Purchaser questionnaire

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

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
PRODUCT

This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than INSERT DATE
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 countervailing duty/antidumping investigation(s) concerning PRODUCT from COUNTRY (inv.
No. 701/731-TA-xxx (Preliminary/Final)). 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 ECONOMIST (202-205-xxxx, NAME@usitc.gov).

Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

World Wide Web address
Has your firm purchased PRODUCT (as defined in the instruction booklet) from any source (domestic or
foreign) at any time since January 1, 2010?

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: XXXX)
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 submitting 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

Email address
Fax

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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 25 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
(percent)

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

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

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name and country

I-6.

Affiliation

Address

Affiliation

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

Yes--List the following information.
Address

Affiliation

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

Item
Purchases of PRODUCT produced in-The United States:
Quantity (in UNITS)
Country A:
Quantity (in UNITS)
Country B:
Quantity (in UNITS)
All other countries:1
Quantity (in UNITS)
1
Please identify these countries:

II-2.

2010

2011

2012

Changes in purchasing patterns.—Please indicate how the relative levels of your firm’s
purchases of PRODUCT from different sources have changed in the last three years.

Source of Did not
purchases purchase Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated Explanation for trend
United
States

COUNTRY

All other
countries

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PART II.--PURCHASES--Continued

II-3.

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

II-4.

Supplier identification.--Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers for PRODUCT since
2010. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s total purchases of PRODUCT 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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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES
III-1.

Firm type.--Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of PRODUCT
(check all that apply)?
End user
(type 1)

End user
(type 2)

Distributor

Other

Describe other

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

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

III-3.

Yes

If yes, please describe.

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

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

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

PRODUCT

Other inputs

Total

%

+

%

= 100%

%

+

%

= 100%

%

+

%

= 100%

Demand for end use products.-(a)

If your firm is an end user of PRODUCT, has the demand for your firm’s final products
incorporating PRODUCT changed since 2010?
Increased

(b)

No change

Decreased

Fluctuated

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

Yes

Explain

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

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

Substitute

Yes--Please fill out the table below.

End use in which this
substitute is used

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

Explanation

1.
2.
3.

III-7.

Demand trends.-- Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United States
(if known) for PRODUCT has changed since January 1, 2010. Explain any trends and describe
the principal factors that have affected these changes in demand.

Market

Fluctuate
Overall
No
Overall with no clear
increase change decrease
trend

Explanation and factors

Within
the United
States
Outside
the United
States

III-8.

Importance of purchasing domestic product.--Please fill out the table below, estimating the
percentage of your firm’s total 2012 purchases of PRODUCT that required PRODUCT
produced in the United States.

Purchases that did not require domestic product
Purchases of domestic product that were required by law or
regulation (e.g., government purchases under “Buy American”
provisions)
Purchases of domestic product that were not required by law or
regulation, but were required by your customers
Purchases of domestic product that were required for other
reasons (explain:
)

Estimated
percentage of
your firm’s total
2012 purchases
of PRODUCT
%

%
%

100

%
%

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

Conditions of competition.-(a) Is the PRODUCT market subject to business cycles (other than general economy-wide
conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to PRODUCT?
No (skip to question III-10.)
Yes-Business cycles (e.g. seasonal business).
Yes-Other distinctive conditions of competition.
If yes, describe below.

Business cycles
Other conditions
of competition

(b) Have there been any changes in the business cycles or conditions of competition for
PRODUCT since January 1, 2010?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

III-10. Decisions based on producer.--Does your firm or, to the extent that you know, do your
customers make purchasing decisions involving PRODUCT based on the producer of the
PRODUCT you purchase?

Always

Your firm
Your
customers

Usually

Sometimes

Never

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

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-11. Decisions based on country-of-origin.--Does your firm or, to the extent that you know, do your
customers make purchasing decisions involving PRODUCT based on the country of origin of the
PRODUCT 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-12. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

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

(b)

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Annually

Other

If other, specify

Have you made significant changes in your purchasing patterns (e.g., frequency) since
January 1, 2010?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

III-13. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers do you generally contact before making a
purchase? Between
and
firms

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-14. Supplier negotiations.-(a)

Do purchases of PRODUCT 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-15. Change in suppliers.--Have you changed suppliers since January 1, 2010?

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-16. New suppliers.--Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have
entered the market since January 1, 2010?

No

Yes

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

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-17. Supplier qualification
(a)

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

Yes- Please answer (b) and (c).

(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-18. Failure to certify.--Since January 1, 2010, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their
attempts to certify or qualify their PRODUCT 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-19. 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 PRODUCT 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-20. Purchasing factors.--For the factors listed below, please rate each in terms of its importance in
your firm’s purchasing decisions for PRODUCT.
Very
important
Availability .......................................
Delivery terms .................................
Delivery time ...................................
Discounts offered ............................
Extension of credit...........................
Minimum quantity requirements ......
Packaging .......................................
Price ................................................
Product consistency ........................
Product range..................................
Quality exceeds industry standards
Quality meets industry standards....
Reliability of supply .........................
Technical support/service ...............
U.S. transportation costs .................

Somewhat
important

Not
important

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

III-21. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of PRODUCT?

III-22. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the PRODUCT
that is offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

III-23. 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 PRODUCT market since
January 1, 2010. Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership.

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PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS

IV-1.

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

IV-2.

COUNTRY

COUNTRY

Other countries (specify)

Interchangeability by country-pair.--Is PRODUCT 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

COUNTRY 1

COUNTRY 2

COUNTRY 3

Other countries

United States
COUNTRY 1
COUNTRY 2
COUNTRY 3

For any country-pair producing PRODUCT 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 (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between PRODUCT 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

COUNTRY 1

COUNTRY 2

COUNTRY 3

Other countries

United States
COUNTRY 1
COUNTRY 2
COUNTRY 3

For any country-pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant
factor in your firm’s purchases of PRODUCT, 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.

Country preferences.--Do you or your customers ever specifically order PRODUCT from one
country in particular over other possible sources of supply?

No

IV-5.

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

IV-6.

Yes

If yes, please identify all relevant countries (including the United States
and both subject and nonsubject foreign countries) from which you or
your customers prefer to order, and indicate why PRODUCT from these
countries is preferred over product from other countries (please note the
specific product in your response).

Yes

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

Choice of product not based on price.--If you purchased PRODUCT 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 COMPARISONS--Continued
IV-7. Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how PRODUCT
produced in each country you identified in your response to the first question in Part IV compares with
PRODUCT produced in each of the other countries you identified (including the United States and both
subject and nonsubject foreign countries). Duplicate (copy and paste) this table to account

for a reasonable number of country comparisons given the number of countries
subject to the proceeding and delete this note.

Inferior

Comparable

product from
COUNTRY 1
compared to
product from
COUNTRY 2

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

product from
United States
compared to
product from
COUNTRY 2

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

product from
United States
compared to
product from
COUNTRY 1

Availability ...............................................
Delivery terms .........................................
Delivery time ...........................................
Discounts offered ....................................
Extension of credit...................................
Minimum quantity requirements ..............
Packaging ...............................................
Price1 .......................................................
Product consistency ................................
Product range..........................................
Quality exceeds industry standards ........
Quality meets industry standards............
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 COMPARISONS--Continued
Continued.

Inferior

Comparable

product from
COUNTRY 2
compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries

Superior

Inferior

product from
COUNTRY 1
compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries
Comparable

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

product from
United States
compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries

Superior

IV-7.

Availability ...............................................
Delivery terms .........................................
Delivery time ...........................................
Discounts offered ....................................
Extension of credit...................................
Minimum quantity requirements ..............
Packaging ...............................................
Price1 .......................................................
Product consistency ................................
Product range..........................................
Quality exceeds industry standards ........
Quality meets industry standards............
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 COMPARISONS--Continued

IV-8.

Minimum quality.--How often does PRODUCT 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
COUNTRY 1
COUNTRY 2
NS COUNTRY 1
Other:
Other:

IV-9.

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