18-3-3834 US purchasers' questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No 18-3-3834; Expiration Date: 6/30/2020
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

LOST SALES AND LOST REVENUE SURVEY
RUBBER BANDS FROM CHINA, SRI LANKA, AND THAILAND
This survey must be received by the Commission by February 13, 2013
See last page for filing instructions.
The information called for in this survey is for use by the United States International Trade Commission in connection
with its countervailing duty/antidumping investigations concerning rubber bands from China, Sri Lanka, and Thailand
(Inv. Nos. 701-TA-598-600 and 731-TA-1408-1410 (Preliminary)). The information requested in the survey is requested
under the authority of the Tariff Act of 1930, title VII. This report is mandatory and failure to reply as directed can result
in a subpoena or other order to compel the submission of records or information in your possession (19 U.S.C. §
1333(a)). Further information on this survey can be obtained from Lauren Gamache, 202-205-3489,
lauren.gamache@usitc.gov).

Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm purchased rubber bands (as defined on next page) at any time since January 1, 2015?

NO

(Sign the certification below and promptly return only this page of the survey to the Commission)

YES

(Complete all parts of the survey, and return the entire survey to the Commission)r

Return questionnaire via the U.S. International Trade Commission Drop Box by clicking on the
following link: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/. (PIN: BAND)
CERTIFICATION
I certify that the information herein supplied in this survey is complete and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief and
understand that the information submitted is subject to audit and verification by the Commission. By submitting this certification
I also grant consent for the Commission, and its employees and contract personnel, to use the information provided in this survey
and throughout this proceeding in any other import-injury proceedings conducted by the Commission on the same or similar
merchandise.
I, the undersigned, acknowledge that information submitted in response to this request for information and throughout this
investigation or other proceeding may be disclosed to and used: (i) by the Commission, its employees and Offices, and contract
personnel (a) for developing or maintaining the records of this or a related proceeding, or (b) in internal investigations, audits,
reviews, and evaluations relating to the programs, personnel, and operations of the Commission including under 5 U.S.C.
Appendix 3; or (ii) by U.S. government employees and contract personnel, solely for cybersecurity purposes. I understand that all
contract personnel will sign appropriate nondisclosure agreements.

Name of Authorized Official

Title of Authorized Official

Date

Signature

Phone

Email address

Business Proprietary
Lost Sales and Lost Revenue Survey- rubber bands

Page 2

GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.-- This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on January 30, 2018, by
Alliance Rubber Co., Hot Springs, Arkansas. Antidumping and countervailing duties may be assessed on
the subject imports as a result of these proceedings if the Commission makes an affirmative
determination of injury, threat, or material retardation, and if the U.S. Department of Commerce
(“Commerce”) makes an affirmative determination of dumping and subsidization. Questionnaires and
other information pertinent to this proceeding are available at
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2018/rubber_bands_china_sri_lanka_and_thailand/preli
minary.htm.
Rubber bands covered by these investigations are defined as bands made of vulcanized rubber, with a
flat length, as measured end-to-end by the band lying flat, no less than 1/2 inch and no greater than 10
inches; with a width, which measures the dimension perpendicular to the length, of at least 3/64 inch
and no greater than 2 inches; and a wall thickness from 0.020 inch to 0.125 inch. Vulcanized rubber has
been chemically processed into a more durable material by the addition of sulfur or other equivalent
curatives or accelerators. Subject products are included regardless of color or inclusion of printed
material. The scope includes vulcanized rubber bands which are contained or otherwise exist in various
fowls and packages, such as, without limitation, vulcanized rubber bands included within a desk
accessory set or other type of set or package, and vulcanized rubber band balls, but excludes Bedford
Elastitags®, and bands that are being used at the time of import to fasten an imported product.
Rubber bands are currently imported under statistical reporting number 4016.99.3510 of the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). The HTSUS provisions are for convenience and
customs purposes; the written description of the scope is dispositive.
Select excluded (or out-of-scope) rubber band products are as follows: (1) Vulcanized rubber bands with
a flat length less than 1/2 inches or greater than 10 inches, a width less than 3/64 inches or greater than
2 inches, or a wall thickness less than 0.020 inches or greater than 0.125 inches; (2) Bedford Elastitags®;
and (3) Non-latex rubber bands.
Reporting of information.-- If information is not readily available from your records, provide carefully
prepared estimates. If your firm is completing more than one questionnaire (i.e., a producer, importer,
and/or purchaser questionnaire), you need not respond to duplicated questions.
Confidentiality.--The commercial and financial data furnished in response to this questionnaire that
reveal the individual operations of your firm will be treated as confidential by the Commission to the
extent that such data are not otherwise available to the public and will not be disclosed except as may
be required by law (see 19 U.S.C. § 1677f). Such confidential information will not be published in a
manner that will reveal the individual operations of your firm; however, general characterizations of
numerical business proprietary information (such as discussion of trends) will be treated as confidential
business information only at the request of the submitter for good cause shown.
Release of information.--The information provided by your firm in response to this survey, 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

Business Proprietary
Lost Sales and Lost Revenue Survey- #PRODUCT

Page 3

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. Please also retain a copy of the final document that you submit.

Business Proprietary
Lost Sales and Lost Revenue Survey- #PRODUCT

Page 4

Contact information.--Please identify the responsible individual and the manner by which Commission
staff may contact that individual regarding the confidential information submitted in this survey. This
may or may not be the person whose signature is at the bottom of page 1.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
Firms operating more than one establishment should combine the data for all establishments into a
single response.
PURCHASE INFORMATION
II-1.

Purchases and imports.--Report separately your firm’s domestic purchases and imports of
rubber bands.
“Purchase” – Purchase from a U.S. entity such as a U.S. producer, a U.S. importer, or other U.S.
firm.
“Import” – Purchase directly from a foreign supplier and your firm is the importer of record.
2015

2016

Item

2017

Quantity (in pounds)

Purchases of rubber bands produced in—
United States
China
Sri Lanka
Thailand
All other countries1
Sources unknown
Total purchases

0

0

0

0

0

0

Imports of rubber bands from—
China
Sri Lanka
Thailand
All other countries1
Total imports
1

Please identify these countries:

Business Proprietary
Lost Sales and Lost Revenue Survey- #PRODUCT

Page 5

2. Changes in purchasing patterns.--Please indicate how the shares of your firm’s purchases of rubber
bands from different sources have changed since January 1, 2015.
Source of
purchases

Did not
purchase Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated

Explanation for trend

United States

China

Sri Lanka

Thailand
All other
countries
Sources
unknown
3.
Major purchasing factors.--Please list, in order of their importance, the main factors your firm
considers in deciding from whom to purchase rubber bands.
1.
2.
3.
Please list any other factors that are very important in your purchase decisions:

Business Proprietary
Lost Sales and Lost Revenue Survey- #PRODUCT

Page 6

4. Purchasing subject imports rather than domestic products.—
(a)

Since January 2015, did your firm purchase imports of rubber bands from China, Sri
Lanka, and/or Thailand instead of U.S.-produced rubber bands? Respond for each
subject country.

Source

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

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

China
Sri Lanka
Thailand
(b)

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

Yes

No

China
Sri Lanka
Thailand
(c)

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

Source

China
Sri Lanka
Thailand

Yes

If Yes, estimate the quantity
of imports purchased instead
of domestic product since
January 2015
(in pounds)

No

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

Business Proprietary
Lost Sales and Lost Revenue Survey- #PRODUCT
5.

Page 7

U.S. producers and import competition.—
(a)

Since January 1, 2015, in connection with a sale or offer to sell rubber bands to your
firm, did U.S. producers reduce their prices of domestically produced rubber bands in
order to compete with lower-priced imports of rubber bands from the subject
countries? Respond for each subject country.

Source

Yes (also respond to
question part (b))

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

Don’t know

China
Sri Lanka
Thailand
(b)

If your firm responded “yes” to any of the above countries, please provide an estimate
of the reduction in U.S. producers’ prices, and any additional explanations, such as
timing (e.g., months/years), frequency of price reductions, or other market/competitive
factors.

Source

Estimated
reduction in U.S.
prices
(percent)

China

%

Sri Lanka

%

Thailand

%

Additional explanation, including such information as
timing (e.g., months/years), frequency of price
reductions, or other market/competitive factors

6. Method of purchase--Please provide a general description of your firm’s method(s) of purchase
(e.g., individual purchase, contract, bids, Internet purchases, etc.) for rubber bands.

7. Other explanations--Please provide any additional comments in this box.

Business Proprietary
Lost Sales and Lost Revenue Survey- #PRODUCT

Page 8

OMB INFORMATION
8. OMB statistics.--Please report the actual number of hours required and the cost to your firm of
completing this survey.
Hours

Dollars

The questions in this survey 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 survey is estimated to average 4 hours per response,
including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering data, and completing and reviewing the
survey.
We welcome comments regarding the accuracy of this burden estimate, suggestions for reducing
the burden, and any suggestions for improving this survey. Please attach such comments to your
response or send to the Office of Investigations, USITC, 500 E St. SW, Washington, DC 20436.

HOW TO FILE YOUR SURVEY RESPONSE
Please do not attempt to modify the format or permissions of the survey document.
Please submit the completed survey using one of the methods noted below. If your firm
is unable to complete the MS Word survey 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 survey along with a scanned copy of the signed
certification page (page 1) through the Commission’s secure upload facility:
o
o
o

Web address: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/
Enter Investigation: Select “Rubber bands from China, Sri Lanka, and Thailand” in the drop
down menu
Pin: BAND

• E-mail.—E-mail the MS Word survey to lauren.gamache@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 purchase this product, please fill out page 1, print, sign, and submit a scanned copy
to the Commission.