16-3-3513 U.S. Purchasers' Questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 16-3-3513; Expiration Date: 6/30/2017
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
WELDED STAINLESS STEEL PRESSURE PIPE FROM INDIA
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by July 21, 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 welded stainless steel pressure pipe
from India (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-548 and 731-TA-1298 (Final)). The information requested in the questionnaire is requested
under the authority of the Tariff Act of 1930, title VII. This report is mandatory and failure to reply as directed can result
in a subpoena or other order to compel the submission of records or information in your firm’s possession (19 U.S.C. §
1333(a)). Further information on this questionnaire can be obtained from Alissa Tafti (202-2053244, Alissa.Tafti@usitc.gov).

Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm purchased welded stainless steel pressure pipe (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: SSPP)
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

Email address

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 2

PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background. This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on September 30, 2015, by
Bristol Metals, LLC, Bristol, TN; Felker Brothers Corp., Marshfield, WI; Marcegaglia USA, Munhall, PA;
and Outokumpu Stainless Pipe, Inc., Wildwood, FL. Countervailing and 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 dumping. Questionnaires and other information
pertinent to this proceeding are available at. Questionnaires and other information pertinent to this
proceeding are available
at https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/title_7/2016/welded_stainless_steel_pressure_pipe_india/final
.htm.
Welded stainless steel pressure pipe covered by these investigations is circular welded austenitic
stainless pressure pipe not greater than 14 inches in outside diameter. References to size are in nominal
inches and include all products within tolerances allowed by pipe specifications. This merchandise
includes, but is not limited to, the American Society for Testing and Materials (‘‘ASTM’’) A–312 or ASTM
A–778 specifications, or comparable domestic or foreign specifications. ASTM A–358 products are only
included when they are produced to meet ASTM A–312 or ASTM A–778 specifications, or comparable
domestic or foreign specifications.
Excluded from the scope of the investigation are: (1) Welded stainless mechanical tubing, meeting ASTM
A–554 or comparable domestic or foreign specifications; (2) boiler, heat exchanger, superheater,
refining furnace, feedwater heater, and condenser tubing, meeting ASTM A–249, ASTM A–688 or
comparable domestic or foreign specifications; and (3) specialized tubing, meeting ASTM A–269,
ASTM A–270 or comparable domestic or foreign specifications.
The subject imports are normally classified in subheadings 7306.40.5005, 7306.40.5040, 7306.40.5062,
7306.40.5064, and 7306.40.5085 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (‘‘HTSUS’’).
They may also enter under HTSUS subheadings 7306.40.1010, 7306.40.1015, 7306.40.5042,
7306.40.5044, 7306.40.5080, and 7306.40.5090. The HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience
and customs purposes only; the written description of the scope of this investigation is dispositive.
Purchaser.--Any firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or subsidiary, in purchasing
welded stainless steel pressure pipe from another firm that produces, imports, or otherwise distributes
welded stainless steel pressure pipe.
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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 3

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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe
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 welded stainless steel
pressure pipe, 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 – Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe
I-4.

Related SUBJECT importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic
or foreign, which import welded stainless steel pressure pipe from India into the United States
or which export welded stainless steel pressure pipe from India 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 welded stainless steel pressure pipe from countries other
than India into the United States or which export welded stainless steel pressure pipe from
countries other than India 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 welded stainless steel pressure pipe?
No
Firm name

Yes--List the following information.
Address

Affiliation

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 6

PART II.--PURCHASES
Contact information.-- Please identify the responsible individual and the manner by which Commission
staff may contact that individual regarding the confidential information submitted in this questionnaire.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
Fax
Purchases.--Report your firm’s total U.S. purchases of welded stainless steel pressure pipe. (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).

II-1.

Item
Purchases of welded stainless steel
pressure pipe produced in--

2013

2014

2015

Quantity (in short tons)

United States
India
Korea
Taiwan
All other countries:1
Sources unknown
Total purchases
1

II-2.

0

0

0

Please identify these countries:
Changes in purchasing patterns.--Please indicate how the shares of your firm’s purchases of
welded stainless steel pressure pipe from different sources have changed since January 1, 2013.

Source of Did not
purchases purchase Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated
United
States
India
Korea
Taiwan
All other
countries
Sources
unknown

Explanation for trend

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 7

II-3.

Purchases from one country only.--If your firm has purchased welded stainless steel pressure
pipe from only one country, please explain the reasons for doing so.

II-4.

Supplier identification.--Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers for welded stainless steel
pressure pipe since January 1, 2013. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s total
purchases of welded stainless steel pressure pipe 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

%

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 8

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

Firm type.--Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of welded stainless
steel pressure pipe (check all that apply)?
Distributor

End user
(petrochemical)

End user
(other
chemical)

End user (other
than chemical or
petrochemical)

Other

Describe other

If your firm is a distributor of welded stainless steel pressure pipe, 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 welded stainless steel pressure pipe?
No

III-3.

Yes

If yes, please describe.

Types of customers.--What are the major types of consumers to which your firm sells welded
stainless steel pressure pipe?

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 9

If your firm is an end user of welded stainless steel pressure pipe, please answer questions III-4 and III5.
III-4.

End uses.--List the top 3 products your firm makes using welded stainless steel pressure pipe
and estimate the percent of your total production cost that is accounted for by welded stainless
steel pressure pipe 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.

Welded stainless steel
pressure pipe

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 welded stainless steel
pressure pipe changed since January 1, 2013?
Increased

(b)

No change

Decreased

Fluctuated

Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for welded stainless steel pressure pipe?
No

Yes

Explain

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe
III-6.

Page 10

Substitutes.--Can other products be substituted for welded stainless steel pressure pipe?
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 welded stainless steel
pressure pipe?
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 welded stainless steel pressure pipe has changed since January 1, 2013.
Explain any trends and describe the principal factors that have affected these changes in
demand.

Market
Within the United
States
Outside the United
States

Overall
increase

No
change

Fluctuate
Overall
with no
decrease clear trend

Explanation and factors

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe
III-8.

Importance of purchasing domestic product.--Please fill out the table below, estimating the
percentage of your firm’s total 2015 purchases of welded stainless steel pressure pipe that
required welded stainless steel pressure pipe 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%)

III-9.

Page 11

Estimated percentage of your
firm’s total 2015 purchases of
welded stainless steel
pressure pipe
%
%
%
%
0.0 %

Conditions of competition.-(a)

Is the welded stainless steel pressure pipe market subject to business cycles (other than
general economy-wide conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to
welded stainless steel pressure pipe?

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
welded stainless steel pressure pipe since January 1, 2013?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

(c) Describe any changes in demand in the oil and gas market that have affected changes in
demand for WSSPP in the U.S. market.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 12

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 welded stainless steel pressure pipe
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 welded stainless steel pressure pipe 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
welded stainless steel pressure pipe 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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 13

III-13. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

How frequently does your firm make purchases of welded stainless steel pressure pipe
(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
III-15. Supplier negotiations.--Does your firm’s purchases of welded stainless steel pressure pipe
usually involve negotiations between supplier and purchaser?

No

Yes

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

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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 14

III-18. Supplier qualification.
(a) Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified to sell welded
stainless steel pressure pipe 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

(b) Do you require that welded stainless steel pressure pipe be produced to ASTM or some
other standard?

No

Yes-- Yes-ASTM Other

Please identify other standards, if required

III-19. Approved manufacturers list.—Do you use an approved manufacturers list for any of your
purchases of welded stainless steel pressure pipe?

No

Yes

Please identify firms on your approved manufacturer list, list the countries
they are located.
Also, if you do not use your approved manufacturer list for all purchases,
please indicate when is it used or not used.

III-20. Failure to certify.--Since January 1, 2013, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their
attempts to certify or qualify their welded stainless steel pressure pipe 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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 15

III-21. Major purchasing factors.--Please list, in order of their importance, the main factors your firm
considers in deciding from whom to purchase welded stainless steel pressure pipe (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 welded stainless steel pressure pipe.

Factor
Availability
Availability in required diameter
Contract price without surcharge
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Expected change in nickel prices
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs

Very
important

Somewhat
important

Not
important

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 16

III-23. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of welded stainless steel pressure pipe?

III-24. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the welded
stainless steel pressure pipe 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 welded stainless steel
pressure pipe market since January 1, 2013.
Firm(s)

Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 17

III-26. Raw materials.—
(a) How have prices for the raw materials used in the production of welded stainless steel
pressure pipe changed since January 1, 2013?
Fluctuate
Overall
No
Overall
with no
increase change decrease clear trend

Explain, noting how raw material price changes
have affected your firm’s purchase prices for
welded stainless steel pressure pipe.

(b) Have raw material prices affected prices of welded stainless steel pressure pipe since
January 1, 2013?

No

Yes

If yes, please explain, specifically addressing the impact of each of the
following raw materials listed below.

Nickel
Chromium
Molybdenum
Other
(c) Since January 1, 2013, has your firm been charged surcharges on purchases of welded
stainless steel pressure pipe due to raw material price increases?
No

Yes

If yes, please indicate the raw materials and time periods.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 18

III-27. Purchasing subject imports rather than domestic products.—
(a)

Since January 2013, did your firm purchase imports of welded stainless steel pressure
pipe from India instead of U.S.-produced welded stainless steel pressure pipe?
Source

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

No
(If “No”, skip to next question)

India
(b)

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

Yes

No

India
(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)

No

If No, please indicate the
reason for the shift

India
III-28. U.S. producers and import competition.—
(a)

Since January 1, 2013, in connection with a sale or offer to sell welded stainless steel
pressure pipe to your firm, did U.S. producers reduce their prices of domestically
produced welded stainless steel pressure pipe in order to compete with lower-priced
imports of welded stainless steel pressure pipe from subject countries?
Source

Yes (also respond to
question part (b))

No (If “No”, skip to next
question)

Don’t know

India
(b)

If your firm responded “yes”, 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
India

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 19

PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS
IV-1.

Country knowledge.--Please indicate the countries of origin for welded stainless steel pressure
pipe for which your firm has actual marketing/pricing knowledge.
United
States

IV-2.

India

Korea

Taiwan

Other
countries

Other countries (specify)

Interchangeability.--Is welded stainless steel pressure pipe 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

India

Korea

Taiwan

Other countries

United States
India
Korea
Taiwan
For any country-pair producing welded stainless steel pressure pipe 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 – Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe
IV-3.

Page 20

Factors other than price.--Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between welded stainless steel
pressure pipe 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

India

Korea

Taiwan

Other countries

United States
India
Korea
Taiwan
For any country-pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant
factor in your firm’s purchases of welded stainless steel pressure pipe, identify the countrypair and report the advantages or disadvantages imparted by such factors:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe
IV-4.

Country preferences.--Do you or your customers ever specifically order welded stainless steel
pressure pipe 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 welded stainless steel pressure
pipe only available from certain country sources?
No

IV-6.

Page 21

Yes

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

Choice of product not based on price.--If you purchased welded stainless steel pressure pipe
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 – Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 22

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

IV-7.

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

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
India compared to
product from
Korea

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Korea

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
India

Availability
Availability in required diameter
Contract price without surcharge
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Expected change in nickel prices
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
1

Price

Product consistency
Product range
Purchaser perceptions of quality
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs
1

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 – Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 23

Continued.

IV-7.

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

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
Korea compared to
product from
Taiwan

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
India compared to
product from
Taiwan

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Taiwan

Availability
Availability in required diameter
Contract price without surcharge
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Expected change in nickel prices
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
1

Price

Product consistency
Product range
Purchaser perceptions of quality
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs
1

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 – Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe
IV-8.

Page 24

Minimum quality.--How often does welded stainless steel pressure pipe 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
India
Korea
Taiwan
Other:
IV-9.

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe

Page 25

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://www.usitc.gov/investigations/title_7/2016/welded_stainless_steel_pr

essure_pipe_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: SSPP

• E-mail.—E-mail the MS Word questionnaire to Alissa.Tafti@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.