Russia) on hot-rolled steel? As appropriate, please discuss any potential effects of
revocation of the countervailing duty and antidumping duty orders on (1) the future activities of
your firm and (2) the U.S. market as a whole. Please indicate if your response differes for
particular orders or the suspension agreement. 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:

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PART IV.--PRODUCT COMPARISONS
IV-1.

Country knowledge.--Please indicate the countries of origin for hot-rolled steel for which your
firm has actual marketing/pricing knowledge.
United States
Brazil
Japan
Russia
Other countries (Please specify

IV-2.

)

Interchangeability by country-pair.--Is hot-rolled steel 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

Brazil

Japan

Russia

Other countries

United States
Brazil
Japan
Russia
1

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

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

Factors other than price.--Are differences other than price (i.e., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between hot-rolled steel 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

Brazil

Japan

Russia

Other countries

United States
Brazil
Japan
Russia
1

For any country-pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant factor in
your firm’s purchases of hot-rolled steel, identify the country-pair and report the advantages or
disadvantages imparted by such factors:

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

Availability of merchandise.--Are certain grades/types/sizes of hot-rolled steel 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 hot-rolled steel 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 - Hot-Rolled Steel

Page 26

PART IV.--PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
IV-6. Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how hot-rolled steel
produced in each country you identified in your response to the first question in Part IV compares with
hot-rolled steel 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):

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

Superior

Inferior

compared to
product from

Comparable

compared to
product from

Superior

compared to
product from

Inferior

product from

Comparable

product from

Superior

Quality

product from

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Hot-Rolled Steel

Page 27

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..........................................
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

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 - Hot-Rolled Steel

Page 28

PART IV.--PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
IV-7.

Minimum quality.-(a)

How often does domestically produced hot-rolled steel meet minimum quality
specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?
Always

(b)

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or never

How often does imported subject hot-rolled steel meet minimum quality specifications
for your uses or your customers’ uses?

Source

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or
never

Brazil
Japan
Russia

(c)

How often does imported nonsubject hot-rolled steel (i.e., hot-rolled steel from countries
other than Brazil, Japan, and Russia) meet minimum quality specifications for your uses
or your customers’ uses?
Source

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or
never

Nonsubject country
Nonsubject country
Nonsubject country

IV-8.

Change in price.-(a)

Since 2005, has there been a change in the price of hot-rolled steel? If so, has the price of
U.S.-produced hot-rolled steel changed more or less than the price of imported hot-rolled
steel from Brazil, Japan, and Russia?
No change in price
Prices have changed by the same amount
Price of U.S.-produced hot-rolled steel has increased relative to the price of hotrolled steel from Brazil
Price of U.S.-produced hot-rolled steel has increased relative to the price of hotrolled steel from Japan
Price of U.S.-produced hot-rolled steel has increased relative to the price of hotrolled steel from Russia
Price of U.S.-produced hot-rolled steel has decreased relative to the price of hotrolled steel from Brazil
Price of U.S.-produced hot-rolled steel has decreased relative to the price of hotrolled steel from Japan
Price of U.S.-produced hot-rolled steel has decreased relative to the price of hotrolled steel from Russia