16-3-3482 U.S. Purchasers' Questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 16-3-3482; Expiration Date: 6/30/2017
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
HEAVY WALLED RECTANGULAR WELDED CARBON STEEL PIPES AND TUBES
FROM KOREA, MEXICO, AND TURKEY
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by May 12, 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 investigations concerning heavy walled rectangular welded
carbon steel pipes and tubes (“HWR tubular products”) from Korea, Mexico, and Turkey (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-539 and 731TA-1280-1282 (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 Amelia Preece (202-205-3250, Amelia.Preece@usitc.gov).
Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm purchased HWR tubular products (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: HWR16)
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

Phone:
Signature

Fax

Email address

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – HWR tubular products

Page 2

PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.--This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on July 21, 2015, by Atlas
Tube, a division of JMC Steel Group (Chicago, Illinois), Bull Moose Tube Company (Chesterfield,
Missouri), EXLTUBE (North Kansas City, Missouri), Hannibal Industries, Inc. (Los Angeles, California),
Independence Tube Corporation (Chicago, Illinois), Maruichi American Corporation (Santa Fe Springs,
California), Searing Industries (Rancho Cucamonga, California), Southland Tube (Birmingham, Alabama),
and Vest, Inc. (Los Angeles, California). 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/heavy_walled_rectangular_welded_carbon_steel_pipes/f
inal.htm
Heavy Walled Rectangular Welded Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes (“HWR Tubular Products”).--The
products covered by these investigations include certain heavy walled rectangular welded steel pipes
and tubes of rectangular (including square) cross section, having a nominal wall thickness of not less
than 4 millimeters. The merchandise includes, but is not limited to, the American Society for Testing and
Materials (ASTM) A 500, grade B specifications, or comparable domestic or foreign specifications.
Included products are those 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; and (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
1.50 percent of aluminum, or
1.25 percent of chromium, or
0.30 percent of cobalt, or
0.40 percent of lead, or
2.0 percent of nickel, or
0.30 percent of tungsten, 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.

The subject merchandise is currently provided for in item 7306.61.1000 of the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (“HTSUS”). Subject merchandise may also enter under HTSUS
7306.61.3000. While the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the
written description of the scope of this investigation is dispositive. 1

1

The Department of Commerce has preliminarily found that that further processed HWR tubular products for use
as parts fall within the scope of these investigations.

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Further Processed HWR Tubular Products For Use As Parts.--HWR tubular products that have been
further manufactured beyond tube formation through one or more of the following processes -- laser
cutting, drilling, perforation, and bending -- and that are dedicated for use in producing an industrial
product.
Purchaser.--Any firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or subsidiary, in purchasing
HWR tubular products from another firm that produces, imports, or otherwise distributes HWR tubular
products.
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
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.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - HWR tubular products
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
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.
I-2.

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 HWR tubular products,
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 - HWR tubular products
I-4.

Related SUBJECT importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic
or foreign, which import HWR tubular products from Korea, Mexico, and Turkey into the United
States or which export HWR tubular products from Korea, Mexico, and Turkey to the United
States?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

I-5.

Address

Affiliation

Related NONSUBJECT importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either
domestic or foreign, which import HWR tubular products from countries other than Korea,
Mexico, and Turkey into the United States or which export HWR tubular products from countries
other than Korea, Mexico, and Turkey to the United States?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name and country

I-6.

Page 5

Address

Affiliation

Related producers.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, which
produce HWR tubular products?
No
Firm name

Yes--List the following information.
Address

Affiliation

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - HWR tubular products

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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(a). Purchases.--Report your firm’s total U.S. purchases of HWR tubular products. (Do not include
imports of HWR tubular products for which your firm was the importer of record; such imports
should be reported in your U.S. importer’s questionnaire).
Calendar years
Item

2013

Purchases of HWR tubular products produced in--

2014

2015

Quantity (in short tons)

United States
Korea
Mexico
Turkey
Canada
All other countries:1
Sources unknown
Total purchases
1

0

0

Please identify these countries:

II-1 (b). Does your firm purchase further processed HWR tubular products for use as parts?

No

Yes

If yes, please report the quantity of further processed HWR tubular
products for use as parts your firm purchased in 2015.
Short tons

II-1 (c). Does your firm further process HWR tubular products for use as parts from the HWR tubular
products reported in table II-1(a)?

No

Yes

If yes, please report the quantity of HWR tubular products your
firm further processed in 2015
Short tons

0

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - HWR tubular products
II-2.

Page 7

End-of-period inventories.-a) Report your firm’s end-of-period inventories of U.S. purchases of HWR tubular products. (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).
Calendar years
Item

End-of-period Inventories of HWR tubular products
produced in--

2013

2014

2015

Quantity (in short tons)

United States
Korea
Mexico
Turkey
Canada
All other countries:1
Sources unknown
Total inventories
1

0

0

Please identify these countries:
b)

What factors determine the amount of HWR tubular products you carry and how have
your end-of-period inventories changed over time?

0

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - HWR tubular products
II-3.

Page 8

Changes in purchasing patterns.--Please indicate how the shares of your firm’s purchases of
HWR tubular products from different sources have changed since January 1, 2013.
Source of Did not
purchases purchase Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated

Explanation for trend

United
States
Korea

Mexico

Turkey

Canada
All other
countries
Sources
unknown

II-4.

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

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - HWR tubular products
II-5.

Page 9

Comparability of non-fabricated HWR tubular products vs. further processed HWR tubular
products for use as parts.--For each of the following indicate whether non-fabricated HWR
tubular products and further processed HWR tubular products (i.e., bent/perforated/cut) for use
as parts 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 non-fabricated HWR tubular products and all
further processed HWR tubular products for use as parts.

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 non-fabricated HWR tubular products and
further processed HWR tubular products for use as parts 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:

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - HWR tubular products
II-5.

Page 10

Comparability of non-fabricated HWR tubular products vs. further processed HWR tubular
products for use as parts.--Continued
(c)

Manufacturing facilities, production processes, and production employees.--Whether
non-fabricated HWR tubular products and further processed HWR tubular products for
use as parts 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
non-fabricated HWR tubular products and further processed HWR tubular products for
use as parts 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:

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - HWR tubular products
II-5.

Page 11

Comparability of non-fabricated HWR tubular products vs. further processed HWR tubular
Products for use as parts.--Continued
(e)

Customer and producer perceptions.--Perceptions as to the differences and/or
similarities in non-fabricated HWR tubular products and further processed HWR
tubular products for use as parts 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 non-fabricated HWR tubular
products and further processed HWR tubular products for use as parts.

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:

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - HWR tubular products
II-6.

Page 12

Supplier identification.--Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers for HWR tubular products
since January 1, 2013. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s total purchases of
HWR tubular products that each of these suppliers accounted for in 2015.

No.

Supplier’s name

City and state

Share of quantity of
2015 purchases

1

%

2

%

3

%

4

%

5

%

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

Firm type.--Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of HWR tubular
products (check all that apply)?
End user
(production
End user
of
(construction)
equipment)

Distributor

Other

Describe other

If your firm is a distributor of HWR tubular products, 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 HWR tubular products?
No

III-3.

Yes

If yes, please describe.

Types of customers.--What are the major types of consumers to which your firm sells HWR
tubular products?

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If your firm is an end user of HWR tubular products, please answer questions III-4 and III-5.
III-4.

End uses.--List the top 3 products your firm makes using HWR tubular products and estimate the
percent of your total production cost that is accounted for by HWR tubular products and by
other inputs (such as labor, energy, and other raw materials).
Share of total cost in each of the product(s) your
firm produces accounted for by
Product(s) your firm
produces

III-5.

HWR tubular products

Total
(should
sum to
100.0%
across)

Other inputs

%

+

%

=

0.0 %

%

+

%

=

0.0 %

%

+

%

=

0.0 %

Demand for end use products.-(a)

Has the demand for your firm’s final products incorporating HWR tubular products
changed since January 1, 2013?
Increased

(b)

No change

Decreased

Fluctuated

Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for HWR tubular products?
No

Yes

Explain

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - HWR tubular products
III-6.

Page 15

Substitutes.--Can other products be substituted for HWR tubular products?
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 HWR tubular products?
No Yes

Explanation

1.
2.
3.
III-7.

Demand trends.--Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United
States (if known) for HWR tubular products 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
change

Overall
decrease

Fluctuate
with no
clear trend

Explanation and factors

Within the United
States
Outside the United
States
III-8.

Importance of purchasing domestic product.--Please fill out the table below, estimating the
percentage of your firm’s total 2015 purchases of HWR tubular products that required HWR
tubular products 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 HWR tubular
products
%
%
%
%
0.0 %

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - HWR tubular products
III-9.

Page 16

Conditions of competition.-(a)

Is the HWR tubular products market subject to business cycles (other than general
economy-wide conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to HWR
tubular products?

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
HWR tubular products since January 1, 2013?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

(c) Is the HWR tubular products industry subject to inventory cycles?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

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 HWR tubular 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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III-11. Availability of supply.--Has the availability of HWR tubular products 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
HWR tubular products 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,
etc.)?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

III-13. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

How frequently does your firm make purchases of HWR tubular products (check one)?
Daily

(b)

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Annually

Other

If other, specify

Has this purchasing frequency changed since January 1, 2013?
No

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

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III-15. Supplier negotiations.-(a) Does your firm’s purchases of HWR tubular products usually involve negotiations between
supplier and purchaser?

No

(b)

Yes

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

Do changes in raw material costs affect your firm’s price negotiations for HWR tubular
products?
No

(c)

Yes

Please explain.

Are your firm’s purchase prices of HWR tubular products indexed to raw material
costs?
Purchase prices

No

Yes

Please explain.

Contract prices
Spot market prices

III-16. Change in suppliers.--Has your firm changed suppliers since January 1, 2013?

No

Yes

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

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.

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III-18. Supplier qualification.--Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified
to sell HWR tubular 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-19. Failure to certify.--Since January 1, 2013, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their
attempts to certify or qualify their HWR tubular products 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-20. Major purchasing factors.--Please list, in order of their importance, the main factors your firm
considers in deciding from whom to purchase HWR tubular 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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III-21. Purchasing factors.--Please rate the importance of the following factors in your firm’s
purchasing decisions for HWR tubular products.
Very
important

Factor

Somewhat
important

Not
important

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Expected change in price of hot
rolled steel coil
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 HWR tubular products?

III-23. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the HWR tubular
products that is offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

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III-24. 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 HWR tubular products
market since January 1, 2013.
Firm(s)

Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership

III-25. Input costs.-a) Do expected changes in the cost of hot-rolled steel affect the quantity of HWR tubular
products purchased by your firm?
No

Yes

If yes, please explain.

b) Do expected changes in the cost of hot-rolled steel affect the quantity of HWR tubular
products that your firm holds in inventory?
No

Yes

If yes, please explain.

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III-26. Purchasing subject imports rather than domestic products.-(a)

Since January 1, 2013, did your firm switch any of its purchases from U.S.-produced
HWR tubular products to imports of HWR tubular products from Korea, Mexico, and
Turkey? Respond for each subject country.

Source

Yes
(also respond to parts (b) and (c))

No
(If “No” for all countries, skip to next
question)

Korea
Mexico
Turkey
(b)

If you responded “Yes” to part (a), was the imported product priced lower than the
domestic product?
Source

Yes

No

Korea
Mexico
Turkey
(c)

If you responded “Yes” to part (a) above, was price a primary reason for the shift?

Source

Korea
Mexico
Turkey

Yes

If Yes, estimate the quantity
of purchases that your firm
shifted to imports since
January 1, 2013 because of
price
(in short tons)

No

If No, please indicate the
reason for the shift

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III-27. U.S. producers and import competition.-(a)

Since January 1, 2013, in connection with a sale or offer to sell HWR tubular products to
your firm, did U.S. producers reduce their prices of domestically produced HWR tubular
products in order to compete with lower-priced imports of HWR tubular products from
subject countries? Respond for each subject country.
Source

Yes (also respond to
question part (b))

No (If “No” for all countries,
skip to next question)

Don’t know

Korea
Mexico
Turkey
(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)

Korea

%

Mexico

%

Turkey

%

Additional explanation, including such information as
timing (e.g., months/years), frequency of price
reductions, or other market/competitive factors

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - HWR tubular products

Page 24

PART IV.--PRODUCT COMPARISONS
IV-1.

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

IV-2.

Korea

Mexico

Turkey

Canada

Other
countries

Other countries
(specify)

Interchangeability.--Is HWR tubular 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

Korea

Mexico

Turkey

Canada

Other
countries

United States
Korea
Mexico
Turkey
Canada
For any country pair producing HWR tubular products that 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 - HWR tubular products
IV-3.

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Factors other than price.--Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between HWR tubular 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

Korea

Mexico

Turkey

Canada

Other
countries

United States
Korea
Mexico
Turkey
Canada
For any country pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant
factor in your firm’s sales of HWR tubular products, please identify the country-pair and
report the advantages or disadvantages imparted by such factors:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - HWR tubular products
IV-4.

Country preferences.--Do you or your customers ever specifically order HWR tubular products
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 HWR tubular products only
available from certain country sources?
No

IV-6.

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Yes

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

Choice of product not based on price.--If you purchased HWR tubular 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).

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - HWR tubular products
IV-7.

Page 27

Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how HWR tubular
products produced in each country you identified in your response to the first question in Part
IV compares with HWR tubular products 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.

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Expected change in price of hot
rolled steel coil
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

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Canada

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Turkey

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Mexico

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Korea

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - HWR tubular products
IV-7.

Page 28

Factor country comparisons.--Continued.

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

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Expected change in price of hot
rolled steel coil
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

Product from
Canada
compared to
product from
Turkey

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
Mexico
compared to
product from
Turkey

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
Korea
compared to
product from
Turkey

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
Korea
compared to
product from
Mexico

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - HWR tubular products
IV-7.

Page 29

Factor country comparisons.--Continued.

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

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Expected change in
price of hot rolled
steel coil
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

Product from
Canada
compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
Turkey
compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
Mexico
compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
Korea
compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - HWR tubular products
IV-8.

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Minimum quality.--How often does HWR tubular 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
Korea
Mexico
Turkey
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 - HWR tubular products

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/heavy_walled_rectangular_welded_carb
on_steel_pipes/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: HWR16

• E-mail.—E-mail the MS Word questionnaire to Amelia.Preece@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 your firm submits (see
19 CFR § 207.7). Service of the questionnaire must be made in paper form.