16-3-3446 U.S. Purchasers' Questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 16-3-3446; Expiration Date: 6/30/2017
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
CERTAIN TISSUE PAPER PRODUCTS FROM CHINA
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by March 8, 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 review of the antidumping duty order concerning certain tissue paper products (“tissue paper”) from
China (inv. No. 731-TA-1070B (Second Review)). 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 Tana Farrington (202-205-2389,
Tana.Farrington@usitc.gov).

Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm purchased tissue paper (as defined on the next page) 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

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

Return questionnaire via the Commission Drop Box by clicking on the following link:
https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/. (PIN: TISSUE)
CERTIFICATION
I certify that the information herein supplied in response to this questionnaire is complete and correct to the best of my
knowledge and belief and understand that the information submitted is subject to audit and verification by the Commission.
By means of this certification I also grant consent for the Commission, and its employees and contract personnel, to use the
information provided in this questionnaire and throughout this proceeding in any other import-injury proceedings or reviews
conducted by the Commission on the same or similar merchandise.
I, 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

Phone:
Signature

Email address

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Tissue Paper

Page 2

PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background. On March 30, 2005, the Department of Commerce issued an antidumping duty order on
imports of tissue paper from China. On June 1, 2015, the Commission instituted a review pursuant to
section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. § 1675(c)) (the Act) to determine whether revocation
of the order would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury to the domestic
industry within a reasonably foreseeable time. If both the Commission and Commerce make an
affirmative determination, the order will remain in place. If either the Commission or Commerce makes
a negative determination, the Department of Commerce will revoke the order. Questionnaires and
other information pertinent to this proceeding are available at
http://wwwadmin.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2015/certain_tissue_paper_products_china/second
_review_full.htm
Tissue paper products covered by the Order are cut-to-length sheets of tissue paper having a basis
weight not exceeding 29 grams per square meter. Tissue paper products subject to this order may or
may not be bleached, dye-colored, surface-colored, glazed, surface decorated or printed, sequined,
crinkled, embossed, and/or die cut. The tissue paper subject to this order is in the form of cut-to-length
sheets of tissue paper with a width equal to or greater than one-half (0.5) inch. Subject tissue paper may
be flat or folded, and may be packaged by banding or wrapping with paper or film, by placing in plastic
or film bags, and/or by placing in boxes for distribution and use by the ultimate consumer. Packages of
tissue paper subject to this order may consist solely of tissue paper of one color and/or style, or may
contain multiple colors and/or styles.
The merchandise subject to this order does not have specific classification numbers assigned to them
under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Subject merchandise may be under
one or more of several different subheadings, including: 4802.30, 4802.54, 4802.61, 4802.62, 4802.69,
4804.31.1000, 4804.31.2000, 4804.31.4020, 4804.31.4040, 4804.31.6000, 4804.39, 4805.91.1090,
4805.91.5000, 4805.91.7000, 4806.40, 4808.30, 4808.90, 4811.90, 4823.90, 4802.50.00, 4802.90.00,
4805.91.90, 9505.90.40. The tariff classifications are provided for convenience and customs purposes;
however, the written description of the scope of this order is dispositive.1
Excluded from the scope of this order are the following tissue paper products: (1) tissue paper products
that are coated in wax, paraffin, or polymers, of a kind used in floral and food service applications; (2)
tissue paper products that have been perforated, embossed, or die-cut to the shape of a toilet seat, i.e.,
disposable sanitary covers for toilet seats; and (3) toilet or facial tissue stock towel or napkin stock,
paper of a kind used for household or sanitary purposes, cellulose wadding, and webs of cellulose fibers
(HTSUS 4803.00.20.00 and 4803.00.40.00).
Subject tissue paper includes both bulk and consumer tissue paper products defined as follows:
Bulk tissue paper is not resold, but is used to wrap or package the purchaser's customers' purchases, as
dunnage, filler, interleaving, etc., and is incidental to the purchase of another item. Bulk tissue is
generally sold by ream (480-500 sheets) but may also be sold in half-ream or multiple-ream quantities or
by weight. It is generally sold flat or quire-folded packaged in sealed polybags and/or corrugated boxes.
Bulk tissue paper is generally plain white or solid color but may be printed with various designs.
1

On January 30, 2007, at the direction of CBP, the Department added the following HTSUS classifications to the
AD/CVD module for tissue paper: 4802.54.3100, 4802.54.6100, and 4823.90.6700. However, we note that the six
digit classifications for these numbers were already listed in the scope.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Tissue Paper

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Consumer tissue paper is sold to purchasers in packaged form and ready for resale to their customers,
the final end users. Consumer tissue is usually sold folded (tissue folds) in various formats and sheet
counts (5-400 sheets). Consumer tissue paper is generally plain white or solid color but may be printed
with various designs and may also include specialty tissue paper such as handmade, die-cut, hotstamped, or spot-glitter tissue paper. Club packs are consumer tissue that are sold either flat or folded
usually in quantities of 100-400 sheets.
Purchaser.--Any firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or subsidiary, in purchasing
tissue paper from another firm that produces, imports, or otherwise distributes tissue paper.
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 in connection with this
proceeding (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 of your files, worksheets, and
supporting 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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Tissue Paper
I-1.

Page 4

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

Dollars

The questions in this questionnaire have been reviewed with market participants to ensure that
issues of concern are adequately addressed and that data requests are sufficient, meaningful,
and as limited as possible. Public reporting burden for this questionnaire is estimated to average
40 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.
I-2.

Establishments covered.--Provide the name and address of establishment(s) covered by this
questionnaire, if different from that listed on the cover page. 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 tissue paper, 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
Firm name

Yes--List the following information.
Address

Extent of ownership
(percent)

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Tissue Paper
I-4.

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

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

I-5.

Address

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name and country

Address

Affiliation

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

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name and country

I-7.

Affiliation

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

I-6.

Page 5

Address

Affiliation

Business plan.--Does your company or any related firm have a business plan or any internal
documents that describe, discuss, or analyze expected market conditions for tissue paper?

No

Yes

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

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Tissue Paper

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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)

Please estimate your firm’s total U.S. purchases of bulk and/or consumer tissue paper 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.) “Bulk” tissue paper
and “consumer” tissue paper are defined on page 2.
Purchases of tissue paper

Quantity (1,000
square meters)

Bulk
Consumer
(b)

Estimate the percentage of the quantity of your firm’s purchases of tissue paper in 2015
that were produced in each of the specified countries.
Tissue paper
produced in:

Share of quantity of 2015 purchases
Bulk purchases

Consumer purchases

United States

%

%

China

%

%

All other countries:1

%

%

Total (should sum
to 100.0%)
1

Please identify these countries:

0.0

%

0.0

%

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Tissue Paper
II-2.

Page 7

Changes in purchasing patterns.--Please indicate how the shares of your firm’s purchases of
tissue paper from different sources have changed since January 1, 2010.
Source of
purchases

Did not Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated
purchase

Explanation for
trend

Bulk tissue paper products
United States

China
All other
countries
Consumer tissue paper products
United States

China
All other
countries
II-3.

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Tissue Paper
II-4.

Supplier identification.-- Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers for tissue paper since
January 1, 2010. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s total purchases of tissue
paper that each of these suppliers accounted for in 2015.

No.

II-5.

Page 8

Supplier’s name

City and state

Share of quantity of
2015 purchases

1

%

2

%

3

%

4

%

5

%

Shipping information.-(a) What is the approximate percentage of the total cost of tissue paper you purchased that is
accounted for by U.S. inland transportation and other logistics costs from
the importer to your distribution network or retail store?
the U.S. producer to your distribution network or retail store?

percent.
percent.

(b) If the percentages reported above varied since January 2010, please explain.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Tissue Paper

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PLEASE NOTE THAT THE QUESTIONS IN PARTS III AND IV (PAGES 9-24) OF THIS QUESTIONNAIRE REFER
TO BOTH BULK AND CONSUMER TISSUE PAPER. IF THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS IN THESE
SECTIONS DIFFER BY END USE (I.E., BULK TISSUE PAPER OR CONSUMER TISSUE PAPER, DEFINED ON
PAGE 2), THEN INDICATE AT QUESTIONS III-28 AND/OR IV-10 AND EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE. PLEASE
IDENTIFY THE PRODUCT YOUR FIRM PURCHASES THE MOST OF IN RELATION TO YOUR TOTAL
PURCHASES OF TISSUE PAPER.
Mostly purchase bulk
tissue paper

Mostly purchase
consumer tissue paper

Purchase
approximately equal
amounts of bulk and
consumer tissue paper

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

Firm type.—

(a) Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of tissue paper (check all that
apply)?
End user

Retailer

Distributor

Other

Describe other

(b) For your purchases of tissue paper in 2015, report whether you resold the tissue paper and/or
used it for packaging incidental sales of another item.
Consumer tissue paper
(resold)

Bulk (used for packaging or other use incidental to the
purchase of another article)

(c) Report the sheet count for the tissue paper products you purchased in 2015. Check all that
apply.
1-100 sheets

101-399 sheets

400 or more sheets

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Tissue Paper

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

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

III-3.

Yes

If yes, please describe.

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

If your firm is an end user of tissue paper, please answer questions III-4 and III-5.
III-4.

End uses.—
(a)

What is the main end use for the majority of your sales/usage of tissue paper? Check all
that apply.

Functional
Packaging/Industrial
Use

(b)

Decorative
Packaging
incidental
to the sale

Decorative
Decorative/Arts
Packaging
& Crafts by
for sale
final consumer

Other

Describe other

Have there been any changes in the end uses of tissue paper since January 1, 2010? Do
you anticipate any future changes?

Changes in end uses
Changes since
January 1, 2010
Anticipated changes

No

Yes

Explain

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Tissue Paper
III-5.

Demand for end use products.-(a)

Has the demand for your firm’s final products incorporating tissue paper changed since
January 1, 2010?
Increased

(b)

No change

Decreased

Fluctuated

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

III-6.

Page 11

Yes

Explain

Substitutes.—
(a)

Can other products be substituted for tissue paper?
No

Substitute

Yes--Please fill out the table.

End use in which this
substitute is used

Have changes in the price of this substitute
affected the price for tissue paper?
No Yes

Explanation

1.
2.
3.
(b)

Have there been any changes in the number or types of products that can be
substituted for tissue paper since January 1, 2010? Do you anticipate any future
changes?

Changes in substitutes No Yes
Changes since January
1, 2010
Anticipated changes

Explain

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Tissue Paper
III-7.

Page 12

Demand trends.—
(a) Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United States (if known)
for bulk tissue paper has changed since January 1, 2010, and how you anticipate demand
will change in the future. Explain any trends and describe the principal factors that have
affected, and that you anticipate will affect, these changes in demand.

Market

Overall
increase

No
change

Overall
decrease

Fluctuate
with no
clear trend

Demand since January 1, 2010
Within
the United
States
Outside
the United
States
Anticipated future demand
Within
the United
States
Outside
the United
States

Explanation and factors

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Tissue Paper
III-7.

Page 13

Demand trends (continued).—
(b) Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United States (if known)
for consumer tissue paper has changed since January 1, 2010, and how you anticipate
demand will change in the future. Explain any trends and describe the principal factors that
have affected, and that you anticipate will affect, these changes in demand.

Market

Overall
increase

No
change

Overall
decrease

Fluctuate
with no
clear trend

Explanation and factors

Demand since January 1, 2010
Within
the United
States
Outside
the United
States
Anticipated future demand
Within
the United
States
Outside
the United
States
III-8.

Market studies.--Please provide as a separate attachment to this request any studies, surveys,
etc. that you are aware of that quantify and/or otherwise discuss tissue paper supply (including
production capacity and capacity utilization) and demand in (1) the United States, (2) each of
the other major producing/consuming countries, including China, and (3) the world as a whole.
Of particular interest is such data from 2010 to the present and forecasts for the future.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Tissue Paper
III-9.

Page 14

Importance of purchasing domestic product.--Please fill out the table below, estimating the
percentage of your firm’s total 2015 purchases of tissue paper that required tissue paper
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:
)
Total (should sum to 100.0%)

Estimated percentage of
your firm’s total 2015
purchases of tissue
paper
%
%
%
%
0.0 %

III-10. Conditions of competition.-(a) Is the tissue paper market subject to business cycles (other than general economy-wide
conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to tissue paper?
Check all that apply.

Please describe.

No

Skip to question III-11.

Yes-Business cycles (e.g.
seasonal business)
Yes-Other distinctive
conditions of competition
(b) If yes, have there been any changes in the business cycles or conditions of competition for
tissue paper since January 1, 2010?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Tissue Paper

Page 15

III-11. Decisions based on producer and country-of-origin.--How often does your firm, and if you
know, do your customers, make purchasing decisions involving tissue paper 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-12. Availability of supply.—
(a) Has the availability of bulk tissue paper in the U.S. market changed since January 1, 2010?
Do you anticipate any future changes?
Availability in the
No
Please explain, noting the countries and
U.S. market
Increase Change Decrease reasons for the changes.
Changes since January 1, 2010:
U.S.-produced
product
Subject imports
Nonsubject
imports
Anticipated changes:
U.S.-produced
product
Subject imports
Nonsubject
imports

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Tissue Paper

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III-12. Availability of supply (continued).—
(b) Has the availability of consumer tissue paper in the U.S. market changed since January 1,
2010? Do you anticipate any future changes?
Availability in the
No
Please explain, noting the countries and
U.S. market
Increase Change Decrease reasons for the changes.
Changes since January 1, 2010:
U.S.-produced
product
Subject imports
Nonsubject
imports
Anticipated changes:
U.S.-produced
product
Subject imports
Nonsubject
imports
III-13. Supply constraints.--Has any firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply your firm with
tissue paper since January 1, 2010 (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.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Tissue Paper

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III-14. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

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

(b)

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Annually

Other

If other, specify

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

Yes

If yes, explain.

III-15. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers do you generally contact before making a
purchase? Between
and
firms.
III-16. Supplier negotiations.--Do your purchases of tissue paper usually involve negotiations between
supplier and purchaser?

No

Yes

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

III-17. Change in suppliers.-- Has your firm changed suppliers since January 1, 2010?

No

Yes

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

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Tissue Paper

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III-18. New suppliers.-(a)

Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have entered the
market since January 1, 2010?
No

(b)

Yes

If yes, please identify the firms.

Do you expect new tissue paper suppliers to enter the U.S. market?
No

Yes

If yes, please explain.

III-19. Supplier qualification.--Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified
to sell tissue paper 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-20. Failure to certify.--Since January 1, 2010, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their
attempts to certify or qualify their tissue paper 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.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Tissue Paper

Page 19

III-21. Major purchasing factors.-- Please list, in order of their importance, the three major factors
your firm considers in deciding from whom to purchase tissue paper (examples include
availability, extension of credit, contracts, price, quality, range of supplier’s product line,
traditional supplier, etc.).
1.
2.
3.
Please list any other factors that are very important in your purchase decisions:
III-22. Purchasing factors.--Please rate the importance of the following factors in your firm’s
purchasing decisions for tissue paper.

Factor
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

Very
important

Somewhat
important

Not
important

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Tissue Paper

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III-23. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of tissue paper?

III-24. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the tissue paper
that is offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

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 tissue paper market since
January 1, 2010.
Firm(s)

Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership

III-26. Changes in U.S. industry.-(a)

Please identify and discuss any improvements/changes in the U.S. tissue paper industry
since January 1, 2010 and explain the factors, including the order(s) under review, that
were responsible for each improvement/change.

(b)

Please discuss any improvements/changes that you anticipate in the future in the U.S.
tissue paper industry. Identify the time period and causes for these
improvements/changes.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Tissue Paper

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III-27. Effect of revocation.--What do you think will be the likely effects of any revocation of the
antidumping duty order for imports of tissue paper from China? As appropriate, please discuss
any potential effects of revocation of the antidumping duty order on (1) the future activities of
your firm and (2) the U.S. market as a whole. Please note the future time period to which you
are referring.
Activities of your firm
Entire U.S. market
III-28. Further explanation of bulk vs. consumer tissue paper.-- If any of your answers above differed
between bulk and consumer tissue paper, please provide any further explanations below.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Tissue Paper

Page 22

PART IV.-- PRODUCT COMPARISIONS
IV-1.

Country knowledge.-(a) Please indicate the countries of origin for tissue paper for which your firm has actual
marketing/pricing knowledge.
United
States

China

Other
countries

Other countries (specify)

(b) If yes to China, please indicate the basis for which this knowledge was acquired.

Basis for country knowledge of China

Check as
appropriate

Based on imports to the United States
Sales in non-U.S. markets in which your firm also participates
Internet advertisements/offers
Trade shows
Purchases of other gift wrapping options
(c) Does your firm purchase gift wrapping-related products (i.e. gift bags, gift boxes, gift
wrapping paper, cards, bows, ribbon) manufactured in China by firms that also sell or offer
tissue paper?
No

Yes

If yes, identify the products your firm purchases.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Tissue Paper

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IV-2. Interchangeability.--Is tissue paper produced in the United States and in other countries
interchangeable (i.e., can they physically be used in the same applications)?
Please indicate A, F, S, N, or 0 in the table below:
A = the products from a specified country-pair are always interchangeable
F = the products are frequently interchangeable
S = the products are sometimes interchangeable
N = the products are never interchangeable
0 = no familiarity with products from a specified country-pair
Country-pair

China

Other countries

United States
China
For any country-pair producing tissue paper which is sometimes or never interchangeable,
please identify the country-pair and explain the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable
use:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Tissue Paper
IV-3.

Page 24

Factors other than price.--Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between tissue paper produced
in the United States and in other countries a significant factor in your firm’s purchases of the
products?
Please indicate A, F, S, N, or 0 in the table below:
A = such differences are always significant
F = such differences are frequently significant
S = such differences are sometimes significant
N = such differences are never significant
0 = no familiarity with products from a specified country-pair
Country-pair

China

Other countries

United States
China
For any country-pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant
factor in your firm’s purchases of tissue paper, identify the country-pair and report the
advantages or disadvantages imparted by such factors:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Tissue Paper
IV-4.

Country preferences.--Do you or your customers ever specifically order tissue paper from one
country in particular over other possible sources of supply?
No

IV-5.

Yes

If yes, identify the countries and explain.

Availability of merchandise.--Are certain grades/types/sizes of tissue paper only available from
certain country sources?
No

IV-6.

Page 25

Yes

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

Choice of product not based on price.--If you purchased tissue paper from one 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).

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Tissue Paper
IV-7.

Page 26

Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how tissue paper
produced in each country you identified in your response to the first question in Part IV
compares with tissue paper produced in each of the other countries you identified.

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

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
China compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
China

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 - Tissue Paper
IV-8.

Page 27

Minimum quality.--How often does tissue paper from the following countries meet minimum
quality specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?

Source

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or
never

Don’t
know

United States
China
Nonsubject countries
Other:
IV-9.

Change in price.-(a)

Since January 1, 2010, has there been a change in the price of tissue paper? If so, has
the price of U.S.-produced tissue paper changed more or less than the price of imported
tissue paper from China?
No change in price.
Prices have changed by the same amount.
Price of U.S.-produced tissue paper has changed relative to the price of
tissue paper from China.

(b)

If the price of U.S.-produced tissue paper has changed relative to the price of tissue
paper from China, the price of U.S.-produced tissue paper is now relatively
Higher

Lower
than those from China.

IV-10. Further explanation of bulk vs. consumer tissue paper.-- If any of your answers above differed
between bulk and consumer tissue paper, please provide any further explanations below.

IV-11. Other explanations.--If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question that did
not provide a narrative response box, please note the question number and the explanation in
the space provided below.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Tissue Paper

Page 28

PART V.—COMPARABILITY OF BULK AND CONSUMER TISSUE PAPER
The Commission is requesting information on the comparability of bulk and consumer tissue paper. All
purchasers need to respond to question V-1a-f, even if they do not purchase both bulk and consumer
tissue paper.
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Justin Enck (202-205-3363,
justin.enck@usitc.gov). Supply all data requested on a calendar-year basis.
V-1.

Comparability of bulk vs consumer tissue paper.--For each of the following indicate whether
bulk tissue paper and consumer tissue paper are: fully comparable or the same, i.e., have no
differentiation between them; mostly comparable or similar; somewhat comparable or similar;
never or not-at-all comparable or similar; or no familiarity with products.
(a)

Characteristics and Uses.-- The differences and similarities in the physical
characteristics and end uses between bulk tissue paper and consumer tissue paper.

Fully comparable

Mostly
comparable

Somewhat
comparable

Not at all
comparable

NA/no familiarity

Please provide a narrative discussion for the comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
characteristics and uses:

(b)

Interchangeability.--The ability to substitute refined bulk tissue paper and consumer
tissue paper in the same application.

Fully
interchangeable

Mostly
interchangeable

Somewhat
interchangeable

Not at all
interchangeable

NA/no
familiarity

Please provide a narrative discussion for the comparability ratings you provided in terms of
their interchangeability:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Tissue Paper
V-1.

Page 29

Comparability of bulk tissue paper and consumer tissue paper.--Continued
(c)

Manufacturing facilities, production processes, and production employees.-- Whether
bulk tissue paper and consumer tissue paper are manufactured in the same facilities,
from the same inputs, on the same machinery and equipment, and using the same
employees.

Fully the same

Mostly the same

Somewhat the
same

Not at all the
same

NA/no familiarity

Please provide a narrative discussion for the comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
manufacturing processes:

(d)

Channels of distribution.-- Channels of distribution/market situation through which
bulk tissue paper and consumer tissue paper are sold (i.e., sold direct to end users,
through distributors, etc.).

Fully comparable

Mostly
comparable

Somewhat
comparable

Not at all
comparable

NA/no familiarity

Please provide a narrative discussion for the comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
channels of distribution:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Tissue Paper
V-1.

Page 30

Comparability of bulk tissue paper and consumer tissue paper.--Continued
(e)

Customer and producer perceptions.--Perceptions as to the differences and/or
similarities in bulk tissue paper and consumer tissue paper in the market (e.g.,
sales/marketing practices).

Fully comparable

Mostly
comparable

Somewhat
comparable

Not at all
comparable

NA/no familiarity

Please provide a narrative discussion for the comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
customer and producer perceptions:

(f)

Price.--Whether prices are comparable or differ between bulk tissue paper and
consumer tissue paper.

Fully comparable

Mostly
comparable

Somewhat
comparable

Not at all
comparable

NA/no familiarity

Please provide a narrative discussion for the comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
prices:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Tissue Paper

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:
http://wwwadmin.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2015/certain_tissue_paper_product
s_china/second_review_full.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: TISSUE

• E-mail.—E-mail the MS Word questionnaire to Tana.Farrington@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 (202205-1803). A certificate of service must accompany the completed questionnaire you submit (see 19 CFR
§ 207.7). Service of the questionnaire must be made in paper form.