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pdfOMB No. 3117‐0016/USITC No. 16‐3‐3450; Expiration Date: 6/30/2017
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U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
CERTAIN CORROSION‐RESISTANT STEEL PRODUCTS FROM CHINA, INDIA, ITALY,
KOREA, AND TAIWAN
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by March 22, 2016
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 duty investigations concerning certain corrosion‐resistant steel
products (“corrosion‐resistant steel”) from China, India, Italy, Korea, and Taiwan (Inv. Nos. 701‐TA‐534‐538 and 731‐TA‐
1274‐1278 (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 Lauren Gamache (202‐205‐3489, lauren.gamache@usitc.gov).
Name of firm
Address
City
State
Zip Code
Website
Has your firm purchased corrosion‐resistant steel (as defined on next page) from any source (domestic or
foreign) at any time since January 1, 2013?
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 U.S. International Trade Commission Drop Box by clicking on the
following link: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/. (PIN: CORE)
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, the undersigned, acknowledge that information submitted in response to this request for information and throughout this
investigation or other proceeding may be disclosed to and used: (i) by the Commission, its employees and Offices, and contract
personnel (a) for developing or maintaining the records of this or a related proceeding, or (b) in internal investigations, audits,
reviews, and evaluations relating to the programs, personnel, and operations of the Commission including under 5 U.S.C.
Appendix 3; or (ii) by U.S. government employees and contract personnel, solely for cybersecurity purposes. I understand that all
contract personnel will sign appropriate nondisclosure agreements.
Name of Authorized Official Title of Authorized Official
Date
Signature
Phone:
Email address
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Corrosion‐Resistant Steel
Page 2
Background. This proceeding was instituted in response to petitions filed on June 3, 2015, by United
States Steel Corporation (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), Nucor Corporation (Charlotte, North Carolina), Steel
Dynamics Inc. (Fort Wayne, Indiana), California Steel Industries (Fontana, California), ArcelorMittal USA
LLC (Chicago, Illinois), and AK Steel Corporation (West Chester, Oregon). 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
https://usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2016/corrosion_resistant_steel_products_china_india/final.htm.
Corrosion‐resistant steel.—The products covered by the scope are certain flat‐rolled steel products,
either clad, plated, or coated with corrosion‐resistant metals such as zinc, aluminum, or zinc‐,
aluminum‐, nickel‐ or iron‐based alloys, whether or not corrugated or painted, varnished, laminated, or
coated with plastics or other non‐metallic substances in addition to the metal coating. The products
covered include coils that have a width of 12.7 mm or greater, regardless of form of coil (e.g., in
successively superimposed layers, spirally oscillating, etc.). The products covered also include products
not in coils (e.g., in straight lengths) of a thickness less than 4.75 mm and a width that is 12.7 mm or
greater and that measures at least 10 times the thickness. The products covered also include products
not in coils (e.g., in straight lengths) of a thickness 4.75 mm or more than a width exceeding 150 mm
and measuring at least twice the thickness. The products described above may be rectangular, square,
circular, or other shape and include products of either rectangular or non‐rectangular cross‐section
where such cross‐section is achieved subsequent to the rolling process, i.e., products which have been
“worked after rolling” (e.g., products which have been beveled or rounded at the edges).
For purposes of the width and thickness requirements referenced above: (1) where the nominal and
actual measurements vary, a product is within the scope if application of either the nominal or actual
measurement would place it within the scope based on the definitions set for above, and (2) where the
width and thickness vary for a specific period (e.g., the thickness of certain products with non‐
rectangular cross‐section, the width of certain products with nonrectangular shape, etc.), the
measurement at its greatest width or thickness applies.
Steel products included in the scope in this investigation are products in which: (1) Iron predominates,
by weight, over each of the other contained elements; (2) the carbon content is 2 percent or less, by
weight; (3) none of the elements listed below exceeds the quantity, by weight, respectively indicated:
• 2.50 percent of manganese, or
• 3.30 percent of silicon, or
• 1.50 percent of copper, or
• 1.25 percent of chromium, or
• 0.30 percent of cobalt, or
• 0.40 percent of lead, or
• 2.00 percent of nickel, or
• 0.30 percent of tungsten (also called wolfram), or
• 0.80 percent of molybdenum, or
• 0.10 percent of niobium (also called columbium), or
• 0.30 percent of vanadium, or
• 0.30 percent of zirconium
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Corrosion‐Resistant Steel
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Unless specifically excluded, products are included in this scope regardless of levels of boron and
titanium.
For example, specifically included in this scope are vacuum degassed, fully stabilized (commonly
referred to interstitial‐free (“IF”)) steels and high strength low alloy (“HSLA”) steels. IF steels are
recognized as low carbon steels with micro‐alloying levels of elements such as titanium and/or niobium
added to stabilize carbon and nitrogen elements.
HSLA steels are recognized as steels with micro‐alloying levels of elements such as chromium, copper,
niobium, titanium, vanadium, and molybdenum. Furthermore, this scope also includes Advanced High
Strength Steels (“AHSS”) and Ultra High Strength Steels (“UHSS”), both of which are considered high
tensile strength and high elongation steels.
Subject merchandise also includes corrosion‐resistant steel that has been further processed in a third
country, including but not limited to annealing, tempering, painting, varnishing, trimming, cutting,
punching and/ or slitting or any other processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise
from the scope of the investigations if performed in the country of manufacture of the in‐scope
corrosion resistant steel.
All products that meet the written physical description, and in which the chemistry quantities do not
exceed any one of the noted element levels listed above, are within the scope of this proceeding unless
specifically excluded. The following products are outside of and/or specifically excluded from the scope
of this investigation:
• Flat‐rolled steel products either plated or coated with tin, lead, chromium, chromium oxides, both
tin and lead (“terne plate”), or both chromium and chromium oxides (“tin free steel”), whether or
not painted, varnished or coated with plastics or other non‐metallic substances in addition to the
metallic coating;
• Clad products in straight lengths of 4.7625 mm or more in composite thickness and of a width
which exceeds 150 mm and measure at least twice the thickness; and
• Certain clad stainless flat‐rolled products, which are three‐layered corrosion‐resistant steel flat‐
rolled steel products less than 4.75 mm in composite thickness that consist of a flat‐rolled steel
product clad on both sides with stainless steel in a 20%‐60%‐20% ratio.
Reporting of information.‐‐ If information is not readily available from your records, provide carefully
prepared estimates. If your firm is completing more than one questionnaire (i.e., a producer, importer,
and/or purchaser questionnaire), you need not respond to duplicated questions.
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
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Corrosion‐Resistant Steel
Page 4
documents used in the preparation of the questionnaire response. Please also retain a copy of the final
document that you submit.
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 the actual number of hours required and the cost to your firm of
completing this questionnaire.
I‐2.
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
25 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 response or send to the Office of Investigations, USITC, 500 E St. SW,
Washington, DC 20436.
Establishments covered.‐‐ Provide the name and address of your U.S. establishment(s) covered
by this questionnaire, if different from that listed on the cover page. Firms operating more than
one establishment should combine the data for all establishments into a single report.
“Establishment”‐‐Each facility of a firm involved in the purchase of corrosion‐resistant steel,
including auxiliary facilities operated in conjunction with (whether or not physically separate
from) such facilities.
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Corrosion‐Resistant Steel
I‐3.
Ownership.‐‐Is your firm owned, in whole or in part, by any other firm?
No
Yes‐‐List the following information.
I‐4.
I‐5.
I‐6.
Firm name
Address
Extent of ownership
(percent)
Page 5
Related SUBJECT importers/exporters.‐‐Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic
or foreign, which import corrosion‐resistant steel from China, India, Italy, Korea, and/or Taiwan
into the United States or which export corrosion‐resistant steel from China, India, Italy, Korea,
and/or Taiwan to the United States?
No
Yes‐‐List the following information.
Firm name
Address
Affiliation
Related NONSUBJECT importers/exporters.‐‐Does your firm have any related firms, either
domestic or foreign, which import corrosion‐resistant steel from countries other than China,
India, Italy, Korea, and/or Taiwan into the United States or which export corrosion‐resistant
steel from countries other than China, India, Italy, Korea, and/or 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
produce corrosion‐resistant steel?
No
Yes‐‐List the following information.
Firm name
Address
Affiliation
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Corrosion‐Resistant Steel
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PART II.‐‐PURCHASES
Contact information.‐‐ Please identify the responsible individual and the manner by which Commission
staff may contact that individual regarding the confidential information submitted in this questionnaire.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
Fax
II‐1. Purchases.—
(a)
Report your firm’s total U.S. purchases of corrosion‐resistant steel, and indicate your
firm’s share of total purchases through annual or longer term contracts in 2015. (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).
Item
2013
Purchases of corrosion‐resistant
steel produced in‐‐
2015
Quantity (in short tons)
Percent share
of 2015
purchases
through
contracts
United States
China
India
Italy
Korea
All other countries:
Sources unknown
Taiwan
1
1
Please identify these countries:
2014
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Corrosion‐Resistant Steel
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(b)
Report your firm’s 2015 purchases of the following types of corrosion‐resistant steel.
2015
Quantity (in short tons)
Name of
Did not United
All other producers, if
Steel type
purchase States China
India
Italy
Korea Taiwan sources
known
55% Al‐Zn alloy
coated (e.g.
Galvalume),
0.018 inches
and thinner,
less than 45
inches in width
EG Steel with a
maximum zinc
coating per side
of 20g/m2, or
40g/m2 on both
sides
AHSS 490
AHSS 1180
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Corrosion‐Resistant Steel
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II‐2. Changes in purchasing patterns.‐‐Please indicate how the shares of your firm’s purchases of
corrosion‐resistant steel from different sources have changed since January 1, 2013.
Source of
Did not
purchases
purchase Decreased
Increased
Constant Fluctuated Explanation for trend
United States
China
India
Italy
Korea
Taiwan
All other
countries
Sources
unknown
II‐3.
Purchases from one country only.‐‐If your firm has purchased corrosion‐resistant steel from
only one country, please explain the reasons for doing so.
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Corrosion‐Resistant Steel
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II‐4. Supplier identification.‐‐Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers for corrosion‐resistant steel
since January 1, 2013. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s total purchases of
corrosion‐resistant steel that each of these suppliers accounted for in 2015.
No.
Supplier’s name
Share of quantity of
2015 purchases
City and state
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 corrosion‐resistant
steel (check all that apply)?
Consumer Steel service
Automotive Construction
center or
Other
Describe other
appliance
end user
end user
distributor
end user
If your firm is a steel service center or distributor of corrosion‐resistant steel, please answer questions
III‐2 and III‐3.
III‐2. Competition for sales.‐‐Does your firm compete for sales to customers with the manufacturers
or importers from which your firm purchases corrosion‐resistant steel?
No
Yes If yes, please describe.
III‐3.
Types of customers.‐‐What are the major types of consumers to which your firm sells corrosion‐
resistant steel?
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Corrosion‐Resistant Steel
Page 10
If your firm is an end user of corrosion‐resistant steel, please answer questions III‐4 and III‐5.
III‐4. End uses.‐‐List the top 3 products your firm makes using corrosion‐resistant steel and estimate
the percent of your total production cost that is accounted for by corrosion‐resistant steel and
by other inputs (such as labor, energy, and other raw materials).
Share of total cost in each of the product(s) your
Total
firm produces accounted for by
(should
sum to
100.0%
Product(s) your firm
corrosion‐resistant
across)
produces
steel
Other inputs
III‐5.
%
+
% =
0.0 %
%
+
% =
0.0 %
%
+
% =
0.0 %
Demand for end use products.‐‐
(a)
Has the demand for your firm’s final products incorporating corrosion‐resistant steel
changed since January 1, 2013?
Increased
No change
(b)
Decreased
Fluctuated
Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for corrosion‐resistant steel?
No
Yes
Explain
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Corrosion‐Resistant Steel
III‐6. Substitutes.‐‐Can other products be substituted for corrosion‐resistant steel?
No
Yes‐‐Please fill out the table.
End use in which this
substitute is used
Substitute
Page 11
Have changes in the price of this substitute
affected the price for corrosion‐resistant steel?
No Yes
Explanation
1.
2.
3.
III‐7a. Demand trends.—
(a)
Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United States (if
known) for corrosion‐resistant steel has changed since January 1, 2013. Explain any trends and
describe the principal factors that have affected these changes in demand.
Market
Overall
increase
No
Overall
change decrease
Explanation and factors
Within the United
States
Outside the United
States
(b)
What effects, if any, do the prices of gas and oil have on demand for and price of
corrosion‐resistant steel?
Fluctuate
with no
clear trend
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Corrosion‐Resistant Steel
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III‐8. Importance of purchasing domestic product.‐‐Please fill out the table below, estimating the
percentage of your firm’s total 2015 purchases of corrosion‐resistant steel that required
corrosion‐resistant steel produced in the United States.
Estimated percentage of
your firm’s total 2015
purchases of corrosion‐
resistant steel
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: )
%
Total (should sum to 100.0%)
0.0 %
III‐9. Conditions of competition.‐‐
(a)
Is the corrosion‐resistant steel market subject to business cycles (other than general
economy‐wide conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to
corrosion‐resistant steel?
Check all that apply.
Please describe.
No
Skip to question III‐10.
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
corrosion‐resistant steel since January 1, 2013?
No
Yes
If yes, describe.
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Corrosion‐Resistant Steel
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III‐10. Decisions based on producer and country‐of‐origin.‐‐How often does your firm, and if known,
do your customers, make purchasing decisions involving corrosion‐resistant steel 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
III‐11. Availability of supply.‐‐Has the availability of corrosion‐resistant steel in the U.S. market
changed since January 1, 2013?
Availability in the U.S.
Please explain, noting the countries and reasons for the
market
No Yes changes.
U.S.‐produced product
Subject imports
Nonsubject imports
III‐12. Supply constraints.‐‐Has any firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply your firm with
corrosion‐resistant steel since January 1, 2013 (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, weather‐related effects, etc.)?
No
Yes
If yes, please describe.
III‐13. Purchasing frequency.‐‐
(a)
How frequently does your firm make purchases of corrosion‐resistant steel (check one)?
Daily Weekly
Monthly
Quarterly Annually
Other If other, specify
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Corrosion‐Resistant Steel
(b)
Has this purchasing frequency changed since January 1, 2013?
No
Page 14
Yes If yes, please describe.
III‐14. Number of suppliers contacted.‐‐How many suppliers does your firm generally contact before
making a purchase? Between and firms
III‐15. Supplier negotiations.‐‐
(a)
Does your firm’s purchases of corrosion‐resistant steel usually involve negotiations
between supplier and purchaser?
No
If yes, explain the factors your firm generally negotiates and note
Yes whether your firm quotes competing prices during negotiations.
(b)
Do changes in raw material costs affect your firm’s price negotiations with your
corrosion‐resistant steel suppliers?
No
Yes Please explain.
(c)
Are your firm’s purchase prices indexed to raw material costs?
Purchases
No
Yes
Please explain.
By Contract
Spot market
III‐16. Change in suppliers.‐‐Has your firm changed suppliers since January 1, 2013?
No
If yes, please list the supplier(s), whether the firm was added or
Yes dropped, and the reasons for the change.
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Corrosion‐Resistant Steel
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III‐17. New suppliers.‐‐Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have
entered the market since January 1, 2013?
No
Yes
If yes, please identify the firms.
III‐18. Supplier qualification.‐‐Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified
to sell corrosion‐resistant steel 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‐19. Failure to certify.‐‐Since January 1, 2013, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their
attempts to certify or qualify their corrosion‐resistant steel 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,
specific steel type, and the reasons why they failed the
certification/qualification.
III‐20. Major purchasing factors.‐‐Please list, in order of their importance, the main factors your firm
considers in deciding from whom to purchase corrosion‐resistant steel (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 ‐ Corrosion‐Resistant Steel
III‐21. Purchasing factors.‐‐Please rate the importance of the following factors in your firm’s
purchasing decisions for corrosion‐resistant steel.
Very
important
Factor
Somewhat
important
Page 16
Not
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
III‐22. Quality characteristics.‐‐What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of corrosion‐resistant steel?
III‐23. Frequency of decisions based on price.‐‐How often does your firm purchase the corrosion‐
resistant steel that is offered at the lowest price?
Always
Usually
Sometimes
Never
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Corrosion‐Resistant Steel
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III‐24. Paint rebates.--When purchasing painted corrosion‐resistant steel, do you receive rebates from
the paint producer?
No
Yes
If yes, is the rebate reflected in the final price paid to the corrosion‐
resistant steel producer?
III‐25. 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 corrosion‐resistant steel
market since January 1, 2013.
Firm(s)
Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership
III‐26. Switching to imports.—
(a)
Since January 2013, did your firm switch any of its purchases from U.S.‐produced
corrosion‐resistant steel to imports of corrosion‐resistant steel from China, India, Italy,
Korea, and/or Taiwan? Respond for each subject country.
No
Yes
(If “No” for all countries, skip to next
Source
(also respond to parts (b) and (c))
question)
China
India
Italy
Korea
Taiwan
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Corrosion‐Resistant Steel
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(b)
If you responded “Yes” to part (a), was the imported product priced lower than the
domestic product?
Source
Yes
No
China
India
Italy
Korea
Taiwan
(c)
If you responded “Yes” to part (a) above, was price a primary reason for the shift?
Source
Yes
If Yes, estimate the quantity
of purchases that your firm
shifted to imports since
January 2013 because of price
(in short tons)
China
India
Italy
Korea
Taiwan
No
If No, please indicate the
reason for the shift
III‐27. U.S. producers and import competition.—
(a)
Since January 1, 2013, did U.S. producers reduce their prices of domestically produced
corrosion‐resistant steel in order to compete with lower‐priced imports of corrosion‐
resistant steel from subject countries? Respond for each subject country.
Yes (also respond to
No (If “No” for all countries,
Source
question part (b))
skip to next question)
Don’t know
China
India
Italy
Korea
Taiwan
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Corrosion‐Resistant Steel
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(b)
If your firm responded “yes” to any of the above countries, please provide an estimate
of the reduction in U.S. producers’ prices, and any additional explanations, such as
timing (e.g., months/years), frequency of price reductions, or other market/competitive
factors.
Source
Estimated
reduction in U.S.
prices
(percent)
Additional explanation, including such information as
timing (e.g., months/years), frequency of price
reductions, or other market/competitive factors
China
%
India
%
Italy
%
Korea
%
Taiwan
%
PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS
IV‐1. Country knowledge.‐‐Please indicate the countries of origin for corrosion‐resistant steel for
which your firm has actual marketing/pricing knowledge.
United
States
China
India
Italy
Korea
Other
Taiwan countries Other countries (specify)
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Corrosion‐Resistant Steel
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IV‐2. Interchangeability.‐‐Is corrosion‐resistant steel 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
China
India
Italy
Korea
Taiwan
Canada
(nonsubject)
Other
countries
India
Italy
Korea
Canada
For any country‐pair producing corrosion‐resistant steel that is sometimes or never
interchangeable, identify the country‐pair and explain the factors that limit or preclude
interchangeable use:
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Corrosion‐Resistant Steel
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IV‐3. Factors other than price.‐‐Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between corrosion‐resistant
steel 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
China
India
Italy
Korea
Taiwan
Canada
(nonsubject)
Other
countries
India
Italy
Korea
Canada
For any country‐pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant
factor in your firm’s sales of corrosion‐resistant steel, identify the country‐pair and report the
advantages or disadvantages imparted by such factors:
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Corrosion‐Resistant Steel
Page 22
IV‐4. Country preferences.‐‐Do you or your customers ever specifically order corrosion‐resistant steel
from one country in particular over other possible sources of supply?
No
Yes
If yes, identify the countries and explain.
IV‐5.
Availability of merchandise.‐‐Are certain grades/types/sizes of corrosion‐resistant steel only
available from certain country sources?
IV‐6.
No
Yes
Choice of product not based on price.‐‐If you purchased corrosion‐resistant steel 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 ‐ Corrosion‐Resistant Steel
Page 23
IV‐7. Factor country comparisons.‐‐For the factors listed below, please rate how corrosion‐resistant
steel produced in each country you identified in your response to the first question in Part IV
compares with corrosion‐resistant steel produced in each of the other countries you identified.
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Inferior
Superior
Factor
Comparable
If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.
Product from
Product from
Product from
United States
United States
United States
compared to
compared to
compared to
product from
product from
product from
China
India
Italy
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.
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Factor
Inferior
Superior
Comparable
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Corrosion‐Resistant Steel
Page 24
IV‐7. Continued.
If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.
Product from
Product from
United States
Product from
United States
United States
compared to
product from
compared to
compared to
Nonsubject
product from
product from
countries
Korea
Taiwan
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
1
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
Superior
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Factor
Inferior
Superior
Comparable
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Corrosion‐Resistant Steel
Page 25
IV‐7. Continued.
If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.
Product from
China
Product from
Product from
China compared to China compared to
compared to
product from
product from
product from
India
Italy
Korea
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.
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Factor
Inferior
Superior
Comparable
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Corrosion‐Resistant Steel
Page 26
IV‐7. Continued.
If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.
Product from
Product from
China
China compared to
Product from
India compared to
compared to
product from
product from
Nonsubject
product from
countries
Taiwan
Italy
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.
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Factor
Inferior
Superior
Comparable
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Corrosion‐Resistant Steel
Page 27
IV‐7. Continued.
If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.
Product from
Product from
India
India compared to
Product from
India compared to
compared to
product from
product from
nonsubject
product from
countries
Korea
Taiwan
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.
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Factor
Inferior
Superior
Comparable
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Corrosion‐Resistant Steel
Page 28
IV‐7. Continued.
If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.
Product from
Product from
Italy
Italy compared to
Product from
Italy compared to
compared to
product from
product from
nonsubject
product from
countries
Korea
Taiwan
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.
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Factor
Inferior
Superior
Comparable
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Corrosion‐Resistant Steel
Page 29
IV‐7. Continued.
If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.
Product from
Product from
Product from
Korea
Korea compared to Taiwan compared
compared to
product from
to product from
product from
Nonsubject
nonsubject
countries
countries
Taiwan
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.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Corrosion‐Resistant Steel
Page 30
IV‐8. Minimum quality.‐‐How often does corrosion‐resistant steel from the following countries meet
minimum quality specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?
Rarely or
Don’t
Source
Always
Usually
Sometimes
never
know
United States
China
India
Italy
Korea
Taiwan
Canada
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 ‐ Corrosion‐Resistant Steel
Page 31
HOW TO FILE YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSE
This questionnaire is available as a “fillable” form in MS Word format on the
Commission’s website at:
https://usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2016/corrosion_resistant_steel_products_chin
a_india/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: CORE
• E‐mail.—E‐mail the MS Word questionnaire to lauren.gamache@usitc.gov; include a scanned copy of
the signed certification page (page 1). Submitters are strongly encouraged to encrypt nonpublic
documents that are electronically transmitted to the Commission to protect your sensitive information
from unauthorized disclosure. The USITC secure drop‐box system and the Electronic Document
Information System (EDIS) use Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 140‐2 cryptographic
algorithms to encrypt data in transit. Submitting your nonpublic documents by a means that does not
use these encryption algorithms (such as by email) may subject your firm’s nonpublic information to
unauthorized disclosure during transmission. If you choose a non‐encrypted method of electronic
transmission, the Commission warns you that the risk of such possible unauthorized disclosure is
assumed by you and not by the Commission.
If your firm does not purchase 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, it 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.
| File Type | application/pdf |
| File Title | Microsoft Word - CORE US PUR Q - DRAFT |
| Author | mary.messer |
| File Modified | 2016-02-08 |
| File Created | 2016-02-08 |