17-4-3656 Foreign Producers'/Exporters/ Questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 17-4-3656; Expiration Date: 6/30/2017
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

FOREIGN PRODUCERS’/EXPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
STAINLESS STEEL SHEET AND STRIP FROM JAPAN, KOREA, AND TAIWAN
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by May 12, 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 reviews of the countervailing duty order concerning stainless steel sheet and strip from
Korea and the antidumping duty orders concerning stainless steel sheet and strip from Japan, Korea, and Taiwan
(Inv. Nos. 701-TA-382 and 731-TA-800, 801, and 803 (Third Review)). The information requested in the
questionnaire is requested under the authority of the Tariff Act of 1930, title VII.
Name of firm
Address
Website
Has your firm produced or exported stainless steel sheet and strip (as defined on next page) 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)

Data reported in this questionnaire relate to (Check one):
Japan
Korea
Taiwan
Return questionnaire via the Commission Drop Box by clicking on the following link:
https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/. (PIN: STS3)
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 proceedings 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 proceeding may be disclosed to and used: (i) by the Commission, its employees and Offices, and contract
personnel (a) for developing or maintaining the records of this or a related proceeding, or (b) in internal investigations, audits,
reviews, and evaluations relating to the programs, personnel, and operations of the Commission including under 5 U.S.C.
Appendix 3; or (ii) by U.S. government employees and contract personnel, solely for cybersecurity purposes. I understand that all
contract personnel will sign appropriate nondisclosure agreements.
Name of Authorized Official

Title of Authorized Official

Date

Phone:
Signature

Fax:

Email address

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PART I.--GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.-- On July 27, 1999, the Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) issued the antidumping
duty orders on imports of stainless steel sheet and strip from Japan, Korea, and Taiwan (64 FR 40565
and 64 FR 40555) and on August 6, 1999, Commerce issued the countervailing duty order on imports of
stainless steel sheet and strip Korea (64 FR 42923). Following five-year reviews by Commerce and the
Commission, effective August 4, 2005, Commerce issued a continuation of the countervailing duty order
on imports of stainless steel sheet and strip Korea and the antidumping duty orders on imports of
stainless steel sheet and strip from Japan, Korea, and Taiwan (70 FR 44886). Following second five-year
reviews by Commerce and the Commission, effective August 11, 2011, Commerce issued a second
continuation of the countervailing duty order on imports of stainless steel sheet and strip Korea and the
antidumping duty orders on imports of stainless steel sheet and strip from Japan, Korea, and Taiwan and
(76 FR 49726). On July 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 orders would
be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury to the domestic industry within a
reasonably foreseeable time. Each order for which the Commission and Commerce make affirmative
determinations will remain in place. If the Commission makes a negative determination on a particular
order, the Department of Commerce will revoke that order. Questionnaires and other information
pertinent to this proceeding are available at
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2016/stainless_steel_sheet_and_strip_japan_korea_and/
third_review_full.htm.
Stainless steel sheet and strip (“SSSS”).-- The merchandise covered by these AD and CVD orders is
stainless steel sheet and strip in coils. 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 flat-rolled product in coils that is greater than 9.5 mm in width and less than 4.75
mm in thickness, 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., cold-rolled, polished, aluminized,
coated, etc.) provided that it maintains the specific dimensions of sheet and strip following such
processing.
The merchandise subject to these orders is classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United
States (HTSUS) at subheadings: 7219.13.00.31, 7219.13.00.51, 7219.13.00.71, 7219.13.00.81,
7219.14.00.30, 7219.14.00.65, 7219.14.00.90, 7219.32.00.05, 7219.32.00.20, 7219.32.00.25,
7219.32.00.35, 7219.32.00.36, 7219.32.00.38, 7219.32.00.42, 7219.32.00.44, 7219.33.00.05,
7219.33.00.20, 7219.33.00.25, 7219.33.00.35, 7219.33.00.36, 7219.33.00.38, 7219.33.00.42,
7219.33.00.44, 7219.34.00.05, 7219.34.00.20, 7219.34.00.25, 7219.34.00.30, 7219.34.00.35,
7219.35.00.05, 7219.35.00.15, 7219.35.00.30, 7219.35.00.35, 7219.90.00.10, 7219.90.00.20,
7219.90.00.25, 7219.90.00.60, 7219.90.00.80, 7220.12.10.00, 7220.12.50.00, 7220.20.10.10,
7220.20.10.15, 7220.20.10.60, 7220.20.10.80, 7220.20.60.05, 7220.20.60.10, 7220.20.60.15,
7220.20.60.60, 7220.20.60.80, 7220.20.70.05, 7220.20.70.10, 7220.20.70.15, 7220.20.70.60,
7220.20.70.80, 7220.20.80.00, 7220.20.90.30, 7220.20.90.60, 7220.90.00.10, 7220.90.00.15,
7220.90.00.60, and 7220.90.00.80. Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and
customs purposes, the Department's written description of the merchandise subject to these orders is
dispositive.
Excluded from the scope of these orders are the following: (1) Sheet and strip that is not annealed or
otherwise heat treated and pickled or otherwise descaled, (2) sheet and strip that is cut to length, (3)
plate (i.e.,flat-rolled stainless steel products of a thickness of 4.75 mm or more), (4) flat wire (i.e., coldrolled sections, with a prepared edge, rectangular in shape, of a width of not more than 9.5 mm), and (5)

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razor blade steel, (6) flapper valve steel, (7) suspension foil, (8) certain stainless steel foil for automotive
catalytic converters, (9) permanent magnet iron-chromium-cobalt alloy stainless strip, (10) certain
electrical resistance ally steel, (11) certain martensitic precipitation-hardenable stainless steel, and (12)
three specialty stainless steels typically used in certain industrial blades and surgical and medication
instruments. Items 5 through 12 are further described below.
Razor blade steel is a flat-rolled product of stainless steel, not further worked than cold-rolled (coldreduced), in coils, of a width of not more than 23 mm and a thickness of 0.266 mm or less, containing,
by weight, 12.5 to 14.5 percent chromium, and certified at the time of entry to be used in the
manufacture of razor blades. See Chapter 72 of the HTSUS, “Additional U.S. Note” 1(d).
Flapper valve steel is also excluded from the scope. This product is defined as stainless steel strip in coils
containing, by weight, between 0.37 and 0.43 percent carbon, between 1.15 and 1.35 percent
molybdenum, and between 0.20 and 0.80 percent manganese. This steel also contains, by weight,
phosphorus of 0.025 percent or less, silicon of between 0.20 and 0.50 percent, and sulfur of 0.020
percent or less. The product is manufactured by means of vacuum arc remelting, with inclusion controls
for sulphide of no more than 0.04 percent and for oxide of no more than 0.05 percent. Flapper valve
steel has a tensile strength of between 210 and 300 ksi, yield strength of between 170 and 270 ksi, plus
or minus 8 ksi, and a hardness (Hv) of between 460 and 590. Flapper valve steel is most commonly used
to produce specialty flapper valves in compressors.
Suspension foil excluded from the scope is a specialty steel product used in the manufacture of
suspension assemblies for computer disk drives. Suspension foil is described as 302/304 grade or 202
grade stainless steel of a thickness between 14 and 127 microns, with a thickness tolerance of plus-orminus 2.01 microns, and surface glossiness of 200 to 700 percent Gs. Suspension foil must be supplied in
coilwidths of not more than 407 mm, and with a mass of 225 kg or less. Roll marks may only be visible
on one side, with no scratches of measurable depth. The material must exhibit residual stresses of 2 mm
maximum deflection, and flatness of 1.6 mm over 685 mm length.
Certain stainless steel foil for automotive catalytic converters is also excluded from the scope. This
stainless steel strip in coils is a specialty foil with a thickness of between 20 and 110 microns used to
produce a metallic substrate with a honeycomb structure for use in automotive catalytic converters. The
steel contains, by weight, carbon of no more than 0.030 percent, silicon of no more than 1.0 percent,
manganese of no more than 1.0 percent, chromium of between 19 and 22 percent, aluminum of no less
than 5.0 percent, phosphorus of no more than 0.045 percent, sulfur of no more than 0.03 percent,
lanthanum of less than 0.002 or greater than 0.05 percent, and total rare earth elements of more than
0.06 percent, with the balance iron.
Permanent magnet iron-chromium-cobalt alloy stainless strip is also excluded from the scope. This
ductile stainless steel strip contains, by weight, 26 to 30 percent chromium, and 7 to 10 percent cobalt,
with the remainder of iron, in widths 228.6 mm or less, and a thickness between 0.127 and 1.270 mm. It
exhibits magnetic remanence between 9,000 and 12,000 gauss, and a coercivity of between 50 and 300
oersteds. This product is most commonly used in electronic sensors and is currently available under
proprietary trade names such as “Arnokrome III.”1
Certain electrical resistance alloy steel is also excluded from the scope. This product is defined as a nonmagnetic stainless steel manufactured to American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM)
specification B344 and containing, by weight, 36 percent nickel, 18 percent chromium, and 46 percent
iron, and is most notable for its resistance to high temperature corrosion. It has a melting point of 1390
1

“Arnokrome III” is a trademark of the Arnold Engineering Company.

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degrees Celsius and displays a creep rupture limit of 4 kilograms per square millimeter at 1000 degrees
Celsius. This steel is most commonly used in the production of heating ribbons for circuit breakers and
industrial furnaces, and in rheostats for railway locomotives. The product is currently available under
proprietary trade names such as “Gilphy 36.”2
Certain martensitic precipitation-hardenable stainless steel is also excluded from the scope. This highstrength, ductile stainless steel product is designated under the Unified Numbering System (UNS) as
S45500-grade steel, and contains, by weight, 11 to 13 percent chromium, and 7 to 10 percent nickel.
Carbon, manganese, silicon and molybdenum each comprise, by weight, 0.05 percent or less, with
phosphorus and sulfur each comprising, by weight, 0.03 percent or less. This steel has copper, niobium,
and titanium added to achieve aging, and will exhibit yield strengths as high as 1700 Mpa and ultimate
tensile strengths as high as 1750 Mpa after aging, with elongation percentages of 3 percent or less in 50
mm. It is generally provided in thicknesses between 0.635 and 0.787 mm, and in widths of 25.4 mm. This
product is most commonly used in the manufacture of television tubes and is currently available under
proprietary trade names such as “Durphynox 17.”3
Three specialty stainless steels typically used in certain industrial blades and surgical and medical
instruments are also excluded from the scope. These include stainless steel strip in coils used in the
production of textile cutting tools (e.g., carpet knives).4 This steel is similar to AISI grade 420 but
containing, by weight, 0.5 to 0.7 percent of molybdenum. The steel also contains, by weight, carbon of
between 1.0 and 1.1 percent, sulfur of 0.020 percent or less, and includes between 0.20 and 0.30
percent copper and between 0.20 and 0.50 percent cobalt. This steel is sold under proprietary names
such as “GIN4 Mo.” The second excluded stainless steel strip in coils is similar to AISI 420-J2 and
contains, by weight, carbon of between 0.62 and 0.70 percent, silicon of between 0.20 and 0.50 percent,
manganese of between 0.45 and 0.80 percent, phosphorus of no more than 0.025 percent and sulfur of
no more than 0.020 percent. This steel has a carbide density on average of 100 carbide particles per 100
square microns. An example of this product is “GIN5” steel. The third specialty steel has a chemical
composition similar to AISI 420 F, with carbon of between 0.37 and 0.43 percent, molybdenum of
between 1.15 and 1.35 percent, but lower manganese of between 0.20 and 0.80 percent, phosphorus of
no more than 0.025 percent, silicon of between 0.20 and 0.50 percent, and sulfur of no more than 0.020
percent. This product is supplied with a hardness of more than Hv 500 guaranteed after customer
processing, and is supplied as, for example, “GIN6”.5
In addition, as a result of changed circumstances reviews, the Department has revoked, in part, the
Japanese AD order with respect to imports of the following products:6
•
•
•
•
2

Stainless steel welding electrode strips that are manufactured in accordance with
American Welding Society (AWS) specifications ANSI/AWS A5.9-93
Certain stainless steel used for razor blades, medical surgical blades, and industrial
blades that are sold under proprietary names such as DSRIK7, DSRIKA, and DSRIK9;
Certain stainless steel lithographic sheet that is made of 304-grade stainless steel; and
Certain nickel clad stainless steel sheet.

“Gilphy 36” is a trademark of Imphy, S.A.
“Durphynox 17” is a trademark of Imphy, S.A.
4
This list of uses is illustrative and provided for descriptive purposes only.
5
“GIN4 Mo,” “GIN5” and “GIN6” are the proprietary grades of Hitachi Metals America, Ltd.
6
See the following Federal Register notices entitled Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils From Japan: Final Results
of Changed Circumstance Antidumping Duty Review, and Determination To Revoke Order in Part: 65 FR 17856,
April 5, 2000; 65 FR 54841, September 11, 2000; 65 FR 64423, October 27, 2000; and 65 FR 77578, December 12,
2000.
3

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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.
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 Michael
Szustakowksi (202-205-3169, mgs@usitc.gov).

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Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip
I-1.

Page 6

OMB statistics.--Please report below 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
30 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 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 in Japan, Korea, or Taiwan involved in the production or
export of stainless steel sheet and strip, including auxiliary facilities operated in conjunction with
(whether or not physically separate from) such facilities. Firms operating more than one
establishment in Japan, Korea, or Taiwan should combine the data for all establishments into a
single report.

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Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip
I-3.

Page 7

U.S. importers.--Please provide the names, contacts, email addresses, and telephone numbers
of the FIVE largest U.S. importers of your firm’s stainless steel sheet and strip in 2016.

No.

Importer’s name

Contact person

Email address

Share of
Area code
your firm’s
and
2016 U.S.
telephone
exports
number
(%)

1
2
3
4
5
I-4.

U.S. or other country production.--Does your firm or any related firm produce, have the
capability to produce, or have any plans to produce stainless steel sheet and strip in the United
States or other countries?
No

Yes--Please name the firm(s) and country(ies) below and, if U.S. producer(s),
ensure that they complete the Commission’s producer questionnaire.

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Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip
I-5.

U.S. importation.--Does your firm or any related firm import or have any plans to import
stainless steel sheet and strip into the United States?
No

I-6.

Page 8

Yes--Please name the firm(s) below and ensure that they complete the
Commission’s importer questionnaire.

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 future market conditions for stainless
steel sheet and strip?
No

Yes--Please provide the requested documents. If you are not providing the
requested documents, please explain why not.

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PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Michael Szustakowski (202205-3169, mgs@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 production of stainless steel sheet and strip since January 1, 2011.

Check as many as appropriate.
Plant openings
Plant closings
Relocations
Expansions
Acquisitions
Consolidations
Prolonged shutdowns or
production curtailments
Revised labor agreements
Other (e.g., technology)

If checked, please describe; leave blank if not
applicable.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip
II-3.

Anticipated changes in operations.--Does your firm anticipate any changes in the character of
its operations or organization (as noted above) relating to the production of stainless steel sheet
and strip in the future?
No

II-4.

Page 10

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. Include in your response a specific projection of your firm’s
capacity to produce stainless steel sheet and strip (in short tons) for
2017 and 2018.

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 production of stainless steel sheet and strip in the future if the countervailing
duty order concerning stainless steel sheet and strip from Korea and the antidumping duty
orders concerning stainless steel sheet and strip from Japan, Korea, and Taiwan on stainless
steel sheet and strip from Japan, Korea, and Taiwan were to be revoked?
No

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. Include in your response a specific projection of your firm’s
capacity to produce stainless steel sheet and strip (in short tons) for
2017 and 2018.

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Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip
II-5a.

Page 11

Production using same HRAP machinery.-- Please report your firm’s production of products
made on the same equipment and machinery used to produce stainless steel sheet and strip,
and the combined production capacity on this shared equipment and machinery in the periods
indicated.
“Overall production capacity” or “capacity” – The level of production that your
establishment(s) could reasonably have expected to attain during the specified periods. Assume
normal operating conditions (i.e., using equipment and machinery in place and ready to
operate; normal operating levels (hours per week/weeks per year) and time for downtime,
maintenance, repair, and cleanup).
“Production” – All production in your U.S. establishment(s), including production consumed
internally within your firm and production for another firm under a toll agreement.
Quantity (in short tons)
Calendar year
Item

2014

2015

January-March
2016

2016

2017

Hot-rolled annealed and pickled (HRAP) steel:
Overall production capacity (A)
Production HRAP.-In-scope SSSS to be further processed/CR (B)
In-scope SSSS to be sold as HRAP (C)
All in-scope HRAP SSSS (D)

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

All out-of-scope other products (E)
Total production on same machinery (F)
Your firm’s allocation of overall HRAP capacity
to all in-scope HRAP SSSS (G)
1

Data reported in line G should represent the portion of overall HRAP capacity reported in line A that covers all SSSS production in line E,
and should exclude any portion of the overall production capacity used for the production of out-of-scope products.

II-5b.

HRAP operating parameters.--The production capacity reported is based on operating
hours per week,
weeks per year. Report any date-specific periods when the
establishments were not operating (i.e., not actually producing product) at the reported
parameters.

II-5c.

HRAP capacity calculations.--Please describe the methodology used to calculate overall
production capacity in line A as well as allocate overall capacity to all in-scope HRAP stainless
steel sheet and strip in line G, and explain any changes in reported capacity.

II-5d.

HRAP production constraints.--Please describe the constraint(s) that set the limit(s) on your
firm’s stainless steel sheet and strip hot-rolled production capacity.

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Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip
II-6a.

Page 12

Production using same CR machinery.—Please report your firm’s production of products made
on the same equipment and machinery used to produce stainless steel sheet and strip, and the
combined production capacity on this shared equipment and machinery in the periods
indicated.
Quantity (in short tons)
Calendar year
Item

2014

2015

January-March
2016

2016

2017

Cold rolled (CR) steel:
Overall production capacity (H)
Production CR.-In-scope CR SSSS (I)
Out-of-scope other products (J)
Total production on same machinery (K)

0

0

0

0

Your firm’s allocation of overall CR capacity to
1
in-scope CR SSSS (L)
1

Data reported in line L should represent the portion of overall CR capacity reported in line H that covers all SSSS production in line I,
and should exclude any portion of the overall production capacity used for the production of out-of-scope products.

II-6b.

CR operating parameters.--The production capacity reported is based on operating
hours
per week,
weeks per year. Report any date-specific periods when the establishments
were not operating (i.e., not actually producing product) at the reported parameters.

II-6c.

CR capacity calculations.--Please describe the methodology used to calculate overall production
capacity in line H as well as allocate overall capacity to all in-scope CR stainless steel sheet and
strip in line L, and explain any changes in reported capacity.

II-6d.

CR production constraints.--Please describe the constraint(s) that set the limit(s) on your firm’s
stainless steel sheet and strip hot-rolled production capacity.

0

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Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip
II-7.

Page 13

Product shifting.
(a)

Is your firm able to switch production (capacity) between stainless steel sheet and strip and
other products using the same equipment and/or labor?
No

(b)

Yes-- (i.e., have produced other products or are able to produce other
products). Please identify other actual or potential products.

Please describe the factors that affect your firm’s ability to shift production capacity
between products (e.g., time, cost, relative price change, etc.), and the degree to which
these factors enhance or constrain such shifts.

II-8.

Share of sales.--What percentage of your firm’s total sales in its most recent fiscal year was
represented by sales of stainless steel sheet and strip?
percent.

II-9.

Firm's estimated share of production in country.--Please estimate the percentage of total
production of stainless steel sheet and strip in the country specified on the certification page
accounted for by your firm’s production in 2016.
percent.

II-10.

Firm's estimated share of country's exports.--Please estimate the percentage of total exports to
the United States of stainless steel sheet and strip from the country specified on the certification
page accounted for by your firm’s exports in 2016.
percent.

II-11.

Inventories in the United States.--Has your firm, since 2014, maintained any inventories of
stainless steel sheet and strip in the United States (not including inventories held by firms
identified in question I-3)?
“Inventories”--Finished goods inventory, not raw materials or work in progress.
No

Yes--Report the quantity of such end-of-period inventories below.
Quantity (in short tons)
Calendar year

Item
Inventory

2014

2015

January-March
2016

2016

2017

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Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip
II-12.

Page 14

Third country trade actions.--Is the stainless steel sheet and strip exported by your firm subject
to antidumping/countervailing duty/safeguard findings, remedies, or proceedings?
No

Yes--List the products(s), countries affected, and the date of such
findings/remedies/proceedings.

II-13.

Other export markets.--Identify export markets (other than the United States) that your firm
has developed or where it has increased its sales of stainless steel sheet and strip since 2011.
Please identify and discuss below.

II-14.

Significance of countervailing duty/antidumping duty orders.--Describe the significance of the
countervailing duty order concerning stainless steel sheet and strip from Korea and the
antidumping duty orders concerning stainless steel sheet and strip from Japan, Korea, and
Taiwan in terms of their effect on your firm’s production capacity, production, home market
shipments, exports to the United States and other markets, and inventories. You may wish to
compare your firm’s operations before and after the imposition of the order.

II-15.

Anticipated changes if order revoked.--Would your firm anticipate any changes in its
production capacity, production, home market shipments, exports to the United States and
other markets, or inventories relating to the production of stainless steel sheet and strip in the
future if the countervailing duty order concerning stainless steel sheet and strip from Korea and
the antidumping duty orders concerning stainless steel sheet and strip from Japan, Korea, and
Taiwan were to be revoked?
No

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 you may provide.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip
II-16.

Page 15

Trade data.--Report your firm’s production capacity, production, shipments, and inventories
related to the production of stainless steel sheet and strip in your establishment(s) in Japan,
Korea, or Taiwan during the specified periods. Do not include resales of stainless steel sheet
and strip that your firm did not produce in this question; those data to the degree they are
exported to the United States should only be reported in question II-18.
Do not submit data by manufacturing facility if they are in the same country. If your firm has
multiple manufacturing establishments within one country, you are required to combine data
for those establishments within one foreign producer questionnaire response.
Do not submit data on multiple countries combined. The establishments reported here should
all be located in the country of the firm’s address reported on the certification page.
Multinational companies with production in multiple subject countries should submit separate
foreign producer questionnaire responses for each subject country.
“Average production capacity” or “capacity” –The level of production that your
establishment(s) could reasonably have expected to attain during the specified periods for all
products manufactured in that establishment using the same manufacturing equipment.
Assume normal operating conditions (i.e., using equipment and machinery in place and ready to
operate; normal operating levels (hours per week/weeks per year) and time for downtime,
maintenance, repair, and cleanup; and a typical or representative product mix).
“Production” --All production in your establishment(s) in Japan, Korea, or Taiwan, including
production consumed internally within your firm.
“Shipments”--Shipments of products produced in your establishment(s) in Japan, Korea, or
Taiwan. Quantities reported should be net of returns. 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 in Japan, Korea, or Taiwan.
“Home market commercial shipments”--Shipments, other than internal consumption and
transfers to related firms, within Japan, Korea, or Taiwan.
“Home market internal consumption/transfers to related firms”--Shipments made to related
firms in Japan, Korea, or Taiwan, including product consumed internally by your firm.
“Export shipments”--Shipments to destinations outside Japan, Korea, or Taiwan, including
shipments to related firms.
“Inventories”--Finished goods inventory, not raw materials or work-in-progress.
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.

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Page 16

Trade data.--Continued.

II-16.

Quantity (in short tons) and Value (in 1,000 dollars)
Calendar year
Item

2014

January-March

2015

2016

2016

2017

1

Average production capacity (M)
Beginning-of-period inventories (N)
2

0

0

0

0

0

Total exports (quantity) (AB)

0

0

0

0

0

Total shipments (quantity) (AC)

0

0

0

0

0

Production (O)

Home market shipments:
Internal consumption/ transfers
quantity (P)
value (Q)
Commercial shipments
quantity (R)
value (S)
Export shipments:
to the United States:
quantity (T)
value (U)
3

to the European Union:
quantity (V)
value (W)
4

to Asia:
quantity (X)
value (Y)
to all other markets:
quantity (Z)

5

value (AA)

End-of-period inventories (AD)
1

The production capacity reported is based on operating
hours per week,
weeks per year. Please
describe the methodology used to calculate production capacity, and explain any changes in reported capacity:
.
2
Production of all in-scope SSSS is the sum of data reported in line C in question II-5a and line I in question II-6a. Data
will auto populate into this question once entered into the aforementioned lines.
3
Identify your firm’s principal European Union export markets:
.
4
Identify your firm’s principal Asian export markets:
.
5
Identify your firm’s principal other export markets:
.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip
II-16.

Page 17

Trade data.—Continued.
RECONCILIATION OF SHIPMENTS, PRODUCTION, AND INVENTORY.--Generally, the data reported
for the end-of-period inventories (i.e., line AD) should be equal to the beginning-of-period
inventories (i.e., line N), plus production (i.e., line O), less total shipments (i.e., lines P, R, T, V , X,
and Z). 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
Item

2014

N + O – P – R – T –V – X – Z
– AD = should equal zero
("0") or provide an
explanation.1

2015

0

January-March
2016

2016

0

0

2017

0

0

1

Explanation if the calculated fields above are returning values other than zero (i.e., “0”) but are
nonetheless accurate:
.
II-17.

Shipments by product grade.--Report your firm’s total shipments by grade of stainless steel.
2016
Item

Quantity (short tons)

Value (in $1,000)

Total shipments:
Grade 201 (AE)
Grade 304 (AF)
Grade 316 (AG)
Grade 409 (AH)
Grade 430 (AI)
1

All others (AJ)

0

Total (AK)
1

Please identify these products:

0

.

RECONCILIATION OF SHIPMENTS BY GRADE-- Please ensure that the quantities and values reported for
total shipments by grade (i.e., lines AK) is equal the quantity and value reported for commercial U.S.
shipments (i.e., line AG) in 2016 reported in question II-16. 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.
Item
Reconciliation with question II-16, should =
zero ("0"), if not revise prior to submission.

Quantity (short tons)

Value (in $1,000)

0

0

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip
II-18.

Page 18

Exports to the United States not produced by your firm.--Report your firm’s exports to the
United States of stainless steel sheet and strip that was produced in Japan, Korea, or Taiwan but
not by your firm during the specified periods. Note these data should not be included in
question II-16.
Quantity (in short tons) and Value (in 1,000 dollars)
Calendar year
Item

2014

2015

January-March
2016

2016

2017

Exports of stainless steel
sheet and strip to the United
States not produced by your
1
firm .—
1
Quantity
Value
1

List the producer(s).

II-19.

Other explanations.--If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question in Part II
that did not provide a narrative 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.

.

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Page 19

PART III.--MARKET FACTORS
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Cindy Cohen (202-205-3230,
cindy.cohen@usitc.gov).
III-1.

Contact information.-- Please identify the responsible individual and how Commission staff may
contact the individual regarding the confidential information submitted in part III.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
Fax

III-2.

Contract versus spot.--Approximately what share of your firm’s sales of stainless steel sheet and
strip to U.S. customers in 2016 was on a (1) long-term contract basis, (2) annual contract basis,
(3) short-term contract basis, and (4) spot sales basis?

Share of your
2016 sales

Long-term
contracts
(multiple
deliveries for
more than 12
months)
%

Type of sale
Short-term
Annual
contracts
contracts
(multiple
(multiple
deliveries for
deliveries for 12
less than 12
months)
months)
%

Total
(should
sum to
100.0%)

Spot sales
(for a single
delivery)
%

%

0.0

%

Contract provisions.— Please fill out the table regarding your firm’s typical sales contracts with
U.S. customers for stainless steel sheet and strip (or check “not applicable” if your firm does not
sell on a long-term, short-term and/or annual contract basis).
Short-term contracts Annual contracts
Long-term contracts
Typical sales
(multiple deliveries
(multiple
(multiple deliveries for
Item
contract provisions
for less than 12
deliveries for 12
more than 12 months)
months)
months)

III-3.

Average contract
duration

No. of
days

Price renegotiation
(during contract
period)

Yes

Fixed quantity
and/or price
Meet or release
provision
Not applicable

No
Quantity
Price
Both
Yes
No

365

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip
III-4.

Lead times.—What is your firm’s share of sales 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 stainless steel sheet and strip?

Source

Share of 2016 sales

From inventory

%

Produced to order

%

Total (should sum to 100.0%)

III-5.

Page 20

Lead time (average
number of days)

0.0 %

Raw materials.--Indicate how stainless steel sheet and strip raw materials prices have changed
since January 1, 2011, and how you expect they will change in the future.

Raw
materials
prices

Fluctuate
Explain, noting how raw material
with no
price changes have affected your
clear
firm’s selling prices for stainless steel
Overall
No
Overall
increase change decrease trend
sheet and strip.

Changes since
January 1,
2011
Anticipated
changes
III-6.

Changes in factors affecting supply.--Have any changes occurred in any other factors affecting
supply (e.g., changes in availability or prices of energy or labor; transportation conditions;
production capacity and/or methods of production; technology; export markets; or alternative
production opportunities) that affected the availability of Japan, Korea, and Taiwan-produced
stainless steel sheet and strip in the U.S. market since January 1, 2011?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip
III-7.

Page 21

Availability of SUBJECT import supply.--Do you anticipate any changes in terms of the
availability of Japan, Korea, and Taiwan-produced stainless steel sheet and strip in the U.S.
market in the future?
If you anticipate changes in supply, please identify the changes,
No
including the time period and the impact of such changes on
Increase change Decrease shipment volumes and prices.

III-8.

Product shifting.--Describe how easily your firm can shift its sales of stainless steel sheet and
strip between the U.S. market and alternative country markets. In your discussion, please
describe any contracts, other sales arrangements, or other constraints (including any thirdcountry trade barriers such as tariffs, quotas, or other non-tariff barriers) that would prevent or
retard your firm from shifting stainless steel sheet and strip between the U.S. and alternative
country markets within a 12-month period.

III-9.

Product range.--Is the product range, product mix, or marketing of stainless steel sheet and strip
in your firm’s home market different from that of stainless steel sheet and strip for export to the
United States or to third-country markets?
No

Yes

If yes, please explain.

III-10. Product changes.--Have there been any significant changes in the product range, product mix,
or marketing of stainless steel sheet and strip in your firm’s home market, for export to the
United States, or for export to third-country markets 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

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip

Page 22

III-11. Substitutes. -(a)

Can other products be substituted for stainless steel sheet and strip?
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 stainless steel sheet and
strip?
No Yes

Explanation

1.
2.
3.
(b)

Have there been any changes in the number or types of products that can be
substituted for stainless steel sheet and strip since January 1, 2011? Do you anticipate
any future changes?
Changes in
substitutes

No Yes

Explain

Changes since
January 1, 2011
Anticipated
changes
III-12. Interchangeability.--Is the stainless steel sheet and strip produced by your firm and sold in its
home market interchangeable (i.e., can be used in the same applications) with your firm’s
stainless steel sheet and strip sold to the United States and/or to third-country markets?
Yes

No

If no, identify the market(s) and any differences in the products.

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Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip

Page 23

III-13. End uses.—
(a)

Describe the end uses of the stainless steel sheet and strip that your firm manufactures
and sell to your firm’s home market. If these end uses differ from those of the stainless
steel sheet and strip your firm sells to the U.S. market or to third-country markets,
explain.

(b)

Have there been any changes in the end uses of stainless steel sheet and strip since
January 1, 2011? Do you anticipate any future changes?

Changes in end
uses

No

Yes

Explain

Changes since
January 1, 2011
Anticipated
changes

III-14. Demand trends.--Indicate how demand in the following markets for stainless steel sheet and
strip 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.

Your firm’s Overall
market
increase

Fluctuate
No
Overall
with no
change decrease clear trend
Demand since January 1, 2011

Home
market
United
States
Other
markets
Anticipated future demand
Home
market
United
States
Other
markets

Explanation and factors

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Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire - Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip

Page 24

III-15. Price differences.--Please compare market prices of stainless steel sheet and strip in your firm’s
home market, the United States, and third-country markets.

III-16. Description of home market.--Describe briefly your firm’s home market for stainless steel sheet
and strip, including the number of, and competition between, producers.

III-17. Import competition.--Does your firm face competition from imports of stainless steel sheet and
strip in your firm’s home market?
No

Yes

If yes, please identify the country sources of these imports.

III-18. 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 stainless steel sheet and strip
supply (including production capacity and capacity utilization) and demand in (1) the United
States, (2) each of the other major producing/consuming countries, including Japan, Korea, and
Taiwan, and (3) the world as a whole. Of particular interest is such data from 2011 to the
present and forecasts for the future.
III-19. 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.

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Page 25

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.

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Page 26

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/701731/2016/stainless_steel_sheet_and_strip_ja
pan_korea_and/third_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: STS3

• E-mail.—E-mail the MS Word questionnaire to mgs@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 did not produce or export 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 you submit (see 19 CFR
§ 207.7). Service of the questionnaire must be made in paper form.