16-3-3585 U.S. Purchasers' Questionnaires

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 16-3-3585; Expiration Date: 6/30/2017
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
STAINLESS STEEL SHEET AND STRIP FROM CHINA
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by December 6, 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 antidumping and countervailing duty investigations concerning stainless steel sheet and strip from
China (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-557 and 731-TA-1312 (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 Aimee Larsen (202-205-3179,
aimee.larsen@usitc.gov).

Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm purchased stainless steel sheet and strip (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: SSSS)
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 – Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip

Page 2

PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background. This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on February 12, 2016, by AK
Steel Corp., West Chester, Ohio; Allegheny Ludlum, LLC, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; North American
Stainless, Inc., Ghent, Kentucky; and Outokumpu Stainless USA, LLC, Bannockburn, Illinois. Antidumping
and countervailing duties may be assessed on the subject imports as a result of these proceedings if the
Commission makes an affirmative determination of injury, threat, or material retardation, and if the U.S.
Department of Commerce makes an affirmative determination of dumping and/or subsidization.
Questionnaires and other information pertinent to this proceeding are available at:
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/title_7/2016/stainless_steel_sheet_and_strip_china/final.htm.
Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip (“SSSS”) covered by these investigations is stainless steel sheet and strip,
whether in coils or straight lengths. Stainless steel is an alloy steel containing, by weight, 1.2 percent or
less of carbon and 10.5 percent or more of chromium, with or without other elements. The subject
sheet and strip is a flatrolled product with a width that is greater than 9.5 mm and with a thickness of
0.3048 mm and greater but less than 4.75 mm, and that is annealed or otherwise heat treated, and
pickled or otherwise descaled. The subject sheet and strip may also be further processed (e.g., coldrolled, annealed, tempered, polished, aluminized, coated, painted, varnished, trimmed, cut, punched, or
slit, etc.) provided that it maintains the specific dimensions of sheet and strip set forth above following
such processing. The products described include products regardless of shape, and include products of
either rectangular or non-rectangular crosssection where such cross-section is achieved subsequent to
the rolling process, i.e., products which have been ‘‘worked after rolling’’ (e.g., products which have
been beveled or rounded at the edges). For purposes of the width and thickness requirements
referenced above: (1) Where the nominal and actual measurements vary, a product is within the scope
if application of either the nominal or actual measurement would place it within the scope based on the
definitions set forth above; and (2) where the width and thickness vary for a specific product (e.g., the
thickness of certain products with non-rectangular cross-section, the width of certain products with
nonrectangular shape, etc.), the measurement at its greatest width or thickness applies.
All products that meet the written physical description, and in which the chemistry quantities do not
exceed any one of the noted element levels listed above, are within the scope of these investigations
unless specifically excluded.
Subject merchandise includes stainless steel sheet and strip that has been further processed in a third
country, including but not limited to cold-rolling, annealing, tempering, polishing, aluminizing, coating,
painting, varnishing, trimming, cutting, punching, and/or slitting, or any other processing that would not
otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of the investigation if performed in the country of
manufacture of the stainless steel sheet and strip.
Excluded from the scope of these investigations are the following: (1) Sheet and strip that is not
annealed or otherwise heat treated and not pickled or otherwise descaled; (2) plate (i.e., flat-rolled
stainless steel products of a thickness of 4.75 mm or more); and (3) flat wire (i.e., cold-rolled sections,
with a mill edge, rectangular in shape, of a width of not more than 9.5 mm). The products under
investigation are currently classifiable under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS)
subheadings 7219.13.0031, 7219.13.0051, 7219.13.0071, 7219.13.0081, 7219.14.0030, 7219.14.0065,
7219.14.0090, 7219.23.0030, 7219.23.0060, 7219.24.0030, 7219.24.0060, 7219.32.0005, 7219.32.0020,

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip

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7219.32.0025, 7219.32.0035, 7219.32.0036, 7219.32.0038, 7219.32.0042, 7219.32.0044, 7219.32.0045,
7219.32.0060, 7219.33.0005, 7219.33.0020, 7219.33.0025, 7219.33.0035, 7219.33.0036, 7219.33.0038,
7219.33.0042, 7219.33.0044, 7219.33.0045, 7219.33.0070, 7219.33.0080, 7219.34.0005, 7219.34.0020,
7219.34.0025, 7219.34.0030, 7219.34.0035, 7219.34.0050, 7219.35.0005, 7219.35.0015, 7219.35.0030,
7219.35.0035, 7219.35.0050, 7219.90.0010, 7219.90.0020, 7219.90.0025, 7219.90.0060, 7219.90.0080,
7220.12.1000, 7220.12.5000, 7220.20.1010, 7220.20.1015, 7220.20.1060, 7220.20.1080, 7220.20.6005,
7220.20.6010, 7220.20.6015, 7220.20.6060, 7220.20.6080, 7220.20.7005, 7220.20.7010, 7220.20.7015,
7220.20.7060, 7220.20.7080, 7220.90.0010, 7220.90.0015, 7220.90.0060, and 7220.90.0080. Although
the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of
the scope of this proceeding is dispositive.
Purchaser.--Any firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or subsidiary, in purchasing
stainless steel sheet and strip from another firm that produces, imports, or otherwise distributes
stainless steel sheet and strip.
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 - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip
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 stainless steel sheet and
strip, 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)

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip
I-4.

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

Yes--List the following information.
Address

Affiliation

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip

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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
Purchases.— Report your firm’s total U.S. purchases of stainless steel sheet and strip. (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

2013

2014

Jan.-Sept.
2016

2015

Quantity (in short tons)
Purchases of stainless steel sheet
and strip produced in-United States
China
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
stainless steel sheet and strip from different sources have changed since January 1, 2013.

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

Explanation for trend

0

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip
II-3.

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Purchases by grades.--Which of the following grades of stainless steel sheet and strip did your
firm purchase since January 1, 2013?
Grade 201

Grade 304

Grade 316

Grade 409

Grade 430

Other

II-4.

Purchases from one country only.--If your firm has purchased stainless steel sheet and strip
from only one country, please explain the reasons for doing so.

II-5.

Supplier identification.--Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers for stainless steel sheet and
strip since January 1, 2013. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s total purchases
of stainless steel sheet and strip 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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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip

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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 stainless steel
sheet and strip (check all that apply)?
Automotive
assembler/
supplier

Consumer
appliance
producer

Distributor

Tubular
products
producer

Processor/
service
center

Other

Describe other

If your firm is a distributor of stainless steel sheet and strip, 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 stainless steel sheet and strip?
No

III-3.

Yes

If yes, please describe.

Types of customers.--What are the major types of consumers to which your firm sells stainless
steel sheet and strip?

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip

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If your firm is an end user of stainless steel sheet and strip, please answer questions III-4 and III-5.
III-4.

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

stainless steel sheet
and strip

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 stainless steel sheet and
strip changed since January 1, 2013?
Increased

(b)

No change

Decreased

Fluctuated

Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for stainless steel sheet and strip?
No

Yes

Explain

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip
III-6.

Page 10

Substitutes.--Can other products be substituted for stainless steel sheet and strip?
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 stainless steel sheet and
strip?
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 stainless steel sheet and strip 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

Fluctuate
Overall
with no
decrease 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 stainless steel sheet and strip that required
stainless steel sheet and strip 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 stainless
steel sheet and strip
%
%
%
%
0.0 %

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip
III-9.

Page 11

Conditions of competition.-(a)

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

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
stainless steel sheet and strip since January 1, 2013?
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 stainless steel sheet and strip based on
its producer or country of origin?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

If at least sometimes, explain.

Decision based on producer
Your firm
Your
customers
Decision based on country of origin
Your firm
Your
customers

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip

Page 12

III-11. Availability of supply.--Has the availability of stainless steel sheet and strip 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
stainless steel sheet and strip since January 1, 2013?
No

Yes

Supply constraint
(check all that apply)
Our domestic supplier(s) have placed our firm
on allocation or “controlled order entry”.
Our import supplier(s) have placed our firm
on allocation or “controlled order entry”.
Our domestic supplier(s) have declined
order(s)
Our import supplier(s) have declined order(s)
Our domestic supplier(s) has accepted
order(s) but delivered less than promised
and/or contracted
Our import supplier(s) has accepted order(s)
but delivered less than promised and/or
contracted
Our domestic supplier(s) have been unable to
deliver product by the date of delivery
identified at the time of order
Our import supplier(s) have been unable to
deliver product by the date of delivery
identified at the time of order
Our domestic supplier(s) have been unable or
unwilling to provide specific types of
SSSS/product specifications
Our import supplier(s) have been unable or
unwilling to provide specific types of
SSSS/product specifications

Please explain the timing and duration of any supply
constraint.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip

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III-13. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

How frequently does your firm make purchases of stainless steel sheet and strip (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.—
(a) Does your firm’s purchases of stainless steel sheet and strip 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.

(b) Do changes in raw material costs affect your firm’s price negotiations with your stainless
steel sheet and strip suppliers?
No

Yes

Please explain.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip

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III-15. Supplier negotiations.—Continued.
(c) Are your firm’s purchase price indexed to raw material costs?

Source of
SSSS

Purchase
type

United States

China

Price indexed to
raw material costs
No

Yes

Please explain.

By
contract
Spot
market
By
contract
Spot
market

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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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip

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III-18. Supplier qualification.--Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified
to sell stainless steel sheet and strip 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 stainless steel sheet and strip 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 stainless steel sheet and strip (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 stainless steel sheet and strip.

Factor
Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
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

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip

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III-22. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of stainless steel sheet and strip?

III-23. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the stainless steel
sheet and strip that is offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

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 stainless steel sheet and
strip market since January 1, 2013.
Firm(s)

Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip

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III-25. Purchasing subject imports rather than domestic products.—
(a)

Since January 2013, did your firm purchase imports of stainless steel sheet and strip
from China instead of U.S.-produced stainless steel sheet and strip?
Source

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

No
(If “No”, skip to next question)

China
(b)

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

Yes

No

China
(c)

If you responded “Yes” to part (a), was price a primary reason for purchasing subject
imports rather than domestic product?

Source

China

Yes

If Yes, estimate the quantity
of imports purchased instead
of domestic product since
January 2013
(in short tons)

No

If No, please indicate the
reason your firm purchased
imports instead of domestic
product

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip

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III-26. U.S. producers and import competition.—
(a)

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

Yes (also respond to
question part (b))

No (If “No”, skip to next
question)

Don’t know

China
(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
China

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

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip

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PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS
IV-1.

Country knowledge.--Please indicate the countries of origin for stainless steel sheet and strip for
which your firm has actual marketing/pricing knowledge.
United
States

IV-2.

China

Other
countries

Other countries (specify)

Interchangeability.--Is stainless steel sheet and strip 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

Mexico

Taiwan

Other countries

United States
China
Mexico
Taiwan
For any country-pair producing stainless steel sheet and strip which is sometimes or never
interchangeable, please identify the country-pair and explain the factors that limit or preclude
interchangeable use:

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip
IV-3.

Page 21

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

Mexico

Taiwan

Other countries

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip
IV-4.

Country preferences.--Do you or your customers ever specifically order stainless steel sheet and
strip 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 stainless steel sheet and strip
only available from certain country sources?
No

IV-6.

Page 22

Yes

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

Choice of product not based on price.--If you purchased stainless steel sheet and strip 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 - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip
IV-7.

Page 23

Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how stainless steel sheet
and strip produced in each country you identified in your response to the first question in Part
IV compares with stainless steel sheet and strip 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
United States
compared to
product from
Mexico

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Taiwan

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 meets industry standards
Quality exceeds 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 - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip
IV-7.

Page 24

Factor country comparisons.--Continued

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
Taiwan

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
United States
compared to product from
All other sources

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds 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 - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip
IV-7.

Page 25

Factor country comparisons.--Continued

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
All other sources

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
China
compared to product from
Mexico

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds 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 - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip
IV-8.

Page 26

Minimum quality.--How often does stainless steel sheet and strip 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
Mexico
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 - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip

Page 27

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/stainless_steel_sheet_and_strip_
china/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: SSSS

• E-mail.—E-mail the MS Word questionnaire to Aimee.Larsen@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.