17-3-3627 U.S. Purchasers' Questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 17-3-3627; Expiration Date: 6/30/2017
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
FINISHED CARBON STEEL FLANGES FROM INDIA, ITALY, AND SPAIN
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by March 10, 2017
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 and antidumping investigations concerning finished carbon steel flanges (“flanges”)
from India, Italy, and Spain (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-563 and 731-TA-1331-1333 (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 Tana Farrington
(202-205-2389, Tana.Farrington@usitc.gov).

Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm purchased flanges (as defined on next page) from any source (domestic or foreign) at any time
since January 1, 2014?

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: FCSF)
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
proceeding or other proceedings 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 – Finished Carbon Steel Flanges

Page 2

PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.--This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on June 30, 2016, by
Weldbend Corporation (“Weldbend”), Argo, Illinois and Boltex Mfg. Co., L.P. (“Boltex”), Houston, Texas.
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 (“Commerce”) makes an affirmative
determination of subsidization and/or dumping. Questionnaires and other information pertinent to this
proceeding are available at
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/title_7/2017/finished_carbon_steel_flanges_india_italy_and/final.
htm
Finished carbon steel flanges.--The scope of these investigations covers finished carbon steel flanges.
Finished carbon steel flanges differ from unfinished carbon steel flanges (also known as carbon steel
flange forgings) in that they have undergone further processing after forging, which can include
beveling, bore threading, center or step boring, face machining, recoining or resizing, taper boring,
machining ends or surfaces other than a gasket face, drilling bolt holes, and/or burring or shot blasting.
Any one of these post-forging processes suffices to render the forging into a finished carbon steel flange
for purposes of these petitions. However, mere heat treatment of a carbon steel flange forging
(without any other further processing after forging) does not render the forging into a finished carbon
steel flange for purposes of these petitions.
While these finished carbon steel flanges are generally manufactured to specification ASME B16.5 or
ASME B16.47 series A or series B, the scope is not limited to flanges produced under those
specifications. All types of finished carbon steel flanges are included in the scope, regardless of pipe size
(usually expressed in inches of nominal pipe size), pressure class (usually expressed in pounds of
pressure, e.g., 150, 300, 400, 600, 900, 1500, 2500, etc.), type of face (e.g., flat face, full face, raised
face, etc.), configuration (e.g., weld neck, slip on, socket weld, lap joint, threaded, etc.), wall thickness
(usually expressed in inches), and normalization or heat treatment (which may not always be used). The
carbon steel used to produce finished carbon steel flanges includes, but is not limited to, carbon steel
produced to ASTM A105 and ASTM A694 standards.
Finished carbon steel flanges are currently imported under statistical reporting numbers 7307.91.5010
and 7307.91.5050 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). They may also be
imported under HTSUS statistical reporting numbers 7307.91.5030 and 7307.91.5070. The HTSUS
provisions are for convenience and customs purposes; the written description of the scope is dispositive.
Purchaser.--Any firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or subsidiary, in purchasing
flanges from another firm that produces, imports, or otherwise distributes flanges.
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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Finished Carbon Steel Flanges

Page 3

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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Finished Carbon Steel Flanges
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 flanges, 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 – Finished Carbon Steel Flanges
I-4.

Related importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or
foreign, which import flanges from or which export flanges to the United States?
No
Firm name

I-5.

Page 5

Yes--List the following information.
Country

Affiliation

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

Yes--List the following information.
Country

Affiliation

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Finished Carbon Steel Flanges

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 flanges. (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

2014

2015

2016

Quantity (in 1,000 pounds)
Purchases of flanges produced in-United States
India
Italy
Spain
All other countries1
Sources unknown
Total purchases
1

II-2.

0

0

Please identify these countries:
Changes in purchasing patterns.--Please indicate how the shares of your firm’s purchases of
flanges from different sources have changed since January 1, 2014.

Source of
purchases
United States
India
Italy
Spain
All other countries
Sources unknown

Did not
purchase Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated

Explanation for trend

0

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Finished Carbon Steel Flanges

Page 7

II-3.

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

II-4.

Supplier identification.--Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers for flanges since January 1,
2014. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s total purchases of flanges that each
of these suppliers accounted for in 2016.

No.

Supplier’s name

City and state

Share of quantity of
2016 purchases

1

%

2

%

3

%

4

%

5

%

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Finished Carbon Steel Flanges

Page 8

PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES
III-1. Firm type and sector.—
(a) Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of flanges (check all that apply)?
End user

Distributor

Other

Describe other

(b) Please select the industry sector(s) your firm serves as a purchaser of flanges (check all that
apply)?
Oil and gas

Other

Describe other

If your firm is a distributor of flanges, 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 flanges?
No

III-3.

Yes

If yes, please describe.

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Finished Carbon Steel Flanges

Page 9

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

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

Flanges

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 flanges changed since
January 1, 2014?
Increased

(b)

No change

Decreased

Fluctuated

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

Yes

Explain

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Finished Carbon Steel Flanges
III-6.

Page 10

Substitutes.--Can other products be substituted for flanges?
No

Yes--Please fill out the table.

End use in which this
substitute is used

Substitute

Have changes in the price of this substitute
affected the price for flanges?
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 flanges has changed since January 1, 2014 in the oil and gas sector and in
other sectors. Explain any trends and describe the principal factors that have affected these
changes in demand.

Overall
increase

Market

No
change

Fluctuate
Overall
with no
decrease clear trend

Explanation and factors

Oil and gas sector:
Within the United States
Outside the United States
Other than oil and gas sector:
Within the United States
Outside the United States
III-8.

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

Yes

If yes, identify the countries and explain.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Finished Carbon Steel Flanges
III-9.

Page 11

Importance of purchasing domestic product.--Please fill out the table below, estimating the
percentage of your firm’s total 2016 purchases of flanges that required flanges 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 2016
purchases of flanges
%
%
%
%
0.0 %

III-10. Conditions of competition.-(a)

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

Check all that apply.

Please describe.

No

Skip to question III-11.

Yes-Business cycles (e.g.
seasonal business)
Yes-Other distinctive
conditions of competition
(b)

Have there been any changes in the business cycles or conditions of competition for
flanges since January 1, 2014?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Finished Carbon Steel Flanges

Page 12

III-11. Decisions based on producer and country-of-origin.--How often does your firm, and if known,
do your customers, make purchasing decisions involving flanges based on its producer or
country of origin?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

If at least sometimes, explain.

Decision based on producer
Your firm
Your customers
Decision based on country of origin
Your firm
Your customers
III-12. Availability of supply.--Has the availability of flanges in the U.S. market changed since January 1,
2014?
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-13. Supply constraints.--Has any firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply your firm with
flanges since January 1, 2014 (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-14. Availability of specific product types.--Are certain grades/types/sizes of flanges only available
from certain country sources?
No

Yes

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Finished Carbon Steel Flanges

Page 13

III-15. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

How frequently does your firm make purchases of flanges (check one)?
Daily

(b)

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Annually

Other

If other, specify

Has this purchasing frequency changed since January 1, 2014?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

III-16. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers does your firm generally contact before
making a purchase? Between
and
firms
III-17. Supplier negotiations.--Does your firm’s purchases of flanges 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-18. Change in suppliers.--Has your firm changed suppliers since January 1, 2014?

No

Yes

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

III-19. New suppliers.--Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have
entered the market since January 1, 2014?
No

Yes

If yes, please identify the firms.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Finished Carbon Steel Flanges

Page 14

III-20. Supplier qualification.—
(a) Do you or some of your customers require your suppliers to be or to become certified or
qualified (including being placed on an “Approved Manufacturers’ List”) to sell flanges 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.).
Yes - via
No –
Approved
Yes - via
Skip to Manufacturers’
other
Number
III-23
Lists
certification of days Process and factors

(b) Please fill out the table below, estimating the percentage of your firm’s total 2016 purchases
of flanges that required flanges produced to ASME (e.g. ASME B16.5 or ASME B16.47 series
A or series B) or other standards.
Estimated percentage of your firm’s total
2016 purchases of flanges
Imported from India,
Italy, and Spain

Domestic
Purchases that did not require flanges to be made to ASME or
other standards

%

%

Purchases that did require flanges to be made to ASME (or
equivalent) standards

%

%

Purchases that did require flanges to be made to other
standards (list these other standards:
)

%

%

Purchases that did require flanges to be made to ASME and
other standards (list these other standards:
)

%

%

0.0 %

0.0 %

Total (should sum to 100.0%)

(c) If your firm or your customers use an approved manufacturers’ list, what is the source of
this list (your firm or another firm)? Please describe.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Finished Carbon Steel Flanges

Page 15

III-20. Supplier qualification.—Continued
(d) Are there distinctions between different types or classes of approved manufacturers’ lists
(e.g., standard, high yield, low temperature, class distinctions, etc.)? Please describe.

(e) With what frequency are flanges produced by firms listed on approved manufacturers’ lists
and flanges produced by firms not on approved manufacturers’ lists interchangeable?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

Please explain:
(f) Please provide as an attachment to this questionnaire any approved manufacturers’ lists
that your firm uses, including where the approved flanges are manufactured. Please check
one box.
List(s) attached

My firm does not use approved manufacturers’ lists

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Finished Carbon Steel Flanges

Page 16

III-21. Customers’ approved lists.—

(b)

(a) If you are a distributor of flanges, please estimate the share of your firm’s U.S. commercial
shipments of flanges that were to customers that required the listing of the producer on an
approved manufacturers’ list (whether published or proprietary).
Calendar years
2015

2014
Estimated share of your firm’s U.S. commercial
shipments of flanges subject to an approved
manufacturers’ listing
(c)

%

2016

%

%

Additional comments:

(d) If you are distributor of flanges, do you keep separate inventories of flanges on approved
manufacturers’ lists and those that are not?
No

Yes

Additional comments.

III-22. End users’ approved lists.-- If your firm is an end user of flanges, please estimate the share of
your firm’s purchases of flanges that required the listing of the producer on an approved
manufacturers’ list (whether published or proprietary).
Calendar years
2015

2014
Estimated share of your firm’s purchases of
flanges subject to an approved manufacturers’
listing
Additional comments:

%

%

2016

%

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Finished Carbon Steel Flanges

Page 17

III-23. Failure to certify.--Since January 1, 2014, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their
attempts to certify or qualify their flanges 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-24. Major purchasing factors.--Please list, in order of their importance, the main factors your firm
considers in deciding from whom to purchase flanges (examples include availability, extension
of credit, contracts, price, quality, range of supplier’s product line, traditional supplier, etc.).
1.
2.
3.
Please list any other factors that are very important in your purchase decisions:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Finished Carbon Steel Flanges

Page 18

III-25. Purchasing factors.--Please rate the importance of the following factors in your firm’s
purchasing decisions for flanges.

Factor
Approved manufacturer’s list:
oil & gas industry
Approved manufacturer’s list:
other than oil & gas industry
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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Finished Carbon Steel Flanges

Page 19

III-26. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of flanges?

III-27. Minimum quality.--How often does flanges 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
Italy
Spain
China
Other(s):
III-28. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the flanges that is
offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

III-29. Choice of product not based on price.--If you purchased flanges 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 – Finished Carbon Steel Flanges

Page 20

III-30. 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 flanges market since
January 1, 2014.
Firm(s)

Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership

III-31. Purchasing subject imports rather than domestic products.—
(a)

Since January 2014, did your firm purchase imports of flanges from India, Italy, and/or
Spain instead of U.S.-produced flanges? Respond for each subject country.

Source

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

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

India
Italy
Spain
(b)

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

Yes

No

India
Italy
Spain
(c)

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

Source

India
Italy
Spain

Yes

If Yes, estimate the quantity
of imports purchased instead
of domestic product since
January 2014
(in 1,000 pounds)

No

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Finished Carbon Steel Flanges

Page 21

III-32. U.S. producers and import competition.—
(a)

Since January 1, 2014, in connection with a sale or offer to sell flanges to your firm, did
U.S. producers reduce their prices of domestically produced flanges in order to compete
with lower-priced imports of flanges from the 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

India
Italy
Spain
(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)

India

%

Italy

%

Spain

%

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 – Finished Carbon Steel Flanges

Page 22

PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS
IV-1.

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

IV-2.

India

Italy

Spain

Other
countries

Other countries (specify)

Interchangeability.--Are flanges 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

Italy

Spain

China

Other countries

United
States
India
Italy
Spain
China
For any country-pair producing flanges that are sometimes or never interchangeable, identify
the country-pair and explain the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable use:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Finished Carbon Steel Flanges
IV-3.

Page 23

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

Italy

Spain

China

Other countries

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Finished Carbon Steel Flanges
IV-4.

Page 24

Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how flanges produced in
each country you identified in your response to the first question in part IV compares with
flanges 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
Spain

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Italy

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
India

Approved manufacturer’s list:
oil & gas industry
Approved manufacturer’s list:
other than oil & gas industry
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 – Finished Carbon Steel Flanges
IV-4.

Page 25

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
Italy compared to
product from
Spain

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
Product from
India compared to India compared to
product from
product from
Italy
Spain

Approved manufacturer’s list:
oil & gas industry
Approved manufacturer’s list:
other than oil & gas industry
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 – Finished Carbon Steel Flanges
IV-4.

Page 26

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
Italy compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
India compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries

Approved manufacturer’s list:
oil & gas industry
Approved manufacturer’s list:
other than oil & gas industry
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 – Finished Carbon Steel Flanges
IV-4.

Page 27

Continued.

If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.
Product from
Spain compared to product from
Nonsubject countries
Factor
Approved manufacturer’s list:
oil & gas industry
Approved manufacturer’s list:
other than oil & gas industry
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

Superior

Comparable

Inferior

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Finished Carbon Steel Flanges

Page 28

PART V.—ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
V-1.

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 – Finished Carbon Steel Flanges

Page 29

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_7/2017/finished_carbon_steel_flanges_india_italy_and/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: FCSF

• E-mail.—E-mail the MS Word questionnaire to Tana.Farrington@usitc.gov; include a scanned copy of
the signed certification page (page 1). Submitters are strongly encouraged to encrypt nonpublic
documents that are electronically transmitted to the Commission to protect your sensitive information
from unauthorized disclosure. The USITC secure drop-box system and the Electronic Document
Information System (EDIS) use Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 140-2 cryptographic
algorithms to encrypt data in transit. Submitting your nonpublic documents by a means that does not
use these encryption algorithms (such as by email) may subject your firm’s nonpublic information to
unauthorized disclosure during transmission. If you choose a non-encrypted method of electronic
transmission, the Commission warns you that the risk of such possible unauthorized disclosure is
assumed by you and not by the Commission.
If your firm does not purchase this product, please fill out page 1, print, sign, and submit a scanned
copy to the Commission.
Parties to this proceeding.—If your firm is a party to this proceeding, it is required to serve a copy of the
completed questionnaire on parties to the proceeding that are subject to administrative protective
order (see 19 CFR § 207.7). A list of such parties may be obtained from the Commission’s Secretary (202205-1803). A certificate of service must accompany the completed questionnaire your firm submits (see
19 CFR § 207.7). Service of the questionnaire must be made in paper form.