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pdfOMB No. 3117‐0016/USITC No. 14‐3‐3304; Expiration Date: 6/30/2017
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U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
CERTAIN CRYSTALLINE SILICON PHOTOVOLTAIC PRODUCTS
FROM CHINA AND TAIWAN
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than October 14, 2014
See the last page of this questionnaire for filing instructions.
The information called for in this questionnaire is for use by the United States International Trade Commission in
connection with its antidumping and countervailing duty investigations concerning certain crystalline silicon
photovoltaic products from China and Taiwan (Inv. No. 701‐TA‐511 & 731‐TA‐1246‐1247 (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 firm’s 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
Website address
Has your firm purchased crystalline silicon photovoltaic products (“CSPV products”) (as defined on the next page) from
any country 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
(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: SUN2)
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
Phone:
Date
Signature
Email address
Fax
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CSPV products
Page 2
PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.
This proceeding was instituted in response to petitions filed December 31, 2013 by Solar World
Industries America, Hillsboro, OR.
Antidumping and/or countervailing 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 dumping
and/or countervailable subsidies.
Merchandise covered by the scope of these investigations.
“Certain crystalline silicon photovoltaic products,” “CSPV products” or “subject product”: The
merchandise covered by these investigations is crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, and modules,
laminates and/or panels consisting of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, whether or not partially or
fully assembled into other products, including building integrated materials.
For purposes of these investigations, subject merchandise also includes modules, laminates and/or
panels assembled in the subject country consisting of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells that are
completed or partially manufactured within a customs territory other than that subject country, using
ingots that are manufactured in the subject country, wafers that are manufactured in the subject
country, or cells where the manufacturing process begins in the subject country and is completed in a
non‐subject country.
Subject merchandise includes crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells of thickness equal to or greater than
20 micrometers, having a p/n junction formed by any means, whether or not the cell has undergone
other processing, including, but not limited to, cleaning, etching, coating, and/or addition of materials
(including, but not limited to, metallization and conductor patterns) to collect and forward the electricity
that is generated by the cell.
Merchandise covered by these investigations is currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of
the United States (HTSUS) under subheadings 8501.61.0000, 8507.20.8030, 8507.20.8040,
8507.20.8060, 8507.20.8090, 8541.40.6020, 8541.40.6030 and 8501.31.8000. These HTSUS subheadings
are provided for convenience and customs purposes; the written description of the scope of these
investigations is dispositive.
Exclusions from the scope of these investigations:
(1) Excluded from the scope of these investigations are thin film photovoltaic products produced from
amorphous silicon (a‐Si), cadmium telluride (CdTe), or copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS).
(2) Also excluded from the scope of these investigations are any products covered by the existing
antidumping and countervailing duty orders on crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, whether or not
assembled into modules, from the People’s Republic of China. See Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells,
Whether or Not Assembled Into Modules, From the People’s Republic of China: Amended Final
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, and Antidumping Duty Order, 77 FR 73018 (December 7,
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CSPV products
Page 3
2012); Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not Assembled Into Modules, From the People’s
Republic of China: Countervailing Duty Order, 77 FR 73017 (December 7, 2012).
(3) Also excluded from the scope of these investigations are crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, not
exceeding 10,000 mm2 in surface area, that are permanently integrated into a consumer good whose
function is other than power generation and that consumes the electricity generated by the integrated
crystalline silicon photovoltaic cell. Where more than one cell is permanently integrated into a
consumer good, the surface area for purposes of this exclusion shall be the total combined surface area
of all cells that are integrated into the consumer good.
Service of questionnaire response(s).‐‐In the event that your firm is a party to this proceeding, you are
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) you submit (see 19 CFR ' 207.7).
Confidentiality.‐‐The commercial and financial data furnished in response to the enclosed
questionnaire(s) 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 the enclosed questionnaire(s) is subject to audit and
verification by the Commission. To facilitate possible verification of data, please keep all of your files,
worksheets, and supporting documents used in the preparation of the questionnaire response(s).
Release of information.‐‐The information provided by your firm in response to the questionnaire(s), 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.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CSPV products
I‐1a.
I‐1b.
Page 4
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
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.
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‐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 involved in the production, importation, and/or
purchase of the subject product, including auxiliary facilities operated in conjunction with
(whether or not physically separate from) such facilities.
I‐3.
Ownership.‐‐Is your firm owned, in whole or in part, by any other firm?
No
Yes‐‐List the following information.
Firm name
Extent of ownership
(percent)
Address
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CSPV products
I‐4.
Related importers/exporters from subject countries.‐‐Does your firm have any related firms,
either domestic or foreign, which are engaged in importing the subject product from China and
Taiwan into the United States or which are engaged in exporting the subject product from China
and Taiwan to the United States?
No
Yes‐‐List the following information.
Firm name
I‐5.
I‐6.
Address
Affiliation
Related importers/exporters from nonsubject countries.‐‐Does your firm have any related
firms, either domestic or foreign, which are engaged in importing the subject product from
countries other than China and Taiwan into the United States or which are engaged in exporting
the subject product from countries other than China and Taiwan to the United States?
No
Yes‐‐List the following information.
Firm name and country
Address
Affiliation
Related producers.‐‐Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, which
are engaged in the production of the subject product?
No
Yes‐‐List the following information.
Firm name
Page 5
Address
Affiliation
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CSPV products
Page 6
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.) Report, as indicated below, your firm’s purchases (either directly or through a sales agent or
broker) of CSPV cells. Report based on delivery date, not order date.
2011
Item
2012
2013
Jan.‐June
2013
Jan.‐June
2014
Purchases of CSPV cells produced in:
United States:
Quantity (kilowatts)
Value
China:
Quantity (kilowatts)
Value
Taiwan:
Quantity (kilowatts)
Value
1
All other countries:
Quantity (kilowatts)
Value
1
Please identify these countries:
(b.) Report, as indicated below, your firm’s purchases (either directly or through a sales agent or
broker) of CSPV modules. Report based on delivery date, not order date.
Item
2011
2012
2013
Jan.‐June
2013
Jan.‐June
2014
Purchases of CSPV modules produced in:
United States:
Quantity (kilowatts)
Value
China:
Quantity (kilowatts)
Value
Taiwan:
Quantity (kilowatts)
Value
1
Please identify these countries:
Value
All other countries:1
Quantity (kilowatts)
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CSPV products
II‐2.
Page 7
Changes in purchasing patterns.‐‐Please indicate how the shares of your firm’s purchases of the
subject product from different sources have changed in the last three years.
Source of
purchases
II‐3.
Did not
purchase
Overall
decrease
Overall
increase
No
change
Fluctuate
with no
clear trend
Explanation for trend
United
States
China
Taiwan
All other
countries
Installations.‐‐If your firm is an installer or developer, please report the number and total
wattage of your installation projects that used CSPV products by market segment.
Item
Residential Market:
Number of installations
2011
2012
2013
Total wattage
Commercial Market:
Number of installations
Jan.‐June
2013
Jan.‐June
2014
Total wattage
Utility:
Number of installations
Total wattage
II‐4.
Purchases from one country only.‐‐If your firm has purchased the subject product from only
one country, please explain the reasons for doing so.
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CSPV products
II‐5.
Page 8
Supplier identification.‐‐Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers for the subject product
since 2011. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s total purchases of the subject
product 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
%
PART III.‐‐MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES
III‐1. Firm type.‐‐Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of the subject
product (check all that apply)?
Residential installer
Commercial installer
Utility company/developer
Distributor of cells
Distributor of modules
Other (Describe:
If your firm is a distributor of the subject product, 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 the subject product?
No
Yes
If yes, please describe.
III‐3.
Types of customers.‐‐What are the major types of consumers to which you sell the subject
product?
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CSPV products
Page 9
If your firm is an end user of the subject product, please answer questions III‐4 and III‐5.
III‐4. End uses.‐‐List the top 3 products you make using CSPV cells and modules and estimate the
percent of your total production cost that is accounted for by CSPV products and by other inputs
(such as labor, energy, and other raw materials).
Share of total cost of end use product accounted
for by
Product(s) you produce
III‐5.
CSPV products
Other inputs
Total
Module
%
%
100%
Residential system
%
%
100%
Commercial system
%
%
100%
Utility system
%
%
100%
%
%
100%
%
%
100%
%
%
100%
Demand for end use products.‐‐
(a)
Has the demand for your firm’s final products incorporating CSPV products changed
since January 1, 2011?
Overall
increase
No
change
(b)
Overall
decrease
Fluctuate with no clear
trend
Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for CSPV products?
No
Yes
Explain
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CSPV products
III‐6.
Page 10
Substitutes.—
(a) When making an initial purchase decision (i.e., at the point in time of deciding to build an
electricity generation system), can non‐solar renewable energy products be substituted for
CSPV products?
No
Yes‐‐Please fill out the table.
Have changes in the prices of this substitute affected the price for
CSPV products?
Substitute
No Yes
Explanation
1.
2.
3.
(b) When making an initial purchase decision (i.e., at the point in time of deciding to build an
electricity generation system), can other solar energy products be substituted for CSPV
products?
No
Yes‐‐Please fill out the table.
Have changes in the prices of this substitute affected the price for
CSPV products?
Substitute
No Yes
Explanation
1.
2.
3.
If your firm does not conduct business in the utility/developer market segment, please skip to question
III‐8.
III‐7. Utility portfolios.—
(a) During the initial planning stage, what factors does a utility consider when planning a new
electricity generation system?
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CSPV products
Page 11
III‐7. Utility portfolios.—Continued.
(b) How do utilities determine the share of solar energy from CSPV products in a utility’s energy
portfolio as compared to the share of other renewable energy sources and the share of non‐
renewable energy sources?
(c) Please identify each renewable and non‐renewable energy source (other than CSPV) in your
portfolio since January 1, 2011 and fill out the table.
Have changes in the prices of this energy source affected the price for solar
generated electricity?
Energy source
No Yes
Explanation
1.
2.
3.
4.
III‐8.
Demand trends.—Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United
States (if known) for CSPV products has changed since January 1, 2011. Explain any trends and
describe the principal factors that have affected these changes in demand.
Market
Overall
increase
No
change
Overall Fluctuate with
decrease no clear trend
Explanation and factors
Within the
United
States
Outside the
United
States
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CSPV products
III‐9.
Page 12
Government incentives.
(a.) How has the level or availability of government incentives for CSPV products changed since
January 1, 2011 (i.e., is there a greater amount or lesser amount of government incentives
available for CSPV products today as compared with January 1, 2011)? In the last column,
list or describe the principal incentive programs (e.g., Section 1603 Program, Renewable
Portfolio Standards, or California Solar Initiative) whose level or availability has changed.
Overall
increase
Market
No
change
Overall
decrease
Fluctuate
with no
clear trend
Incentives
State and local
government incentives
Federal government
incentives
(b.) Have the changes in the level or availability of government incentives affected demand for
CSPV products since January 1, 2011? In the last column, list or describe the principal
incentive programs (e.g., Section 1603 Program, Renewable Portfolio Standards, or
California Solar Initiative) whose change in level or availability has affected demand.
Overall
increase
Market
No
change
Overall
decrease
Fluctuate
with no
clear trend
Incentives and explanation of
demand trends
State and local
government incentives
Federal government
incentives
(c.) How have changes in the availability of government incentives affected the price of solar
generated electricity since January 1, 2011? Explain any trends and describe the principal
factors that have affected these changes in price.
Overall
No
price
Change in
increase
price
Overall
price
decrease
Fluctuate
with no
clear trend
Explanation and factors
(d) Do changes in the price of solar generated electricity affect the price of CSPV modules? If so,
how?
No
Yes
If yes, please explain.
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CSPV products
Page 13
III‐10. Conventional energy sources.
(a.) How have prices of conventional energy sources changed since January 1, 2011?
Overall
increase
Source
No
change
Overall
decrease
Fluctuate
with no
clear trend
Factors
Natural gas
Coal
Other conventional
energy
(b.) How have prices of conventional energy sources such as natural gas and coal impacted
demand for CSPV cells and modules in each sector below since January 1, 2011?
Market
Overall
increase
Residential
Commercial
Utility
No
change
Overall
decrease
Fluctuate
with no
clear trend
Factors
(c.) How have changes in the price of conventional energy affected the price of solar generated
electricity since January 1, 2011? Explain any trends and describe the principal factors that
have affected these changes in price.
Overall
No
price
Change in
increase
price
Overall
price
decrease
Fluctuate
with no
clear trend
Explanation and factors
III‐11. Importance of purchasing domestic product.‐‐Please fill out the table below, estimating the
percentage of your firm’s total 2013 purchases of CSPV products that required the product be
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
Purchases that were required to be domestic product for other reasons
(explain: )
Estimated
percentage of your
firm’s total 2013
purchases of CSPV
products
%
%
%
%
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CSPV products
Page 14
100
%
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Page 15
III‐12. Conditions of competition.‐‐
(a) Is the market for CSPV products subject to business cycles (other than general economy‐
wide conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to CSPV products?
Check all that apply.
Please describe.
No
Skip to question III‐13.
Yes‐Business cycles (e.g.
seasonal business)
Yes‐Other distinctive
conditions of competition
(b) Have there been any changes in the business cycles or conditions of competition for CSPV
products since January 1, 2011?
No
Yes
If yes, describe.
III‐13 Decisions based on producer and country‐of‐origin.‐‐How often does your firm, and if you
know, do your customers, make purchasing decisions involving CSPV products based on its
producer or country of origin?
Always
Usually
Sometimes
Never
If at least sometimes, explain.
Decision based on producer
Your firm
Your
customers
Decision based on country of origin
Your firm
Your
customers
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CSPV products
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III‐14. Supply constraints.‐‐Has any firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply CSPV products
since January 1, 2011 (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.
III‐15. Purchasing frequency.‐‐
(a)
How frequently do you make purchases of CSPV products (check one)?
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Quarterly
Annually
Other
If other, specify
(b)
Has this purchasing frequency changed since January 1, 2011?
No
Yes
If yes, please describe.
III‐16. Number of suppliers contacted.‐‐How many suppliers do you generally contact before making a
purchase? Between and firms
III‐17. Supplier negotiations.‐‐Do your purchases of CSPV products 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.
III‐18. Change in suppliers.‐‐Have you changed suppliers since January 1, 2011?
No
Yes
If yes, please list the supplier(s), whether the firm was added or dropped, the
reasons for the change.
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CSPV products
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III‐19. New suppliers.‐‐Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have
entered the market since January 1, 2011?
No
Yes
If yes, please identify the firms.
III‐20. Supplier qualification‐‐Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified to
sell CSPV products to your firm?
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
III‐21. Failure to certify.‐‐Since January 1, 2011, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their
attempts to certify or qualify their subject 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‐22. Major purchasing factors.‐‐Please list, in order of their importance, the three major factors your
firm considers in deciding from whom to purchase CSPV products (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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Page 18
III‐23. Purchasing factors.‐‐ Please rate the importance of the following factors in your firm’s
purchasing decisions for CSPV products.
Very
important
Factor
Somewhat
important
Not
important
Availability
Cell count (60, 72, 90‐cell modules)
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Module racking systems
Packaging
Price
Product consistency
Product range
Quality exceeds industry standards
Quality meets industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
Warranty
Wattage efficiency
U.S. transportation costs
III‐24. Quality characteristics.‐‐What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of CSPV products?
III‐25. Frequency of decisions based on price.‐‐How often does your firm purchase CSPV products that
are offered at the lowest price?
Always
Usually
Sometimes
Never
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III‐26. Technical parameter.—If your firm purchased modules during 2011‐2013, please indicate the
following technical parameters of the modules you purchased and estimate the percentage of
your firm’s total 2013 purchases of CSPV modules for a given technical parameter and the
market segment (i.e., residential, commercial, utility) in which the purchased module was used.
(a) Module cell count
Estimated percentage of your firm’s total 2013 purchases of CSPV modules
Module cell count
Residential
Commercial
Utility
60‐cell module
%
%
%
72‐cell module
%
%
%
90‐cell module
%
%
%
Other:
%
%
%
100 %
(b) Cell type: monocrystalline and multicrystalline cells
Estimated percentage of your firm’s total 2013 purchases of CSPV modules
Cell type
Residential
Commercial
Utility
Monocrystalline
%
%
%
Multicrystalline
%
%
%
100 %
(c) Voltage
Estimated percentage of your firm’s total 2013 purchases of CSPV modules
Voltage
Residential
Commercial
Utility
600 volt (UL) module
%
%
%
1,000 volt (UL) modules
%
%
%
Other:
%
%
%
100 %
(d) Mounting technologies
Estimated percentage of your firm’s total 2013 purchases of CSPV modules
Mounting technology
Commercial
Zep‐compatible
%
Other quick‐mounting
systems (excluding Zep)
%
Other:
%
Residential
Utility
%
%
%
%
%
%
100 %
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CSPV products
Page 20
III‐27. Bankability.‐‐Please describe the role of bankability in your or your customers’ purchasing
decisions and if it has changed since January 1, 2011.
Describe the role of bankability
III‐28. Financing.—Has your firm purchased CSPV cells or modules from a producer or importer that
offered to finance the purchase?
No
Yes
Please provide details on the financing terms offered by the producer or
importer (e.g. duration, interest rate, payback schedule, etc.)
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.
Please list the names of any firms you considered price leaders in the market for CSPV products
since January 1, 2011.
Firm(s)
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 of CSPV products for which your
firm has actual marketing/pricing knowledge.
United States
China
IV‐2.
Taiwan
Other countries (specify)
Interchangeability.—Are CSPV products 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
United States
China
Taiwan
China
Taiwan
Other countries
For any country‐pair producing CSPV products that is sometimes or never interchangeable, please
explain the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable use:
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CSPV products
IV‐3.
Page 22
Factors other than price.‐‐Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between CSPV products
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
United States
China
Taiwan
China
Taiwan
Other countries
For any country‐pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant factor in
your firm’s sales of CSPV products, identify the country‐pair and report the advantages or disadvantages
imparted by such factors:
IV‐4.
IV‐5.
Country preferences.‐‐Do you or your customers ever specifically order CSPV products from one
country in particular over other possible sources of supply?
No
Yes
If yes, identify the countries and explain.
Availability of merchandise.‐‐Are certain grades/types/sizes of CSPV products available from
only from certain country sources?
IV‐6.
No
Yes
Choice of product not based on price.‐‐If you purchased CSPV products from one country
source 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).
If yes, please identify the countries and the grade/type/size.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CSPV products
Page 23
IV‐7. Factor country comparisons.‐‐For the factors listed below, please rate how CSPV products
produced in each country you identified in your response to the first question in Part IV compares with
CSPV products produced in each of the other countries you identified.
Please note: If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes
for those country comparisons blank.
Availability
Cell count (60, 72, 90‐cell modules)
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Module racking systems
Packaging
Price
Product consistency
Product range
Quality exceeds industry standards
Quality meets industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
Warranty
Wattage efficiency
U.S. transportation costs
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.
Inferior
Superior
Comparable
Product from
China
compared to
product from
Taiwan
Inferior
Comparable
Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Taiwan
Superior
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Product from
United States
compared to
product from
China
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CSPV products
Continued.
Inferior
Availability
Cell count (60, 72, 90‐cell modules)
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Module racking systems
Packaging
Price
Product consistency
Product range
Quality exceeds industry standards
Quality meets industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
Warranty
Wattage efficiency
U.S. transportation costs
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.
Inferior
Comparable
Product from
Taiwan
compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries
Superior
Product from
China
compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries
Comparable
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries
Superior
IV‐7.
Page 24
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CSPV products
IV‐8.
Page 25
Minimum quality.‐‐How often does CSPV products 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
Taiwan
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.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CSPV products
Page 26
OPTIONS FOR FILING THIS QUESTIONNAIRE
RESPONSE WITH THE ITC
This questionnaire is available as a “fillable” form in MS Word format on the
Commission’s website at:
LINK
Please do not attempt to modify the format or permissions of the questionnaire
document. Please complete the questionnaire and submit it electronically 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 completed questionnaire in MS Word format
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: SUN2
• E-mail.—E-mail your questionnaire to the investigator identified on page 4 of this
questionnaire; include a scanned copy of the signed certification page (page 1).
Please note that submitting your questionnaire by e-mail may subject your firm’s business
proprietary information to transmission over an unsecure environment and to possible
disclosure. If you choose this option, the Commission warns you that any risk involving possible
disclosure of such information is assumed by the submitter and not by the Commission.
• Compact disc (CD).—Copy your MS Word questionnaire onto a CD. Also please include a
signed certification page (page 1), and mail to the U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E.
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024. It is strongly recommended that you use an overnight mail
service. U.S. mail sent to government offices undergoes additional processing which not only
results in substantial delays in delivery but may also damage CDs.
Note: If you are a party to the proceeding, and service of the questionnaire is required, such
service should be made in paper form.
If you determine that your firm does not purchase this product, please complete page 1 of
the respective questionnaire by: (1) Filling in your name and address, (2) Checking the “no” box,
(3) Signing the bottom of page 1, and (4) Returning page 1 to the Commission using any of the
methods listed above.
| File Type | application/pdf |
| File Title | Microsoft Word - US Purchaser Questionnaire_Solar 2_Final |
| Author | chris.cassise |
| File Modified | 2014-09-10 |
| File Created | 2014-09-10 |