15-4-3332 Foreign Producers'/Exporters' Questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 15-4-3332; Expiration Date: 6/30/2017
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

FOREIGN PRODUCERS’/EXPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
CERTAIN DOMESTIC CONTAINERS FROM CHINA

This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by February 18, 2015
See last page for filing instructions.
The information called for in this questionnaire is for use by the United States International Trade Commission in
connection with its countervailing duty and antidumping investigations concerning 53-foot domestic dry containers
(“certain domestic containers”) from China (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-514 and 731-TA-1250 (Final)). The information requested
in the questionnaire is requested under the authority of the Tariff Act of 1930, title VII.

Name of firm
Address
Website
Has your firm produced or exported certain domestic containers (as defined on next page) at any time since
January 1, 2011?

NO

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

YES

(Complete all parts of the questionnaire, and return the entire questionnaire to the Commission)

Return questionnaire via the Commission Drop Box by clicking on the following link:
https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/. (PIN: CDDC)
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 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

Fax:

Email address

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Certain Domestic Containers (F)

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PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.—This proceeding was instituted in response to petitions filed on April 23, 2014, by
Stoughton Trailers, LLC, Stoughton, Wisconsin. Countervailing and/or antidumping duties may be
assessed on the subject imports as a result of these proceedings if the Commission makes an affirmative
determination of injury, threat, or material retardation, and if the U.S. Department of Commerce makes
an affirmative determination of subsidization and/or dumping. Questionnaires and other information
pertinent to this proceeding are available at
http://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2014/53_foot_domestic_dry_containers_china/final.htm.
Merchandise covered by these investigations.
Certain Domestic Containers covered by these investigations is closed (i.e., not open top) van containers
exceeding 14.63 meters (48 feet) but generally measuring 16.154 meters (53 feet) in exterior length,
which are designed for the intermodal transport of goods other than bulk liquids within North America
primarily by rail or by road vehicle, or by a combination of rail and road vehicle (domestic containers).
The merchandise is known in the industry by varying terms including “53-foot containers,” “53-foot dry
containers,” “53-foot domestic dry containers,” “domestic dry containers” and “domestic containers.”
Imports of the subject merchandise are provided for under subheading 8609.00.0000 of the Harmonized
Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Imports of the subject merchandise which meet the
definition of and requirements for “instruments of international traffic” pursuant to 19 U.S.C. § 1322
and 19 C.F.R. § 10.41a may be classified under subheading 9803.00.50, HTSUS.
Reporting of information.—If information is not readily available from your firm’s records, provide
carefully prepared estimates. If your firm is completing more than one questionnaire (i.e., a producer,
importer, purchaser and/or foreign producer questionnaire), your firm need not respond to duplicated
questions.
Service of questionnaire response(s).—In the event that your firm is a party to this proceeding, your
firm is required to serve a copy of the questionnaire(s), once completed, on parties to the proceeding
that are subject to administrative protective order (see 19 CFR § 207.7). A list of such parties is
maintained by the Commission’s Secretary and may be obtained by calling 202-205-1803. A certificate of
service must accompany the copy of the completed questionnaire(s) your firm submits (see 19 CFR §
207.7).
Confidentiality.—The commercial and financial data furnished in response to this questionnaire that
reveal the individual operations of your firm will be treated as confidential by the Commission to the
extent that such data are not otherwise available to the public and will not be disclosed except as may
be required by law (see 19 U.S.C. § 1677f). Such confidential information will not be published in a
manner that will reveal the individual operations of your firm; however, general characterizations of
numerical business proprietary information (such as discussion of trends) will be treated as confidential
business information only at the request of the submitter for good cause shown.
Verification.—The information submitted in this questionnaire is subject to audit and verification by the
Commission. To facilitate possible verification of data, please keep all files, worksheets, and supporting
documents used in the preparation of the questionnaire response. Please also retain a copy of the final
document that your firm submits.

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Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Certain Domestic Containers (F)

Page 3

Release of information.—The information provided by your firm in response to this questionnaire, as
well as any other business proprietary information submitted by your firm to the Commission in
connection with this proceeding, may become subject to, and released under, the administrative
protective order provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. § 1677f) and section 207.7 of the
Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR § 207.7). This means that certain lawyers and
other authorized individuals may temporarily be given access to the information for use in connection
with this proceeding or other import-injury proceedings conducted by the Commission on the same or
similar merchandise; those individuals would be subject to severe penalties if the information were
divulged to unauthorized individuals.
I-1.

OMB statistics.—Please report below the actual number of hours required and the cost to your
firm of completing this questionnaire.
Hours

Dollars

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
20 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering data, and
completing and reviewing the questionnaire.
We welcome comments regarding the accuracy of this burden estimate, suggestions for
reducing the burden, and any suggestions for improving this questionnaire. Please attach such
comments to your firm’s response or send to the Office of Investigations, USITC, 500 E St. SW,
Washington, DC 20436.
I-2.

Establishments covered.—Provide the name and address of establishment(s) covered by this
questionnaire. If your firm is publicly traded, please specify the stock exchange and trading
symbol.
“Establishment” – Each facility of a firm in China involved in the production or export of certain
domestic containers, including auxiliary facilities operated in conjunction with (whether or not
physically separate from) such facilities. Firms operating more than one establishment in China
should combine the data for all establishments into a single report.

I-3.

Related U.S. producers.—Does your firm or any related firm produce, have the capability to
produce, or have any plans to produce certain domestic containers in the United States or other
countries?
No

Yes—Please name the firm(s) and country(ies) below and, if U.S. producer(s),
ensure that they complete the Commission’s producer questionnaire.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Certain Domestic Containers (F)

I-4.

Related U.S. importers.—Does your firm or any related firm import or have any plans to import
certain domestic containers into the United States?
No

I-5.

2

3

4

5

Yes—Please name the firm(s) below and ensure that they complete the
Commission’s importer questionnaire.

U.S. importers.—Please provide the names, street addresses (not P.O. boxes), contacts,
telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses of the FIVE largest U.S. importers of your firm’s
certain domestic containers in 2014.

Importer’s name

1

Page 4

Contact
person

Email

Telephone

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

Street Address
,
City State Zip Code
Street Address
,
City State Zip Code
Street Address
,
City State Zip Code
Street Address
,
City State Zip Code
Street Address
,
City State Zip Code

Share of
your
firm’s
2014 U.S.
exports
(%)

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Certain Domestic Containers (F)

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PART II.—TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Carolyn Esko (202-205-3002,
Carolyn.Esko@usitc.gov). Supply all data requested on a calendar-year basis.
II-1.

Contact information.—Please identify the responsible individual and the manner by which
Commission staff may contact that individual regarding the confidential information submitted
in part II.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
Fax

II-2.

Changes in operations.—Please indicate whether your firm has experienced any of the following
changes in relation to the production of certain domestic containers since January 1, 2011.
(check as many as appropriate)

plant openings
plant closings
relocations
expansions
acquisitions
consolidations
prolonged shutdowns or
production curtailments
revised labor agreements
other (e.g., technology)

(please describe and indicate relevant dates, duration, result)

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Certain Domestic Containers (F)
II-3.

Anticipated changes in operations.—Does your firm anticipate any changes in the character of
its operations or organization (as noted above) relating to the production of certain domestic
containers in the future?
No

II-4a.

Page 6

Yes–Supply details as to the time, nature, and significance of such changes
and provide underlying assumptions, along with relevant portions of
business plans or other supporting documentation that address this
issue. Include in the response a specific projection of your firm’s
capacity to produce certain domestic containers (in units) for 2015
and 2016.

Overall capacity and production.—Please report your firm’s production of products made on
the same equipment and machinery used to produce certain domestic containers, and the
combined production capacity on this shared equipment and machinery.
“Average production capacity” or “capacity” – The level of production that your firm’s
establishment(s) could reasonably have expected to attain during the specified periods for all
products manufactured in that establishment using the same manufacturing equipment.
Assume normal operating conditions (i.e., using equipment and machinery in place and ready to
operate; normal operating levels (hours per week/weeks per year) and time for downtime,
maintenance, repair, and cleanup; and a typical or representative product mix).
“Production” – All production in your firm’s establishment(s) in China, including production
consumed internally within your firm.
Quantity (in units)
Calendar years
Item

2011

2012

2013

2014

Overall production capacity
Production of:
Certain domestic containers1
Other products
Total

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

1

Data entered for production of certain domestic containers will populate here once reported in
question II-10.
2
Please identify these products:

II-4b.

Operating parameters.—The production capacity (see definitions in instruction booklet) reported in
II-4a is based on operating
hours per week,
weeks per year.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Certain Domestic Containers (F)

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II-4c.

Capacity calculation.—Please describe the methodology used to calculate overall production
capacity reported in II-4a, and explain any changes in reported capacity.

II-4d.

Production constraints.—Please describe the constraint(s) that set the limit(s) on your firm’s
production capacity.

II-4e.

Product shifting.—
(i).

Is your firm able to switch production (capacity) between certain domestic containers and
other products using the same equipment and/or labor?
No

(ii).

Yes—(i.e., have produced other products or are able to produce other
products). Please identify other actual or potential products:

Please describe the factors that affect your firm’s ability to shift production capacity
between products (e.g., time, cost, relative price change, etc.), and the degree to which
these factors enhance or constrain such shifts.

II-5.

Share of sales.—What percentage of your firm’s total sales in its most recent fiscal year was
represented by sales of certain domestic containers?
percent

II-6.

Firm's estimated share of production in China.—Please estimate the percentage of total production
of certain domestic containers in the country specified on the certification page accounted for by
your firm’s production in 2014.
percent

II-7.

Firm's estimated share of country's exports.—Please estimate the percentage of total exports
to the United States of certain domestic containers from the country specified on the
certification page accounted for by your firm’s exports in 2014.
percent

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Certain Domestic Containers (F)
II-8.

Page 8

Inventories in the United States.—Has your firm, since 2011, maintained any inventories of
certain domestic containers in the United States (not including inventories held by firms
identified in question I-3)?
“Inventories” – Finished goods inventory, not raw materials or work in progress.
No

Yes—Report the quantity of such end-of-period inventories below.
Quantity (in units)
Calendar year
Item

2011

2012

2013

2014

Inventory
II-9.

Third country trade actions.—Are the certain domestic containers exported by your firm subject
to antidumping/countervailing duty/safeguard findings, remedies, or proceedings?
No

Yes—List the products(s), countries affected, and the date of such
findings/remedies/proceedings.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Certain Domestic Containers (F)
II-10.

Page 9

Trade data.—Report your firm’s production capacity, production, shipments, and inventories
related to the production of certain domestic containers in your firm’s establishment(s) in China
during the specified periods.
Do not submit data by manufacturing facility if they are in the same country. If your firm has
multiple manufacturing establishments within one country, your firm is required to combine
data for those establishments within one foreign producer questionnaire response.
Do not submit data on multiple countries combined. The establishments reported here should
all be located in the country of the firm’s address reported on the certification page.
“Shipments” – Shipments of products produced in your firm’s establishment(s) in China.
Quantities
reported should be net of returns.
“Home market commercial shipments” – Shipments, other than internal consumption and
transfers to related firms, within China.
“Home market internal consumption/transfers to related firms” – Shipments made to
related firms in China, including product consumed internally by your firm.
“Export shipments” – Shipments to destinations outside China, including shipments
to related firms.
“Inventories” – Finished goods inventory, not raw materials or work-in-progress.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Certain Domestic Containers (F)
(a).

Page 10

Trade data
Quantity (in units), value (in $1,000)
Actual experience

1

Projections

Calendar year
Item

2011

2012

Calendar year

2013

2014

2015

2016

2

Average production capacity (A)
Beginning-of-period inventories
(B)
Production (C)
Home market shipments:
Internal consumption/
transfers
Quantity (D)
Value (E)
Commercial shipments
Quantity (F)
Value (G)
Export shipments:
to the United States
Quantity (H)
Value (I)
to all other markets
Quantity (J)

3

Value (K)
Total exports (quantity) (L)
(should equal H+J)

0

0

0

0

0

0

Total shipments (quantity) (M)
(should equal D+F+H+J)

0

0

0

0

0

0

End-of-period inventories (N)
1
Please explain the basis for your firm’s projections.
2
The production capacity reported is based on operating
hours per week,
weeks per year. Please
describe the methodology used to calculate production capacity, and explain any changes in reported capacity.
3
Identify principal other export markets.

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Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Certain Domestic Containers (F)

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Trade data.—Continued

(a).

RECONCILIATION OF SHIPMENTS, PRODUCTION, AND INVENTORY.—Generally, the data reported
for the end-of-period inventories (i.e., line N) should be equal to the beginning-of-period
inventories (i.e., line B), plus production (i.e., line C), less total shipments (i.e., lines D, F, H, and J).
Please ensure that any differences are not due to data entry errors in completing this form, but
rather actually reflect your firm’s records; and also provide any likely explanations for any
differences (e.g., theft, loss, damage, record systems issues, etc.) if they exist.

Item

2011

Actual experience

Projections

Calendar year

Calendar year

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

B + C – D – F – H –J – N =
should equal zero (“0”) or
provide an explanation.1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Explanation if the calculated fields above are returning values other than zero (i.e., “0”) but are nonetheless
accurate.
(b).

Trade data.—Has your firm exported laden containers to the United States?

No

Yes—Please report the quantity of exports to the United States for each year in the table
below:
Quantity (in units)
Calendar years
Item

2011

2012

2013

2014

Exports of laden containers to the
United States
Calculation: Implied exports of unladen
containers to the United States (please
ensure this calculation results in number
equal to or greater than zero)

0

0

0

0

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Certain Domestic Containers (F)

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II-11 Monthly exports.—Report your firm’s monthly exports of certain domestic containers to the
United States between October 2013 and December 2014.

October 2013
November 2013
December 2013
January 2014
February 2014
March 2014
April 2014
May 2014
June 2014
July 2014
August 2014
September 2014
October 2014
November 2014
December 2014

Month

Quantity (in units)

Value (in $1,000)

II-12. Other explanations:—If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question in Part II
that did not provide a narrative box, please note the question number and the explanation in the space
provided below. Please also use this space to highlight any issues your firm had in providing the data in
this section, including but not limited to technical issues with the MS Word questionnaire.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Certain Domestic Containers (F)

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HOW TO FILE YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSE
This questionnaire is available as a “fillable” form in MS Word format on the
Commission’s website at:
http://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2014/53_foot_domestic_dry_cont
ainers_china/final.htm.
Please do not attempt to modify the format or permissions of the questionnaire
document. Please submit the completed questionnaire using one of the methods
noted below. If your firm is unable to complete the MS Word questionnaire or
cannot use one of the electronic methods of submission, please contact the
Commission for further instructions.
• Upload via Secure Drop Box.—Upload the MS Word questionnaire along with a scanned copy
of the signed certification page (page 1) through the Commission’s secure upload facility:
Web address: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/ Pin: CDDC
• E-mail.—E-mail your firm’s questionnaire to Carolyn.Esko@usitc.gov; include a scanned copy of
the signed certification page (page 1). Please note that submitting your firm’s questionnaire by e-mail

may subject your firm’s business proprietary information to transmission over an unsecure environment
and to possible disclosure. If your firm chooses this option, the Commission warns your firm that any risk
involving possible disclosure of such information is assumed by the submitter and not by the Commission.

If your firm did not produce or export this product, please fill out page 1, print, sign, and
submit a scanned copy to the Commission.
Parties to this proceeding.—If your firm is a party to this proceeding, your firm is required to
serve a copy of the completed questionnaire on parties to the proceeding that are subject to
administrative protective order (see 19 CFR § 207.7). A list of such parties may be obtained
from the Commission’s Secretary (202-205-1803). A certificate of service must accompany the
completed questionnaire your firm submits (see 19 CFR § 207.7). Service of the questionnaire
must be made in paper form.