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pdfOMB No. 3117‐0016/USITC No. 17‐2‐3634; Expiration Date: 6/30/2017
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U.S. IMPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
CASED PENCILS FROM CHINA
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by April 14, 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 review of the antidumping duty order concerning cased pencils from China (Inv. No. 731‐TA‐669
(Fourth Review)). The information requested in the questionnaire is requested under the authority of the Tariff Act of
1930, title VII. This report is mandatory and failure to reply as directed can result in a subpoena or other order to
compel the submission of records or information in your firm’s possession (19 U.S.C. § 1333(a)).
Name of firm
Address
City
State
Zip Code
Website
Has your firm imported cased pencils (as defined on the next page) from any country at any time since January
1, 2011?
NO
(Sign the certification below and promptly return only this page of the questionnaire to the Commission)
YES
(Complete all parts of the questionnaire, and return the entire questionnaire to the Commission)
Return questionnaire via the Commission Drop Box by clicking on the following link:
https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/. (PIN: PENCIL)
CERTIFICATION
I certify that the information herein supplied in response to this questionnaire is complete and correct to the best of my
knowledge and belief and understand that the information submitted is subject to audit and verification by the Commission. By
means of this certification I also grant consent for the Commission, and its employees and contract personnel, to use the
information provided in this questionnaire and throughout this proceeding in any other import‐injury investigations or reviews
conducted by the Commission on the same or similar merchandise.
I, the undersigned, acknowledge that information submitted in response to this request for information and throughout this
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. Importers’ Questionnaire – Cased pencils
Page 2
PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.‐‐ On December 28, 1994, the Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) issued an
antidumping duty order on imports of cased pencils from China. On June 1, 2016, the Commission
instituted a review pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. § 1675(c)) (the Act) to
determine whether revocation of the order would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of
material injury to the domestic industry within a reasonably foreseeable time. If both the Commission
and Commerce make an affirmative determination, the order will remain in place. If either the
Commission or Commerce makes a negative determination, Commerce will revoke the order.
Questionnaires and other information pertinent to this proceeding are available at
https://usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2016/cased_pencils_china/fourth_review_full.htm
Cased pencils covered by this investigation are shipments of certain cased pencils of any shape or
dimension (except as described below) which are writing and/or drawing instruments that feature cores
of graphite or other materials, encased in wood and/or man‐made materials, whether or not decorated
and whether or not tipped (e.g., with erasers, etc.) in any fashion, and either sharpened or
unsharpened.
The pencils subject to the order are currently classifiable under subheading 9609.10.00 of the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (`HTSUS').
Specifically excluded from the scope of the order are mechanical pencils, cosmetic pencils, pens,
noncased crayons (wax), pastels, charcoals, chalks, and pencils produced under U.S. patent number
6,217,242, from paper infused with scents by the means covered in the above‐referenced patent,
thereby having odors distinct from those that may emanate from pencils lacking the scent infusion. Also
excluded from the scope of the order are pencils with all of the following physical characteristics: (1)
Length: 13.5 or more inches; (2) sheath diameter: not less than one‐and‐one quarter inches at any point
(before sharpening); and (3) core length: Not more than 15 percent of the length of the pencil. In
addition, pencils with all of the following physical characteristics are excluded from the scope of the
order: Novelty jumbo pencils that are octagonal in shape, approximately ten inches long, one inch in
diameter before sharpening, and three‐and‐one eighth inches in circumference, composed of turned
wood encasing one‐and‐one half inches of sharpened lead on one end and a rubber eraser on the other
end. Although the HTSUS subheading is provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written
description of the scope of the order is dispositive.
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,
purchaser and/or foreign producer 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. Importers’ Questionnaire – Cased pencils
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.
Valid number error messages.‐‐If you are completing this form in a country that uses periods (“.”) to
delineate multiples of 1000 (e.g., one million would appear as $1.000.000 rather than $1,000,000), you
may be unable to enter in numbers greater than 999 in numeric form fields. The solution to this data
entry issue is to temporarily change your operating system’s number formatting to be consistent with
the U.S. number formatting system while you complete this form. Detailed instructions on how to
resolve this issue is provided at the end of this questionnaire and is available upon request from Jordan
Harriman (202‐205‐2610, jordan.harriman@usitc.gov).
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Cased pencils
Page 4
I‐1.
OMB statistics.‐‐Please report below the actual number of hours required and the cost to your
firm of completing this questionnaire.
I‐2.
Hours
Dollars
The questions in this questionnaire have been reviewed with market participants to ensure that
issues of concern are adequately addressed and that data requests are sufficient, meaningful,
and as limited as possible. Public reporting burden for this questionnaire is estimated to average
40 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering data, and
completing and reviewing the questionnaire.
We welcome comments regarding the accuracy of this burden estimate, suggestions for
reducing the burden, and any suggestions for improving this questionnaire. Please attach such
comments to your response or send to the Office of Investigations, USITC, 500 E St. SW,
Washington, DC 20436.
Establishments covered.‐‐Provide the name and address of establishment(s) covered by this
questionnaire. If your firm is publicly traded, please specify the stock exchange and trading
symbol.
“Establishment”‐‐Each facility of a firm involved in the importation of cased pencils, 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
Yes‐‐List the following information.
Firm name
Address
Extent of
ownership
(percent)
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Cased pencils
Page 5
I‐4.
Related importers/exporters.‐‐Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or
foreign, that are engaged in importing cased pencils into the United States or that are engaged
in exporting cased pencils to the United States?
No
Yes‐‐List the following information.
Firm name
Country
Affiliation
I‐5.
I‐6.
Related producers.‐‐Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, that are
engaged in the production of cased pencils?
No
Yes‐‐List the following information.
Firm name
Country
Affiliation
Importing operations.‐‐Please indicate the nature of your firm’s importing operations on cased
pencils. More than one answer may be applicable.
Importer of record
Takes title to the
imported product(s)
Consignee of the
imported products(s)
Customs broker or
freight forwarder
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Cased pencils
Page 6
I‐7.
Consignees.‐‐If your firm is an importer of record of cased pencils but is not the consignee,
please list the consignees below (firm name, address, telephone number, and individual to
contact).
I‐8.
Firm name
Address
Contact person and
phone number
FTZ, TIB, or bonded warehouses.‐‐Please indicate whether your firm enters cased pencils into,
or withdraws such merchandise from, foreign trade zones or bonded warehouses. Also indicate
whether your firm imports cased pencils under the TIB (temporary importation under bond)
program.
“Foreign trade zone” is a designated location in the United States where firms utilize special
procedures that allow delayed or reduced customs duty payments on foreign merchandise, as
well as other savings. A foreign trade zone must be designed as such pursuant to the rules and
procedures set forth in the Foreign‐Trade Zones Act.
“Bonded warehouse” is a secured facility supervised by U.S. customs, where dutiable landed
imports are stored pending their re‐export, or release after payment of import duties, taxes, and
other charges. A bonded warehouse must be designed as such pursuant to the rules and
procedures set forth in 19 U.S.C. § 1555.
“Temporary Importation under Bond (“TIB”) program” is a procedure whereby, imported
merchandise may be entered under certain conditions for a limited time into the United States
free of duty. Under the program, an importer posts a bond for twice the amount of duty, taxes,
etc. that would otherwise be owed on the importation and agrees to export or destroy the
merchandise within a specified time or pay liquidated damages. This program is restricted to
certain categories of merchandise listed in subheadings 9813.00.05 through 9813.00.75 of the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS).
Foreign trade zones
Bonded warehouses
Temporary importation under bond
No
Yes
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Cased pencils
Page 7
I‐9.
Business plan.‐‐In Parts II and III of this questionnaire we request a copy of your company’s
business plan. Does your company or any related firm have a business plan or any internal
documents that describe, discuss, or analyze expected market conditions for cased pencils?
No
Yes–Please provide the requested documents. If you are not providing the
requested documents, please explain why not.
I‐10.
Other trade actions.‐‐To your knowledge, have the products subject to this proceeding been the
subject of any other import relief proceedings in the United States or in any other countries?
No
Yes–Please specify.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Cased pencils
Page 8
PART II.‐‐TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Jordan Harriman (202‐205‐
2610, jordan.harriman@usitc.gov). Supply all data requested on a calendar‐year basis.
II‐1. Contact information.‐‐ Please identify the responsible individual and the manner by which
Commission staff may contact that individual regarding the confidential information submitted
in part II.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
Fax
II‐2. Changes in operations.‐‐Please indicate whether your firm has experienced any of the following
changes in relation to the importation of cased pencils since January 1, 2011.
Check as many as appropriate.
If checked, please describe; leave blank if not applicable.
Office/warehouse openings
Office/warehouse closings
Relocations
Expansions
Acquisitions
Consolidations
Prolonged shutdowns or
importation curtailments
Revised labor agreements
Other (e.g., technology)
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Cased pencils
Page 9
II‐3. Anticipated changes in operations.‐‐Does your firm anticipate any changes in the character of
your operations or organization (as noted above) relating to the importation of cased pencils in
the future?
II‐4.
No
Yes
If yes, supply details as to the time, nature, and significance of such changes
and provide underlying assumptions, along with relevant portions of
business plans or other supporting documentation that address this issue.
Anticipated changes in operations in the event the order is revoked.‐‐Would your firm
anticipate any changes in the character of its operations or organization (as noted above)
relating to the importation of cased pencils in the future if the antidumping duty order on cased
pencils from China were to be revoked?
II‐5.
No
Yes
If yes, supply details as to the time, nature, and significance of such changes
and provide underlying assumptions, along with relevant portions of
business plans or other supporting documentation that address this issue.
Arranged imports.‐‐Has your firm imported or arranged for the importation of cased pencils
from China for delivery after December 31, 2016?
“Arranged imports” are imports for which your firm has placed an order with a foreign supplier
for subject merchandise, but delivery of those imports is not scheduled to occur until after the
date listed above.
No
Yes–Fill out the table below.
Quantity (in 1,000 gross)
Period/Source
II‐6.
Apr‐Jun 2017
Jul‐Sept 2017
Oct‐Dec 2017
China
China ‐ Beijing FILA
Dixon Stationary
Company
Reasons for importing if producer.‐‐If your firm also produces cased pencils in the United
States, please indicate the reasons for importing this product. If your firm’s reasons differ by
source, please elaborate.
Jan‐Mar 2017
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Cased pencils
Page 10
Definitions
“Imports” –Those products identified for Customs purposes as imports for consumption for
which your firm was the importer of record (i.e., was responsible for paying any import duty) or
consignee (i.e., to which the merchandise was first delivered).
“Import quantities” –Quantities reported should be net of returns.
“Import values”—Values reported should be landed, duty‐paid values at the U.S. port of entry,
including ocean freight and insurance costs, brokerage charges, and import duties (i.e., all
charges except inland freight in the United States).
“U.S. commercial shipments”— Shipments made within the United States as a result of an arm’s
length commercial transaction in the ordinary course of business. Report net values (i.e., gross
sales values less all discounts, allowances, rebates, prepaid freight, and the value of returned
goods) in U.S. dollars, f.o.b. your point of shipment.
“Internal consumption” –Product consumed internally by your firm. Such transactions are
valued at fair market value.
“Transfers to related firms” –Shipments made to related domestic firms. Such transactions are
valued at fair market value.
“Related firm” –A firm that your firm solely or jointly owns, manages, or otherwise controls.
“Export shipments”— Shipments to destinations outside the United States, including shipments
to related firms.
“Inventories” ‐‐Finished goods inventory, not raw materials or work in progress.
“Gross” – A set of 144 pencils. Numerical responses in this questionnaire related to quantity
amounts should be input in thousands of gross. For example, an answer of 1,500,000 gross
would be input as “1,500”.
Note: As requested in Part I of this questionnaire, please keep all supporting documents/records
used in the preparation of the trade data, as Commission staff may contact your firm regarding
questions on the trade data. The Commission may also request that your company submit copies
of the supporting documents/records (such as production and sales schedules, inventory records,
etc.) used to compile these data.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Cased pencils
Page 11
II‐7a. IMPORTS FROM BEIJING FILA DIXON STATIONARY COMPANY‐‐ Report your firm’s imports and
your firm’s shipments and inventories of cased pencils imported from Beijing FILA Dixon
Stationary Company during the specified periods.
CHINA – BEIJING FILA DIXON STATIONARY COMPANY
Quantity (in 1,000 gross), value (in $1,000)
Calendar year
Item
2014
Beginning‐of‐period
inventories (quantity) (A)
2015
2016
Imports:
Quantity (B)
Value (C)
End‐of‐period inventories
(quantity) (J)
Channels of distribution:
U.S. commercial
shipments to
distributors (quantity)
(K)
U.S. commercial
shipments to retailers
(quantity) (L)
U.S. commercial
shipments to end users
(quantity) (M)
1
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity (D)
Value (E)
Internal consumption/
company transfers:
Quantity (F)
2
Value (G)
3
Export shipments:
Quantity (H)
Value (I)
1
Please identify the foreign producers, if known:
.
Sales to related firms (including internal consumption) must be valued at fair market value. In the event that your firm
uses a different basis for valuing these sales within your company, please specify that basis (e.g., cost, cost plus, etc.) and
provide value data using that basis for each period identified above: .
3
Identify your firm’s principal export markets: .
2
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Cased pencils
II‐7a. IMPORTS FROM BEIJING FILA DIXON STATIONARY COMPANY.–Continued
Page 12
RECONCILIATION OF SHIPMENTS, IMPORTS, AND INVENTORIES.‐‐Generally, the data reported for the
end‐of‐period inventories (i.e., line J) should be equal to the beginning‐of‐period inventories (i.e., line A),
plus imports (i.e., line B), less total shipments (i.e., lines D, F, and H). Please ensure that any differences
are not due to data entry errors in completing this form, but rather actually reflect your firm’s records;
and also provide any likely explanations for any differences (e.g., theft, loss, damage, record systems
issues, etc.) if they exist.
Calendar year
Reconciliation
2014
2015
A + B – D – F – H – J =
should equal zero ("0") or
provide an explanation.1
2016
0
0
0
1
Explanation if the calculated fields above are returning values other than zero (i.e., “0”) but are nonetheless accurate:
.
RECONCILIATION OF CHANNELS.‐‐Please ensure that the quantities reported for channels of distribution
(i.e., lines K, L, and M) in each time period equal the quantity reported for commercial U.S. commercial
shipments (i.e., line D) in each time period. If the calculated fields below return values other than zero
(i.e., “0”), the data reported must be revised prior to submission to the Commission.
Calendar year
Reconciliation
2014
2015
2016
K + L + M – D = zero ("0"), if
not revise.
0
0
II‐7b. Historical cased pencils shipment data (2011‐13)‐‐ Report the quantity and value of your firm’s
U.S. shipments of imports of cased pencils from Beijing FILA Dixon Stationary Company (include
commercial shipments, internal consumption, and transfers, but do not include exports) during
the specified periods.
Quantity (in 1,000 gross), value (in $1,000)
0
Calendar year
Item
2011
2012
2013
Cased Pencils
Quantity
Value
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Cased pencils
Page 13
II‐8a. IMPORTS FROM OTHER FIRMS IN CHINA‐‐ Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments
and inventories of cased pencils imported from all other firms from China except Beijing FILA
Dixon Stationary Company during the specified periods.
CHINA – ALL OTHER FIRMS
Quantity (in 1,000 gross), value (in $1,000)
Calendar year
Item
2014
Beginning‐of‐period
inventories (quantity) (A)
2015
2016
Imports:
Quantity (B)
Value (C)
End‐of‐period inventories
(quantity) (J)
Channels of distribution:
U.S. commercial
shipments to
distributors (quantity)
(K)
U.S. commercial
shipments to retailers
(quantity) (L)
U.S. commercial
shipments to end users
(quantity) (M)
1
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity (D)
Value (E)
Internal consumption/
company transfers:
Quantity (F)
2
Value (G)
3
Export shipments:
Quantity (H)
Value (I)
1
Please identify the foreign producers, if known:
.
Sales to related firms (including internal consumption) must be valued at fair market value. In the event that your firm
uses a different basis for valuing these sales within your company, please specify that basis (e.g., cost, cost plus, etc.) and
provide value data using that basis for each period identified above: .
3
Identify your firm’s principal export markets: .
2
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Cased pencils
II‐8a. IMPORTS FROM OTHER FIRMS IN CHINA.–Continued
Page 14
RECONCILIATION OF SHIPMENTS, IMPORTS, AND INVENTORIES.‐‐Generally, the data reported for the
end‐of‐period inventories (i.e., line J) should be equal to the beginning‐of‐period inventories (i.e., line A),
plus imports (i.e., line B), less total shipments (i.e., lines D, F, and H). Please ensure that any differences
are not due to data entry errors in completing this form, but rather actually reflect your firm’s records;
and also provide any likely explanations for any differences (e.g., theft, loss, damage, record systems
issues, etc.) if they exist.
Calendar year
Reconciliation
2014
2015
A + B – D – F – H – J =
should equal zero ("0") or
provide an explanation.1
2016
0
0
0
1
Explanation if the calculated fields above are returning values other than zero (i.e., “0”) but are nonetheless accurate:
.
RECONCILIATION OF CHANNELS.‐‐Please ensure that the quantities reported for channels of distribution
(i.e., lines K, L, and M) in each time period equal the quantity reported for commercial U.S. commercial
shipments (i.e., line D) in each time period. If the calculated fields below return values other than zero
(i.e., “0”), the data reported must be revised prior to submission to the Commission.
Calendar year
Reconciliation
2014
2015
2016
K + L + M – D = zero ("0"), if
not revise.
0
0
0
II‐8b. Historical cased pencils shipment data (2011‐13)‐‐Report the quantity and value of your firm’s
U.S. shipments of imports of cased pencils from all other Chinese firms except Beijing FILA Dixon
Stationary Company (include commercial shipments, internal consumption, and transfers, but
do not include exports) during the specified periods.
Quantity (in 1,000 gross), value (in $1,000)
Calendar year
Item
2011
2012
2013
Cased Pencils
Quantity
Value
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Cased pencils
Page 15
II‐9a. IMPORTS FROM ALL OTHER SOURCES.‐‐ Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments
and inventories of cased pencils imported from all other sources combined during the specified
periods.
ALL OTHER SOURCES
(list sources:
)
Quantity (in 1,000 gross), value (in $1,000)
Calendar year
Item
2014
Beginning‐of‐period
inventories (quantity) (A)
2015
2016
Imports:
Quantity (B)
Value (C)
End‐of‐period inventories
(quantity) (J)
Channels of distribution:
U.S. commercial
shipments to
distributors (quantity)
(K)
U.S. commercial
shipments to retailers
(quantity) (L)
U.S. commercial
shipments to end users
(quantity) (M)
1
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity (D)
Value (E)
Internal consumption/
company transfers:
Quantity (F)
2
Value (G)
3
Export shipments:
Quantity (H)
Value (I)
1
Please identify the foreign producers, if known:
.
Sales to related firms (including internal consumption) must be valued at fair market value. In the event that your firm
uses a different basis for valuing these sales within your company, please specify that basis (e.g., cost, cost plus, etc.) and
provide value data using that basis for each of the periods noted above: .
3
Identify your firm’s principal export markets: .
2
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Cased pencils
II‐9a. IMPORTS FROM ALL OTHER SOURCES.–Continued
Page 16
RECONCILIATION OF SHIPMENTS, IMPORTS, AND INVENTORIES.‐‐Generally, the data reported for the
end‐of‐period inventories (i.e., line J) should be equal to the beginning‐of‐period inventories (i.e., line A),
plus imports (i.e., line B), less total shipments (i.e., lines D, F, and H). Please ensure that any differences
are not due to data entry errors in completing this form, but rather actually reflect your firm’s records;
and also provide any likely explanations for any differences (e.g., theft, loss, damage, record systems
issues, etc.) if they exist.
Calendar year
Reconciliation
2014
2015
A + B – D – F – H – J =
should equal zero ("0") or
provide an explanation.1
2016
0
0
0
1
Explanation if the calculated fields above are returning values other than zero (i.e., “0”) but are nonetheless accurate:
.
RECONCILIATION OF CHANNELS.‐‐Please ensure that the quantities reported for channels of distribution
(i.e., lines K, L, and M) in each time period equal the quantity reported for commercial U.S. commercial
shipments (i.e., line D) in each time period. If the calculated fields below return values other than zero
(i.e., “0”), the data reported must be revised prior to submission to the Commission.
Calendar year
Reconciliation
2014
2015
2016
K + L + M – D = zero ("0"), if
not revise.
0
0
0
II‐9b. Historical cased pencils shipment data (2011‐13)‐‐Report the quantity and value of your firm’s
U.S. shipments of imports of cased pencils from all other sources combined (include commercial
shipments, internal consumption, and transfers, but do not include exports) during the specified
periods.
Quantity (in 1,000 gross), value (in $1,000)
Calendar year
Item
2011
2012
2013
Cased Pencils
Quantity
Value
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Cased pencils
Page 17
II‐10. Effect of order(s).‐‐Describe the significance of the existing antidumping duty order covering
imports of cased pencils from China in terms of its effect on your firm’s imports, U.S. shipments
of imports, and inventories. You may wish to compare your firm’s operations before and after
the imposition of the order.
II‐11. Likely effect of revocation of order(s).‐‐Would your firm anticipate any changes in its imports,
U.S. shipments of imports, or inventories of cased pencils in the future if the antidumping duty
order on cased pencils from China were to be revoked?
No
Yes
If yes, supply details as to the time, nature, and significance of such changes
and provide underlying assumptions, along with relevant portions of
business plans or other supporting documentation for any trends or
projections your firm may provide.
II‐12. Other explanations.‐‐If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question in Part II
that did not provide a narrative response box, please note the question number and the
explanation in the space provided below. Please also use this space to highlight any issues your
firm had in providing the data in this section, including but not limited to technical issues with
the MS Word questionnaire.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Cased pencils
Page 18
PART III.‐‐PRICING AND MARKET FACTORS
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Grace Kenneally (202‐708‐
1669, Grace.Kenneally@usitc.gov).
III‐1. Contact information.‐‐ Please identify the responsible individual and the manner by which
Commission staff may contact that individual regarding the confidential information submitted
in part III.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
Fax
PRICE DATA
III‐2. This question requests quarterly quantity and value data for your firm’s commercial shipments
to unrelated U.S. customers of the following products your firm imported from China:
Product 1.—Commodity (economy) pencils – retail packaging (i.e., sold to retail outlets).
Product 2.—Commodity (economy) pencils – boxed (i.e., sold to wholesalers or office supply
stores).
Please note that values should be f.o.b., U.S. point of shipment and should not include U.S.‐inland
transportation costs. Values should reflect the final net amount paid to your firm (i.e., should be net
of all deductions for discounts or rebates).
(a) During 2014‐2016, did your firm import from China and sell to unrelated U.S. customers any
of the above listed products (or any products that were competitive with these products)?
Yes.‐‐Please complete the following pricing data tables as appropriate.
No.‐‐Skip to question III‐3.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Cased pencils
Page 19
III‐2(b). Price data (China).‐‐Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from
China and sold by your firm. Do not include imports from Beijing FILA Dixon Stationary
Company.
CHINA – ALL OTHER FIRMS
Report data in 1,000 gross and actual dollars (not $1,000).
(Quantity in 1,000 gross, value in dollars)
Product 1
Quantity
Value
Product 2
Period of shipment
Quantity
Value
2014:
January‐March
April‐June
July‐September
October‐December
2015:
January‐March
April‐June
July‐September
October‐December
2016:
January‐March
April‐June
July‐September
October‐December
1
Net values (i.e., gross sales values less all discounts, allowances, rebates, prepaid freight, and the value of returned goods),
f.o.b. your firm’s U.S. point of shipment.
2 Pricing product definitions are provided on the first page of Part III.
Note.‐‐If your firm’s product does not exactly meet the product specifications but is competitive with the specified product, provide
a description of the product. Also, please explain any anomalies in your firm’s reported pricing data.
Product 1:
Product 2:
III‐2(c). Pricing data methodology.‐‐ Please describe the method and the kinds of documents/records
that were used to compile your price data.
Note: As requested in Part I of this questionnaire, please keep all supporting documents/records
used in the preparation of the price data, as Commission staff may contact your firm regarding
questions on the price data. The Commission may also request that your company submit copies
of the supporting documents/records (such as sales journal, invoices, etc.) used to compile these
data.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Cased pencils
Page 20
III‐3. Price setting.‐‐ How does your firm determine the prices that it charges for sales of cased
pencils (check all that apply)? If your firm issues price lists, please submit sample pages of a
recent list.
Transaction
by
transaction
Contracts
III‐4.
Set
price
lists
Other
If other, describe
Discount policy.‐‐ Please indicate and describe your firm’s discount policies (check all that
apply).
Annual
total
volume
discounts
Quantity
discounts
III‐5.
(a)
Describe
What are your firm’s typical sales terms for cased pencils imported from China?
Net 60
days
(b)
Other
Pricing terms.‐‐
Net 30
days
No
discount
policy
2/10 net
30 days
Other
Other (specify)
On what basis are your firm’s prices of imported cased pencils from China usually
quoted? (check one)
Delivered
F.o.b.
If f.o.b., specify point
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Cased pencils
Page 21
III‐6. Contract versus spot.‐‐ Approximately what share of your firm’s sales of cased pencils imported
from China in 2016 was on a (1) long‐term contract basis, (2) annual contract basis, (3) short‐
term contract basis, and (4) spot sales basis?
Type of sale
Long‐term
Short‐term
Annual
Total
contracts
Spot sales
contracts
contracts
(should
(multiple
(for a single
(multiple
(multiple
sum to
deliveries for
delivery)
deliveries for 12 deliveries for less
100.0%)
more than 12
than 12 months)
months)
months)
Share of your
%
%
%
% 0.0 %
2016 sales
III‐7. Contract provisions.— Please fill out the table regarding your firm’s typical sales contracts for
cased pencils from China (or check “not applicable” if your firm does not sell on a long‐term,
short‐term, and/or contract basis).
Short‐term contracts Annual contracts
Long‐term contracts
(multiple
(multiple deliveries
Typical sales
(multiple deliveries for
Item
deliveries for 12
for less than 12
contract provisions
more than 12 months)
months)
months)
Average contract
duration
No. of
days
Price renegotiation
(during contract
period)
Yes
No
Quantity
Price
Both
Yes
No
Fixed quantity
and/or price
Meet or release
provision
Not applicable
365
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Cased pencils
Page 22
III‐8. Lead times.‐‐ What is your firm’s share of sales of cased pencils imported from China from
inventory and produced to order and what is the typical lead time between a customer’s order
and the date of delivery for your firm’s sales of cased pencils?
Share of 2016
Lead time (average
Source
sales
number of days)
From inventory
%
From foreign manufacturers’ inventory
%
Produced to order
%
Total (should sum to 100.0%)
III‐9.
Shipping information.‐‐
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
What is the approximate percentage of the total delivered cost of cased pencils
imported from China that is accounted for by U.S. inland transportation costs? %
Who generally arranges the transportation to your firm’s customers’ locations?
Your firm Purchaser (check one)
When your firm sells cased pencils imported from China, from where is it shipped?
Point of importation Storage facility (check one)
Indicate the approximate percentage of your sales of cased pencils imported from China
that are delivered the following distances from your firm’s U.S. point of shipment.
Distance from your firm’s U.S. point of shipment
Share
Within 100 miles
%
101 to 1,000 miles
%
Over 1,000 miles
%
Total (should sum to 100.0%)
0.0 %
0.0 %
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Cased pencils
Page 23
III‐10. Geographical shipments.‐‐ In which U.S. geographic market area(s) has your firm sold cased
pencils imported from subject countries since January 1, 2011 (check all that apply)?
Geographic area
China
Northeast.–CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, and VT.
Midwest.–IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, and WI.
Southeast.–AL, DE, DC, FL, GA, KY, MD, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, and WV.
Central Southwest.–AR, LA, OK, and TX.
Mountains.–AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, and WY.
Pacific Coast.–CA, OR, and WA.
Other.–All other markets in the United States not previously listed,
including AK, HI, PR, and VI.
III‐11. Substitutes.‐‐
(a)
Can other products be substituted for cased pencils?
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 cased pencils?
No Yes
Explanation
1.
2.
3.
(b)
Have there been any changes in the number or types of products that can be
substituted for cased pencils since January 1, 2011? Do you anticipate any future
changes?
Changes in
substitutes
No Yes
Explain
Changes since
January 1, 2011
Anticipated
changes
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Cased pencils
Page 24
III‐12. Availability of supply.‐‐Has the availability of cased pencils in the U.S. market changed since
January 1, 2011? Do you anticipate any future changes? Note: Nonsubject imports include
imports from Beijing FILA Dixon Stationary Company.
Availability in the U.S.
Please explain, noting the countries and reasons for the
market
No Yes changes.
Changes since January 1, 2011:
U.S.‐produced product
Subject imports
Nonsubject imports
U.S.‐produced product
Subject imports
Nonsubject imports
Anticipated changes:
III‐13. Demand trends.‐‐ Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United
States (if known) for cased pencils has changed since January 1, 2011, and how you anticipate
demand will change in the future. Explain any trends and describe the principal factors that have
affected, and that you anticipate will affect, these changes in demand.
Market
Fluctuate
Overall
No
Overall
with no
increase change decrease clear trend
Explanation and factors
Demand since January 1, 2011
Within the
United
States
Outside
the United
States
Anticipated future demand
Within the
United
States
Outside
the United
States
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Cased pencils
Page 25
III‐14. Product changes.‐‐ Have there been any significant changes in the product range, product mix,
or marketing of cased pencils since January 1, 2011? Do you anticipate any future changes?
Changes in
product range,
product mix, or
marketing
No Yes
Changes since
January 1, 2011
Anticipated
changes
Explain
III‐15. Conditions of competition.‐‐
(a) Is the cased pencils market subject to business cycles (other than general economy‐wide
conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to cased pencils?
Check all that apply.
Please describe.
No
Skip to question III‐17.
Yes‐Business cycles (e.g.
seasonal business)
Yes‐Other distinctive
conditions of competition
(b) If yes, have there been any changes in the business cycles or conditions of competition for
cased pencils since January 1, 2011?
No
Yes
If yes, describe.
III‐16. Supply constraints.‐‐Has your firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply cased pencils
since January 1, 2011 (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. Importers’ Questionnaire – Cased pencils
Page 26
III‐17. Raw materials.‐‐ Indicate how cased pencils raw material prices have changed since January 1,
2011, and how you expect they will change in the future.
Raw
materials
prices
Fluctuate
with no
Explain, noting how raw material
clear
price changes have affected your
Overall
No
Overall
trend firm’s selling prices for cased pencils.
increase change decrease
Changes since
January 1,
2011
Anticipated
changes
III‐18. Price comparisons.‐‐Please compare market prices of cased pencils in U.S. and non‐U.S. markets
if known. Provide information as to time periods and regions for any price comparisons.
III‐19. Market studies.‐‐Please provide as a separate attachment to this request any studies, surveys,
etc. that you are aware of that quantify and/or otherwise discuss cased pencils supply (including
production capacity and capacity utilization) and demand in (1) the United States, (2) each of
the other major producing/consuming countries, including China, and (3) the world as a whole.
Of particular interest is such data from 2011 to the present and forecasts for the future.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Cased pencils
Page 27
III‐20. Interchangeability.‐‐Are cased pencils produced in the United States and in other countries
interchangeable (i.e., can they physically be used in the same applications)? If your answer
differs for China (all other firms) and China (Beijing FILA Dixon Stationary Company), please
explain.
Please indicate A, F, S, N, or 0 in the table below:
A = the products from a specified country‐pair are always interchangeable
F = the products are frequently interchangeable
S = the products are sometimes interchangeable
N = the products are never interchangeable
0 = no familiarity with products from a specified country‐pair
Country‐pair
China
Other countries
United States
China
For any country‐pair producing cased pencils that is sometimes or never interchangeable,
identify the country‐pair and explain the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable use:
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Cased pencils
Page 28
III‐21. Factors other than price.‐‐Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between cased pencils produced
in the United States and in other countries a significant factor in your firm’s sales of the
products? If your answer differs for China (all other firms) and China (Beijing FILA Dixon
Stationary Company), please explain.
Please indicate A, F, S, N, or 0 in the table below:
A = such differences are always significant
F = such differences are frequently significant
S = such differences are sometimes significant
N = such differences are never significant
0 = no familiarity with products from a specified country‐pair
Country‐pair
China
Other countries
United States
China
For any country‐pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant
factor in your firm’s sales of cased pencils, identify the country‐pair and report the advantages
or disadvantages imparted by such factors:
III.22
Bundling sales of cased pencils with other products.‐‐Does your firm bundle the sales of cased
pencils with other products?
Estimated share
of your sales of
cased pencils in
2016 that were Describe the other products that are included in typical
No
Yes sold in a bundle bundled sales
III‐23. Other explanations.‐‐If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question in Part III
that did not provide a narrative response box, please note the question number and the
explanation in the space provided below. Please also use this space to highlight any issues your
firm had in providing the data in this section, including but not limited to technical issues with
the MS Word questionnaire.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Cased pencils
Page 29
Correcting Valid number error messages.‐‐If you are completing a Commission
questionnaire in a country that uses periods (“.”) to delineate multiples of 1000 (e.g., one million would
appear as $1.000.000 instead of as $1,000,000), you may be unable to enter in numbers greater than
999 in numeric form fields. This issues stem from your computer number formatting setting (e.g., not
the MS Word document itself, but the computer from which you are opening up the document). In the
United States commas (,) delineate multiples of 1000 and periods (.) delineate fractions less than
one. Many EU countries use the reverse where multiples of 1000 are delineated with periods (.) and
fractions less than one are delineated with commas (,). The US International Trade Commission’s
questionnaires are set‐up in the United States with the U.S. number formatting. When this formatting
interacts with a computer set to EU number formatting, we believe this may cause this issue.
The solution to this data entry issue is to temporarily change your operating system’s number
formatting to be consistent with the U.S. number formatting system while you complete the
questionnaire.
To temporarily change your computer’s number settings to U.S. settings, please do the following (for
Microsoft Windows Operating system):
START
Control Panel
Region and Language (under Clock, Language, and Region category)
Format tab
Change the Format from your existing one (e.g. “Italian (Italy)”) to “English (United States)” (see
screen shots below)
When you do this the number “twelve million dollars and thirty five cents” would change from
$12.000.000,35 (Italy format) to $12,000,000.35 (U.S. format), and then there will be no conflict with
the USITC foreign producer questionnaire form. When you finish reporting the data then you can close
the questionnaire and switch back to Italy settings.
Busineess Proprietaary
orters’ Questio
onnaire – Cassed pencils
U.S. Impo
Paage 30
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Cased pencils
Page 31
HOW TO FILE YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSE
This questionnaire is available as a “fillable” form in MS Word format on the Commission’s website at:
https://usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2016/cased_pencils_china/fourth_review_full.htm
Please do not attempt to modify the format or permissions of the questionnaire
document. Please submit the completed questionnaire using one of the methods noted
below. If your firm is unable to complete the MS Word questionnaire or cannot use one
of the electronic methods of submission, please contact the Commission for further
instructions.
• Upload via Secure Drop Box.—Upload the MS Word questionnaire along with a scanned copy of the
signed certification page (page 1) through the Commission’s secure upload facility:
Web address: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/
Pin: PENCIL
• E‐mail.—E‐mail the MS Word questionnaire to jordan.harriman@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 import 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 (202‐
205‐1803). A certificate of service must accompany the completed questionnaire you submit (see 19 CFR
§ 207.7). Service of the questionnaire must be made in paper form.
| File Type | application/pdf |
| File Title | Microsoft Word - CP--US Importer--to Commission |
| Author | jordan.harriman |
| File Modified | 2017-03-02 |
| File Created | 2017-03-02 |