14-3-3277 U.S. Purchaser Questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 14-3-3277; Expiration Date: 6/30/2017
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
CERTAIN LIGHTWEIGHT THERMAL PAPER FROM CHINA AND GERMANY

This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than SEPTEMBER 5, 2014
See 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 countervailing duty and antidumping duty orders concerning certain lightweight thermal
paper from China and Germany (Inv. No. 701-TA-451 and 731-TA-1126-1127 (Reviews)). 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 Amelia Preece
(202-205-3250, amelia.preece@usitc.gov).
Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

World Wide Web address
Has your firm purchased certain lightweight thermal paper (as defined in the instruction booklet) from any source
(domestic or foreign) at any time since January 1, 2008? For purposes of this questionnaire, you should consider
your firm a “purchaser” if your firm purchases either jumbo or slit rolls. If your firm purchases jumbo rolls and
converts the rolls through slitting and/or printing operations in the United States, your firm should complete both
the U.S. Producer and U.S. Purchaser Questionnaires.

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: LWTP)
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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain LW Thermal Paper

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, if different from that listed on the cover page (see page 3 of the instruction booklet
for reporting guidelines).

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
(percent)

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain LW Thermal Paper

Page 3

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

Related SUBJECT importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either
domestic or foreign, that import certain LW thermal paper from China or Germany into the
United States or that export certain LW thermal paper from China or Germany to the United
States?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

I-5.

Address

Related NONSUBJECT importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either
domestic or foreign, that import certain LW thermal paper from countries other than China and
Germany into the United States or that export certain LW thermal paper from countries other than
China and Germany to the United States?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name and country

I-6.

Address

Affiliation

Related producers.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, that
produce certain LW thermal paper?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name and country

I-7.

Affiliation

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 certain LW thermal
paper?

No

Yes

If yes, please provide these documents. If you are not providing
the requested documents, please explain why not.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain LW Thermal Paper

Page 4

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 U.S. purchases of certain LW thermal paper by type and
source in 2013. (Do not include imports for which your firm was the importer of record;
such imports should be reported in your U.S. importer’s questionnaire).

Certain thermal paper

Quantity of 2013
U.S. purchases
(in thousands of
square feet (msf))

In jumbo rolls from:
United States
China
Germany
All other countries
Subtotal, jumbo rolls

0

In slit rolls from:
United States
China
Germany
All other countries
Subtotal, slit rolls
Total purchases

0
0

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain LW Thermal Paper

Page 5

PART II.--PURCHASES--Continued
II-1.

Purchases.—Continued
(b)

Estimate the percentage of the quantity of your firm’s 2013 purchases of certain LW
thermal paper.

Less than
2
49.9 g/m

Type/ source
Jumbo rolls purchased
from.-United States
China
Germany
All other sources
Slit rolls purchased from.-United States
China
Germany
All other sources

II-2.

2

49.9 g/m to
2
60 g/m

2

Total
(should sum
to 100.0
across)

Over 60 g/m
2
to 70 g/m

%+
%+

%+
%+

%=
%=

0 %
0 %

%+
%+

%+
%+

%=
%=

0 %
0 %

%+
%+
%+
%+

%+
%+
%+
%+

%=
%=
%=
%=

0
0
0
0

Purchases before and after orders.-(a)

Did your firm purchase certain LW thermal paper from China and/or Germany before
2008?
No--skip to (c)

(b)

Yes China

Yes Germany

If yes, has your pattern of purchasing certain LW thermal paper from China and/or
Germany changed since January 1, 2008? (check all that apply)
No, our pattern of purchasing is essentially unchanged.
Yes, we discontinued purchases from China because of the order.
Yes, we discontinued purchases from Germany because of the order.
Yes, we reduced purchases from China because of the order.
Yes, we reduced purchases from Germany because of the order.
Yes, but we changed the pattern of purchases from China and/or Germany for
reasons other than the order (please explain below, specify country).

%
%
%
%

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain LW Thermal Paper

Page 6

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

Purchases before and after orders.-- Continued
(c)

Has your pattern of purchasing certain LW thermal paper from nonsubject foreign
sources (i.e., countries other than China and/or Germany) changed since January 1, 2008?
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).

II-3.

Changes in purchasing patterns.--Please indicate how the shares of your firm’s purchases of
certain LW thermal paper from different sources have changed since January 1, 2008.
Source of
purchases

Did not Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated
purchase

Explanation for
trend

United States

China

Germany

All other
countries

II-4.

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain LW Thermal Paper

Page 7

PART II.--PURCHASES--Continued
II-5.

Supplier identification.-- Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers for certain LW thermal
paper since January 1, 2008. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s total
purchases of certain LW thermal paper that each of these suppliers accounted for in 2013.

No.

Supplier’s name

City and state

Share of quantity of
2013 purchases

1

%

2

%

3

%

4

%

5

%

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain LW Thermal Paper

Page 8

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

Firm type.--Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of certain LW
thermal paper (check all that apply)?
Converter
of jumbo
rolls into
slit rolls

End user
of slit
rolls

Distributor
of jumbo
rolls

Distributor
of slit rolls

Other

Please explain

If your firm is a distributor of certain LW thermal paper, please answer questions III-2 and III-3.
III-2.

Competition for sales.--Do you compete for sales to your customers with the manufacturers or
importers from which you purchase certain LW thermal paper?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

Jumbo
rolls
Split
rolls

III-3.

Types of customers.--What are the major types of consumers to which you sell certain LW
thermal paper?

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain LW Thermal Paper

Page 9

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

End uses.--List the top 3 products you make using certain LW thermal paper and estimate the
percent of your total production cost that is accounted for by certain LW thermal paper 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.

Certain LW thermal
paper

Other inputs

Total
(should sum
to 100.0%
across)

%

+

%

=

0 %

%

+

%

=

0 %

%

+

%

=

0 %

Demand for end use products.-(a) Has the demand for your firm’s final products incorporating certain LW thermal paper
changed since January 1, 2008?
Increased

(b)

Decreased

Fluctuated

Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for certain LW thermal paper?
No

III-6.

No change

Yes

Explain

Changes in end uses.-- Have there been any changes in the end uses of certain LW thermal paper
since January 1, 2008? Do you anticipate any future changes?
Changes in end
uses
Changes since
January 1, 2008
Anticipated
changes

No

Yes

Explain

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain LW Thermal Paper

Page 10

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

Changes in product characteristics.-- Have there been any changes they types or characteristics
of the certain LW thermal paper you typically purchase since January 1, 2008? Do you anticipate
any future changes? (Changes could include changes in the width, weight, print sensitivity,
advertising on back, caliber, BPA free, etc.).
Changes in
product
characteristics

No

Yes

Explain

Changes since
January 1, 2008
Anticipated
changes

III-8.

Substitutes.--Can other products be substituted for certain LW thermal paper?
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 certain LW thermal
paper?
No Yes

Explanation

1.
2.
3.

III-9.

Changes in substitutes.-- Have there been any changes in the number or types of products that
can be substituted for certain LW thermal paper since January 1, 2008? Do you anticipate any
future changes?
Changes in
substitutes
Changes since
January 1, 2008
Anticipated
changes

No Yes

Explain

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain LW Thermal Paper

Page 11

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-10. Demand trends.-- Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United States
(if known) for certain LW thermal paper has changed since January 1, 2008, 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 January 1, 2008
Within
the United
States
Outside
the United
States
Anticipated future demand
Within
the United
States
Outside
the United
States

III-11. 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 certain LW thermal paper 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 Germany, and (3)
the world as a whole. Of particular interest is such data from 2008 to the present and forecasts for
the future.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain LW Thermal Paper

Page 12

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-12. Availability of supply.--Has the availability of certain LW thermal paper in the U.S. market
changed since January 1, 2008? Do you anticipate any future changes?
Availability in the U.S.
market

Please explain, noting the countries and reasons for
No Yes the changes.

Changes since January 1, 2008:
U.S.-produced product
Imports from China
Imports from Germany
Nonsubject imports
Anticipated changes:
U.S.-produced product
Imports from China
Imports from Germany
Nonsubject imports

III-13. Importance of purchasing domestic product.--Please fill out the table below, estimating the
percentage of your firm’s total 2013 purchases of certain LW thermal paper that required product
produced in the United States.

Purchases that did not require domestic product
Purchases that were required by law or regulation to be domestic
product (e.g., government purchases under “Buy American”
provisions)
Purchases that were not required by law or regulation, but were
required by your customers to be domestic product (reason if
known:
)
Purchases that were required to be domestic product for other
reasons (explain:
)
Total (should sum to 100.0%)

Estimated
percentage of
your firm’s total
2013 purchases
of certain LW
thermal paper
%

%

%

0

%
%

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain LW Thermal Paper

Page 13

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-14. Conditions of competition.-(a) Is the certain LW thermal paper market subject to business cycles (other than general
economy-wide conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to certain LW
thermal paper?

Check all that apply.

Please describe.

No

Skip to question III-14.

Yes-Business cycles (e.g.
seasonal business)
Yes-Other distinctive
conditions of competition

(b) If yes, have there been any changes in the business cycles or conditions of competition for
certain LW thermal paper since January 1, 2008?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

(c) Are there unique attributes of competition at different levels of trade in the U.S. market
(coaters to converters and converters to end users)?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

(d) Has the competition at different levels of trade in the U.S. market changed since 2008?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain LW Thermal Paper

Page 14

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-15. Decisions based on producer and country-of-origin.--How often does your firm, and if you
know, do your customers, make purchasing decisions involving certain LW thermal paper based
on its producer or country of origin?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

If at least sometimes, explain.

Decision based on producer of jumbo rolls
Your firm
Your
customers
Decision based on country of origin of jumbo rolls
Your firm
Your
customers
Decision based on firm converting to slit rolls (if applicable)
Your firm
Your
customers
Decision based on country in which conversion of slit rolls occurs (if applicable)
Your firm
Your
customers

III-16. Supply constraints.--Has any firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply certain LW
thermal paper since January 1, 2008 (examples include placing customers on allocation or
“controlled order entry,” declining to accept new customers or renew existing customers,
delivering less than the quantity promised, been unable to meet timely shipment commitments,
etc.)?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe and list firms that limited material to you.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain LW Thermal Paper

Page 15

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-17. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

How frequently do you make purchases of certain LW thermal paper (check one)?
Daily

(b)

Monthly

Quarterly

Annually

Other

If other, specify

Has purchasing frequency to change since January 1, 2008?
No

(c)

Weekly

Yes

If yes, explain.

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

Yes

If yes, explain.

III-18. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers do you generally contact before making a
purchase? Between
and
firms.
III-19. Supplier negotiations.--Do your purchases of certain LW thermal paper usually involve
negotiations between supplier and purchaser?

No

Yes

If yes, explain the factors you generally negotiate and note whether
your firm quotes competing prices during negotiations.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain LW Thermal Paper

Page 16

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-20. Contract versus spot.—
(a)

Approximately what share of your firm’s purchases of certain LW thermal paper in
2012 and 2013 was on a (1) long-term contract basis, (2) short-term contract basis, and
(3) spot sales basis?
Type of purchase
Long-term
Short-term
contracts
contracts
(multiple deliveries (multiple deliveries
for more than 12
up to and including
months)
12 months)

Share of your
2012 purchases
Share of your
2013 purchases

Spot
purchases
(for a single
delivery)

Total
(should sum
to 100.0%)

%

%

%

0

%

%

%

0

(b) Has your firm changed the share of its purchases under contracts since 2008

No

Yes

If yes, explain when and why use of contracts has changed, and if
any suppliers initiated the change list their name.

III-21. Change in suppliers.--Have you changed suppliers since January 1, 2008?

No

Yes

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

III-22. New suppliers.-(a)

Are you aware of or you have received offers from any new suppliers of certain LW
thermal paper (either coaters or converters), either foreign or domestic, that have entered
the market or you have received offers from since January 1, 2008?
No

(b)

Yes

If yes, please identify the firms.

Do you expect new certain LW thermal paper suppliers (either coaters or converters) to
enter the U.S. market?
No

Yes

If yes, please explain.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain LW Thermal Paper

Page 17

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-23. Supplier qualification –
a) Do you require your suppliers to be approved by printers’ manufacturers to sell certain LW
thermal paper to your firm?

No

Yes (percent
of your
purchases
that must have
approval, if all
put 100)

Jumbo
rolls

%

Split
rolls

%

Name the printer
manufacturers’ whose
approval lists you use

List the most important certain
LW thermal paper
manufacturers whose product
you have rejected (since 2008)
because they are not
approved

b) Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified other than approval by
the printer manufacturers?
If yes, provide the following information.
•
•

The number of days to qualify a new supplier.
A general description of the certification or qualification process. Also, a brief
description of the factors that you consider when qualifying a new supplier (e.g., quality
of product, reliability of supplier, etc.).

No

Yes

Number
of days Process and factors

Jumbo
rolls
Split
rolls

III-24. Failure to certify.--Since January 1, 2008, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their
attempts to certify or qualify their certain LW thermal paper with your firm or have any producers
lost their approved status?

No
Jumbo
rolls
Split
rolls

Yes

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain LW Thermal Paper

Page 18

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-25. Major purchasing factors.-- Please list, in order of their importance, the three major factors
your firm considers in deciding from whom to purchase certain LW thermal paper (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:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain LW Thermal Paper

Page 19

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-26. Purchasing factors.--Please rate the importance of the following factors in your firm’s
purchasing decisions for certain LW thermal paper.

Factor
Approval by printer manufacturers
Availability
Availability with printing on back
Basis weight
BPA free
Caliper
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Imaging performance
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Paper brightness
Paper sensitivity
Price
Product consistency
Product range
Quality exceeds industry standards
Quality meets industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
Trim optimization
U.S. transportation costs
Width of jumbo rolls
Width flexibility
Yield/productivity

Very
important

Somewhat
important

Not
important

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain LW Thermal Paper

Page 20

PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-27. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of certain LW thermal paper?

III-28. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the certain LW
thermal paper 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 is not necessarily the lowest-priced supplier.
(a) Please list the names of any firms you considered price leaders in the certain LW thermal
paper market since January 1, 2008.
Firm(s)

(b)

Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership

Has price leadership changed since 2008? (Including the firms that were price leaders or
the way price leaders acted)
No

Yes

If yes, please explain.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain LW Thermal Paper

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. certain LW thermal
paper industry since January 1, 2008 and explain the factors, including the order(s) under
review, that were responsible for each improvement/change (including price effects).

(b)

Please discuss any improvements/changes that you anticipate in the future in the U.S.
certain LW thermal paper industry. Identify the time period and causes for these
improvements/changes. (including price effects)

III-31. Effect of revocation.--What do you think will be the likely effects of any revocation of the
countervailing duty orders/antidumping duty orders for imports of certain LW thermal paper
from China and/or Germany? As appropriate, please discuss any potential effects (including
price effects) of revocation of the countervailing duty orders/antidumping duty orders on (1)
the future activities of your firm, (2) the U.S. market as a whole, and (3) on expected prices.
Please note the future time period to which you are referring.
(1) Activities of
your firm
(2) Entire U.S.
market
(3) Expected
prices

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain LW Thermal Paper

Page 22

PART IV.-- PRODUCT COMPARISIONS
IV-1.

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

IV-2.

China

Germany

Other countries (specify)

Interchangeability.--Is certain LW thermal paper 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

Germany

Other countries

United States
China
Germany

For any country-pair producing certain LW thermal paper which is sometimes or never
interchangeable, please identify the country-pair and explain the factors that limit or preclude
interchangeable use:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain LW Thermal Paper

Page 23

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

Factors other than price.--Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between certain LW thermal paper
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

Germany

Other countries

United States
China
Germany

For any country-pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant
factor in your firm’s purchases of certain LW thermal paper, 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 certain LW thermal paper
available only from certain country sources?
No

IV-5.

Yes

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

Choice of product not based on price.--If you purchased certain LW thermal paper from one
source (or a limited number of soruces) although a comparable product was available from
another country source at a lower price, please explain your reasons for doing so (please specify
by country). (Possibilities might include length of time to fill order, minimum order size,
reliability of supply as well as characteristic of the product).

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain LW Thermal Paper

Page 24

PART IV.-- PRODUCT COMPARISIONS--Continued
IV-6. Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how certain LW thermal
paper produced in each country you identified in your response to the first question in Part IV compares
with certain LW thermal paper produced in each of the other countries you identified.
If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.

Inferior

Comparable

product from
China
compared to
product from
Germany

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

product from
United States
compared to
product from
Germany

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

product from
United States
compared to
product from
China

Approval by printer manufacturers
Availability
Availability with printing on back
Basis weight
BPA free
Caliper
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Imaging performance
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Paper brightness
Paper sensitivity
Price
Product consistency
Product range
Quality exceeds industry standards
Quality meets industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
Trim optimization
U.S. transportation costs
Width of jumbo rolls
Width flexibility
Yield/productivity
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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain LW Thermal Paper

Page 25

PART IV.-- PRODUCT COMPARISIONS--Continued
IV-6.

Continued.

If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.

Inferior

Comparable

product from
Germany
compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

product from
China
compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

product from
United States
compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries

Approval by printer manufacturers
Availability
Availability with printing on back
Basis weight
BPA free
Caliper
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Imaging performance
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Paper brightness
Paper sensitivity
Price
Product consistency
Product range
Quality exceeds industry standards
Quality meets industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
Trim optimization
U.S. transportation costs
Width of jumbo rolls
Width flexibility
Yield/productivity
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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain LW Thermal Paper

Page 26

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

Minimum quality.--How often does certain LW thermal paper 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
Germany
Other:
Other:
Other:

IV-8.

Change in price.-(a) Since January 1, 2008, has there been a change in the price of certain LW thermal paper? If
so, has the price of U.S.-produced certain LW thermal paper changed more or less than the
price of imported certain LW thermal paper from China and/or Germany?
No change in price.
Price of U.S.-produced certain LW thermal paper has changed by the same
amount as prices of certain LW thermal paper from China or Germany.
Price of U.S.-produced certain LW thermal paper has changed relative to the
price of certain LW thermal paper from China.
Price of U.S.-produced certain LW thermal paper has changed relative to the
price of certain LW thermal paper from Germany.

(b)

If the price of U.S.-produced certain LW thermal paper has changed relative to the price
of certain LW thermal paper from China and/or Germany, the price of U.S.-produced
certain LW thermal paper is now relatively:
Higher

Lower
than those from China.
than those from Germany.

IV-9.

Other explanations--If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question that did
not provide a narrative response box, please note the question number and the explanation in the
space provided below.