14-3-3171 Purchaser Questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 14-3-3171; Expiration Date: 6/30/2014
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
PERSULFATES FROM CHINA

This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than October 21, 2013
See page 5 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 persulfates from China (Inv. No. 731-TA-749 (Third
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 Aimee Larsen (202-205-3179, aimee.larsen@usitc.gov).

Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

World Wide Web address
Has your firm purchased persulfates (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)

Return questionnaire via the U.S. International Trade Commission Drop Box by clicking
on the following link: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/. (use the following PIN: PERSR3)
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

Date

Phone:
Signature

Email address
Fax

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Persulfates from China

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PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
The questions in this questionnaire have been reviewed with market participants to ensure that issues of
concern are adequately addressed and that data requests are sufficient, meaningful, and as limited as
possible. Public reporting burden for this questionnaire is estimated to average 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?
No

Firm name

Yes--List the following information.

Address

Extent of
ownership (e.g.,
percent of
ownership)

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Persulfates from China

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

I-5.

Related SUBJECT importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either
domestic or foreign, that are engaged in importing persulfates from China into the United States
or that are engaged in exporting persulfates from China to the United States?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

Address

Related NONSUBJECT importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either
domestic or foreign, that are engaged in importing persulfates from countries other than China
into the United States or that are engaged in exporting persulfates from countries other than China
to the United States?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name and country

I-6.

I-7.

Affiliation

Address

Affiliation

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

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

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PART II.--PURCHASES
Contact information.-- Please identify the responsible individual and the manner by which Commission
staff may contact that individual regarding the confidential information submitted in this questionnaire.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
Fax

II-1.

Purchases.—
(a)

Please estimate your firm’s total purchases of persulfates in 2012.
Quantity (units)

(b)

Estimate the percentage of the quantity of your firm’s purchases of persulfates in 2012
that were produced in each of the specified countries.
Persulfates produced in:

Share of quantity of 2012 purchases
%

United States

%

China
All other countries:

1

%
Total

1

II-2.

100

%

Please identify these countries:

What share of your firm’s purchases of persulfates was used in each of the following end use
applications in 2012?

End use applications
Cosmetics and pharmaceuticals
Electronics (e.g., printed circuit board etchants)
Environmental remediation
Oil and gas recovery
Polymerization applications (plastics, synthetic rubber, adhesives)
Pool and spa supply
Pulp and paper
Textiles
Other:
Total

Share of
quantity of 2012
purchases
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
100 %

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Persulfates from China

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PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES --Continued
II-3.

Changes in purchasing patterns.-- Please indicate how the relative levels of your firm’s
purchases of persulfates from different sources (both domestic and foreign) have changed
since 2007.
Source of
purchases

Did not Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated
purchase

Explanation for
trend

United States

China

All other
countries

II-4.

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

II-5.

Supplier identification.-- Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers for persulfates since
2007. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s total purchases of persulfates that
each of these suppliers accounted for in 2012.

No.

Supplier’s name

City and state

Share of quantity of
2012 purchases

1

%

2

%

3

%

4

%

5

%

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Persulfates from China

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

Firm type.--Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of persulfates (check
all that apply)?
End user

Distributor

Other

Describe other

If your firm is a distributor or reseller of persulfates, please answer questions III-2 and III-3.
III-2.

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

III-3.

Yes

If yes, please describe.

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

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PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES --Continued
If your firm is an end user of persulfates, please answer questions III-4 and III-5.
III-4.

End uses.--List the top 3 products you make using persulfates and estimate the percent of your
total production cost that is accounted for by persulfates and by other inputs (such as labor,
energy, and other raw materials).
Share of total cost in each of the product(s) you
produce accounted for by
Product(s) you produce

III-5.

Persulfates

Other inputs

Total

%

+

%

= 100%

%

+

%

= 100%

%

+

%

= 100%

Demand for end use products.-(a)

If your firm is an end user of persulfates, has the demand for your firm’s final products
incorporating persulfates changed since 2007?
Increased

(b)

No change

Decreased

Fluctuated

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

Yes

Explain

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Persulfates from China

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PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES --Continued
III-6.

Changes in end uses.-- Have there been any changes in the end uses of persulfates since 2007?
Do you anticipate any future changes?
Changes in end
uses

No

Yes

Explain

Changes since
2007
Anticipated
changes

III-7.

Substitutes.--Can other products be substituted for persulfates?
No

Substitute

Yes--Please fill out the table.

End use in which this
substitute is used

Have changes in the price of this substitute
affected the price for persulfates?
No Yes

Explanation

1.
2.
3.

III-8.

Changes in substitutes.-- Have there been any changes in the number or types of products that
can be substituted for persulfates since 2007? Do you anticipate any future changes?
Changes in
substitutes
Changes since
2007
Anticipated
changes

No Yes

Explain

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Persulfates from China

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

Demand trends.-- Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United States
(if known) for persulfates has changed since January 1, 2007, and how you anticipate demand
will change in the future. Explain any trends and describe the principal factors that have affected,
and that you anticipate will affect, these changes in demand.

Market

Overall
No
increase change

Overall
decrease

Fluctuate
with no
clear trend

Explanation and factors

Demand since 2007
Within
the United
States
Outside
the United
States
Anticipated future demand
Within
the United
States
Outside
the United
States

III-10. 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 persulfates supply (including
production capacity and capacity utilization) and demand in (1) the United States, (2) each of the
other major producing/consuming countries, including China, and (3) the world as a whole. Of
particular interest is such data from 2007 to the present and forecasts for the future.
III-11. 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 persulfates in the U.S.
market since 2007?
No

Yes

Explain

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Persulfates from China

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PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES --Continued
III-12. 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 persulfates (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 our purchases of persulfates.
Yes--Purchases of domestic product are not required by law or regulation, but are by our
customers. This involves
percent of all our purchases of persulfates.
Yes--Purchases of domestic product are required for other reasons (please specify these
reasons below). This involves
percent of all our purchases of persulfates.

III-13. Conditions of competition.-(a) Is the persulfates market subject to business cycles (other than general economy-wide
conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to persulfates?
No (skip to question III-14.)
Yes-Business cycles (e.g., seasonal business).
Yes-Other distinctive conditions of competition.
If yes, describe below.

Business cycles
Other conditions
of competition

(b) If yes, have there been any changes in the business cycles or conditions of competition for
persulfates since January 1, 2007?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Persulfates from China

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PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES --Continued
III-14. Decisions based on producer.--Does your firm, and to the extent that you know, do your
customers make purchasing decisions involving persulfates based on the producer of the
persulfates you purchase?

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

If at least sometimes, discuss
how your firm/customers
determine the producer and why
this information is important

Your firm
Your
customers

III-15. Decisions based on country-of-origin.--Does your firm, and to the extent that you know, do
your customers make purchasing decisions involving persulfates based on the country of origin of
the persulfates you purchase?

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

If at least sometimes, discuss
how your firm/customers
determine the source and why
this information is important

Your firm
Your
customers

III-16. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

How frequently do you make purchases of persulfates (check one)?
Daily

(b)

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Annually

Other

If other, specify

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

Yes

If yes, how and why do you expect these changes to occur?

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PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES --Continued
III-17. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers do you generally contact before making a
purchase?
firms
III-18. Supplier negotiations.-(a)

Do purchases of persulfates usually involve negotiations between supplier and purchaser?

No

(b)

Yes

If yes, please describe these negotiations, noting 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

If yes, specify the time period.

III-19. Change in suppliers.--Have you changed suppliers since 2007?

No

Yes

If yes, please list the supplier(s), whether the firm was added or
dropped, the reasons for the change, and how frequently you
change suppliers.

III-20. New suppliers.-(a)

Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have entered the
market since 2007?

No

(b)

Yes

If yes, please identify the firms and indicate how you became aware
of them.

Do you expect new persulfates suppliers to enter the U.S. market?
No

Yes

If yes, please provide details.

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PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES --Continued
III-21. Supplier qualification
(a)

Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified to sell persulfates
to your firm?
No

(b)

Yes--

percent of value of purchases in 2012

Yes--all purchases

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-22. Failure to certify.--Since 2007, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their attempts to
certify or qualify their persulfates with your firm or have any producers lost their approved
status?

No

Yes

If yes, please identify these firms, the countries where they are located,
and the reasons why they failed the certification/qualification.

III-23. 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 persulfates 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.
Please list any other factors that are very important in your purchase decisions:

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PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES --Continued
III-24. Purchasing factors.--For the factors listed below, please rate each in terms of its importance in
your purchase decision for persulfates.
Very
important
Availability .......................................
Delivery terms .................................
Delivery time ...................................
Discounts offered ............................
Extension of credit...........................
Minimum quantity requirements ......
Packaging .......................................
Price ................................................
Product consistency ........................
Quality meets industry standards....
Quality exceeds industry standards
Product range..................................
Reliability of supply .........................
Technical support/service ...............
U.S. transportation costs .................

Somewhat
important

Not
important

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Persulfates from China

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

III-25. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of persulfates?

III-26. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the persulfates that
are offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

III-27. 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 is not necessarily the lowest-priced supplier.
Please list the names of any firms you considered price leaders in the persulfates market since
2007. Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Persulfates from China

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PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES --Continued
III-28. Changes in U.S. industry.-(a)

Please identify and discuss any improvements/changes in the U.S. persulfates industry
since 2007 and explain the factors, including the order(s) 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.
persulfates industry. Identify the time period and causes for these
improvements/changes.

III-29. Effect of revocation.--What do you think will be the likely effects of any revocation of the
antidumping duty order for imports of persulfates from China? 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.
(1) Activities of
your firm
(2) Entire U.S.
market

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Persulfates from China

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PART IV.-- PRODUCT COMPARISIONS
IV-1.

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

IV-2.

China

Other countries (specify)

Interchangeability by country-pair.--Are persulfates produced in the United States and in other
countries interchangeable (i.e., can they physically be used in the same applications)?
Please indicate A, F, S, N, or 0 in the table below:
A = the products from a specified country-pair are always interchangeable
F = the products are frequently interchangeable
S = the products are sometimes interchangeable
N = the products are never interchangeable
0 = no familiarity with products from a specified country-pair
Country-pair

China

Other countries

United States
China

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

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Persulfates from China

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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 persulfates produced in
the United States and in other countries a significant factor in your firm’s purchases of the
products?
Please indicate A, F, S, N, or 0 in the table below:
A = such differences are always significant
F = such differences are frequently significant
S = such differences are sometimes significant
N = such differences are never significant
0 = no familiarity with products from a specified country-pair
Country-pair

China

Other countries

United States
China

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

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Persulfates from China

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PART IV.-- PRODUCT COMPARISIONS--Continued
IV-4.

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

IV-5.

Yes

If yes, please identify the source and the grade/type/size.

Choice of product not based on price.--If you purchased persulfates 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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PART IV.-- PRODUCT COMPARISIONS--Continued
IV-6. Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how persulfates produced
in each country you identified in your response to the first question in Part IV compares with persulfates
produced in each of the other countries you identified (including the United States and both subject and
nonsubject foreign countries).

Inferior

Comparable

Persulfates from
China
compared to
persulfates from
Nonsubject
countries

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Persulfates from
United States
compared to
persulfates from
Nonsubject
countries

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

Persulfates from
United States
compared to
persulfates from
China

Availability ...............................................
Delivery terms .........................................
Delivery time ...........................................
Discounts offered ....................................
Extension of credit...................................
Minimum quantity requirements ..............
Packaging ...............................................
Price1 .......................................................
Product consistency ................................
Quality meets industry standards............
Quality exceeds industry standards ........
Product range..........................................
Reliability of supply .................................
Technical support/service .......................
U.S. transportation costs1 .......................
1

A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has
lower prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.

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

Minimum quality.--How often do persulfates from the following countries meet minimum
quality specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?
Source

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or
never

Don’t
know

United States
China
Other:
Other:

IV-8.

Change in price.-(a)

Since 2007, has there been a change in the price of persulfates? If so, has the price of
U.S.-produced persulfates changed more or less than the price of imported persulfates
from China?
No change in price
Prices have changed by the same amount
Price of U.S.-produced persulfates has changed relative to the price of persulfates
from China.

(b)

If the price of U.S.-produced persulfates has changed relative to the price of persulfates
from China, the price of U.S.-produced persulfates is now relatively
Higher

Lower – than those from China.