18-2-3897 US importers' questionnaire

Information collections for import injury investigations (producers, importers, purchasers, and foreign producer questionnaires and institution notices for 5-year reviews)

US Importers--FSF (F) - Commission

Forged steel fittings from China, Italy, and Taiwan (Inv. nos. 701-TA-589 and 731-TA-1394-1396)

OMB: 3117-0016

⚠️ Notice: This form may be outdated. More recent filings and information on OMB 3117-0016 can be found here:

Document [pdf]

Download: pdf | pdf

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 18-2-3897; Expiration Date: 6/30/2020
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. IMPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
FORGED STEEL FITTINGS FROM CHINA, ITALY, AND TAIWAN
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by June 28, 2018
See last page for filing instructions.
The information called for in this questionnaire is for use by the United States International Trade Commission in
connection with its countervailing duty and antidumping duty investigations concerning forged steel fittings from China,
Italy, and Taiwan (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-589 and 731-TA-1394-1396 (Final)). The information requested in the questionnaire
is requested under the authority of the Tariff Act of 1930, title VII. This report is mandatory and failure to reply as
directed can result in a subpoena or other order to compel the submission of records or information in your firm’s
possession (19 U.S.C. § 1333(a)).

Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm imported forged steel fittings (as defined on next page) and/or select excluded merchandize (as
defined on next page) from any country at any time since January 1, 2015?

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

YES

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

Return questionnaire via the U.S. International Trade Commission Drop Box by clicking on the
following link: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/. (PIN: FSF)
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 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

Email address

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 2

PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background. --This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on October 5, 2017, by
Bonney Forge Corporation, Mount Union, PA; and United Steel Workers, Pittsburgh, PA. Countervailing
and/or antidumping duties may be assessed on the subject imports as a result of these proceedings if
the Commission makes an affirmative determination of injury, threat, or material retardation, and if the
U.S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) makes an affirmative determination of subsidization
and/or dumping. Questionnaires and other information pertinent to this proceeding are available at
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2018/forged_steel_fittings_china_italy_and_taiwan/final.
htm
Forged steel fittings covered by these investigations are carbon and alloy forged steel fittings, whether
unfinished (commonly known as blanks or rough forgings) or finished. Such fittings are made in a variety
of shapes including, but not limited to, elbows, tees, crosses, laterals, couplings, reducers, caps, plugs,
bushings, unions and outlets. Forged steel fittings are covered regardless of end finish, whether
threaded, socket-weld or other end connections.
While these fittings are generally manufactured to specifications ASME B16.11, MSS SP-79, and MSS SP83, MSS SP-97, ASTM A105, ASTM A350, and ASTM A182, the scope is not limited to fittings made to
these specifications.
The term forged is an industry term used to describe a class of products included in applicable
standards, and does not reference an exclusive manufacturing process. Forged steel fittings are not
manufactured from casting. Pursuant to the applicable specifications, subject fittings may also be
machined from bar stock or machined from seamless pipe and tube.
All types of fittings are included in the scope regardless of nominal pipe size (which may or may not be
expressed in inches of nominal pipe size), pressure rating (usually, but not necessarily expressed in
pounds of pressure/PSI, e.g., 2,000 or 2M; 3,000 or 3M; 6,000 or 6M; 9,000 or 9M), wall thickness, and
whether or not heat treated.
Excluded from this scope are all fittings entirely made of stainless steel. Also excluded are flanges, butt
weld fittings, butt weld outlets, nipples, and all fittings that have a maximum pressure rating of 300
pounds of pressure/PSI or less.
Further excluded are fittings certified or made to the following standards, so long as the fittings are
not also manufactured to the in-scope specifications of ASME B16.11, MSS SP-79, MSS SP-83, MSS SP-97,
ASTM A105, ASTM A350, and ASTM A182:
• American Petroleum Institute (API) API 5CT, API 5L, or API 11B;
• Society of Automotive Engineering (SAE) SAE J476, SAE J514, SAE J516, SAE J517, SAE J518, SAE J1026,
SAE J1231, SAE J1453, SAE J1926, SAE J2044 or SAE AS 35411;
• Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL) certified electrical conduit fittings;
• ASTM A153, A536, A576, or A865;
• Casing Conductor Connectors 16-42 inches in diameter made to proprietary specifications;
• Military Specification (MIL) MIL-C-4109F and MIL-F-3541; or
• International Organization for Standardization (ISO) ISO6150-B.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 3

To be excluded from the scope, products must have the appropriate standard or pressure markings
and/or accompanied by documentation showing product compliance to the applicable standard or
pressure (e.g., marked as meeting “API 5CT”) and/or a mill certification report.
Subject carbon and alloy forged steel fittings are currently imported under statistical reporting numbers
7307.99.5045, 7307.99.5060, 7307.99.1000, and 7307.99.3000 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States (HTSUS). They may also be imported under HTSUS statistical reporting numbers
7307.92.3010, 7307.92.3030, 7307.92.9000, or 7326.19.0010. The HTSUS provisions are for convenience
and customs purposes; the written description of the scope is dispositive.
Certain excluded fittings are carbon and alloy (excluding stainless) forged steel fittings that are excluded
from the definition of forged steel fittings above based on being certified to the following standards, and
not also being dual certified to ASME B16.11, MSS SP-79, MSS SP-83, MSS SP-97, ASTM A105, ASTM
A350, or ASTM A182 standards. The excluded fittings are those with the following certifications:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

American Petroleum Institute (API) API 5CT, API 5L, or API 11B;
Society of Automotive Engineering (SAE) SAE J476, SAE J514, SAE J516, SAE J517, SAE J518, SAE
J1026, SAE J1231, SAE J1453, SAE J1926, J2044 or SAE AS 35411;
Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL) certified electrical conduit fittings;
ASTM A153, A536, A576, or A865;
Casing Conductor Connectors 16-42 inches in diameter made to proprietary specifications;
Military Specification (MIL) MIL-C-4109F and MIL-F-3541; or
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) ISO6150-B.

Note.--Do not report data on your firm's imports of certain excluded fittings in Parts II or III of this
questionnaire. Those sections should relate to your firm's imports of in-scope forged steel fittings. All
data relating to certain excluded fittings should be limited to the questions in Part IV of this
questionnaire.
Importer.--Any person or firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or subsidiary, in
importing forged steel fittings (as defined above) into the United States from a foreign manufacturer or
through its selling agent.
Reporting of information.--If information is not readily available from your records, provide carefully
prepared estimates. If your firm is completing more than one questionnaire (i.e., a producer, importer,
and/or purchaser questionnaire), you need not respond to duplicated questions.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 4

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 are provided at the end of this questionnaire and are available upon request from
Celia Feldpausch (202-205-2387, celia.feldpausch@usitc.gov).
D-GRIDS tool.--The Commission has a tool that firms can use to move data from their own MS Excel
compilation files into self-contained data tables within this MS Word questionnaire, thereby reducing
the amount of cell-by-cell data entry that would be required to complete this form. This tool is a macroenabled MS Excel file available for download from the Commission's generic questionnaires webpage
(https://www.usitc.gov/trade_remedy/question.htm) called the "D-GRIDs tool." Use of this tool to help
your firm complete this questionnaire is optional. Firms opting to use the D-GRIDs tool to populate their
data into this questionnaire will need the D-GRIDs specification sheet PDF file specific to this proceeding
(available on the case page which is linked under the "Background" above) which includes the necessary
references relating to this questionnaire, as well as the macro-enable MS Excel D-GRIDs tool itself from
the generic questionnaires page. More detailed instructions on how to use the D-GRIDs tool are
available within the D-GRIDs tool itself.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
I-1.

Page 5

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
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.
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 involved in the importation of forged steel fittings,
including auxiliary facilities operated in conjunction with (whether or not physically separate
from) such facilities.

I-3.

Ownership.--Is your firm owned, in whole or in part, by any other firm?
No

Firm name

Yes--List the following information

Address

Extent of
ownership
(percent)

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
I-4.

Related importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or
foreign, that are engaged in importing forged steel fittings from China, Italy, and/or Taiwan into
the United States or that are engaged in exporting forged steel fittings from China, Italy, and/or
Taiwan to the United States?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

I-5.

Country

Affiliation

Related producers.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, that are
engaged in the production of forged steel fittings?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

I-6.

Page 6

Country

Affiliation

Importing operations.--Please indicate the nature of your firm’s importing operations on forged
steel fittings. 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 - Forged Steel Fittings
I-7.

Consignee.--If your firm is an importer of record of forged steel fittings but is not the consignee,
please list the consignees below (firm name, address, telephone number, and individual to
contact).

Firm name

I-8.

Page 7

Contact person
and phone
number

Address

FTZ, TIB, or bonded warehouses.--Please indicate whether your firm enters forged steel fittings
into, or withdraws such merchandise from, foreign trade zones or bonded warehouses. Also
indicate whether your firm imports forged steel fittings 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 of the United States (HTS).
Item

Yes

Foreign trade zones
Bonded warehouses
Temporary importation under bond

I-9.

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 - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 8

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Celia Feldpausch (202-2052387, celia.feldpausch@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

II-2.

Changes in operations.--Please indicate whether your firm has experienced any of the following
changes in relation to the importation of forged steel fittings since January 1, 2015.
(check as many as appropriate)
Office/warehouse openings
Office/warehouse closings
Relocations
Expansions
Acquisitions
Consolidations
Prolonged shutdowns or
importation curtailments
Revised labor agreements
Other (e.g., technology)

(If checked, please describe; leave blank if not applicable)

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
II-3a.

Page 9

Arranged imports.--Has your firm imported or arranged for the importation of forged steel
fittings for delivery after March 31, 2018?
“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 short tons)

Period/Source

Apr-Jun 2018

Jul-Sept 2018

Oct-Dec 2018

Jan-Mar 2019

China (excluding
Both-Well)
China (Both-Well)
Italy
Taiwan
Other sources
II-3b.

Imports in the 12-month period preceding the petition.--Has your firm imported forged steel
fittings from any source between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017?
No

Yes-Report the quantity of such import below by source.
Quantity (in short tons)

Source
China (excluding Both-Well)
China (Both-Well)
Italy
Taiwan
Other sources
II-4a.

October 2016 through September 2017

Reasons for importing if producer.--If your firm produces forged steel fittings in the United
States (integrated producer or finisher only), please indicate the reasons for importing this
product. If your firm’s reasons differ by source, please elaborate.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

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.
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 - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 11

U.S. imports from China (excluding Both-Well (Taizhou) Steel Fittings Co., Ltd.).–Report your
firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and inventories of forged steel fittings imported from
China (excluding Both-Well) by your firm during the specified periods.

II-5a.

Note.--Data in this grid (and all part II questions) should be limited to in-scope forged steel fittings, and
therefore these data should exclude certain excluded fittings. See definitions on pages 2-3.

China (Excluding Both-Well)
Quantity (in short tons), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years

Item

2015

2016

January-March
2017

2017

2018

Beginning-of-period inventories (quantity)
(A)
Imports of unfinished or semi-finished
1
forged steel fittings:
Quantity (B)
Value (C)
Imports of finished forged steel fittings:
Quantity (D)

Value (E)
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity (F)
Value (G)
2

Internal consumption:
Quantity (H)
2

Value (I)
Transfers to related firms:
Quantity (J)

Value (K)
Export shipments:
Quantity (L)

Value (M)
End-of-period inventories (quantity) (N)
Channels of distribution:
Commercial U.S. shipments:
To distributors (quantity) (O)
To finishers/converters (quantity)
(P)
To end users (quantity) (Q)
1

Please identify the foreign producers, if known:
.
Internal consumption and transfers to related firms must be valued at fair market value. If your firm uses a different basis
for valuing these transactions in your records, please specify that basis (e.g., cost, cost plus, etc.):
. However, the data
provided above in this table should be based on fair market value.
3
Identify your firm’s principal export markets:
.
2

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
II-5a.

Page 12

U.S. imports from China.–Continued

RECONCILIATION OF SHIPMENTS, IMPORTS, AND INVENTORIES.--Generally, the data reported for the
end-of-period inventories (i.e., line N) should be equal to the beginning-of-period inventories (i.e., line
A), plus imports (i.e., lines B and D), less total shipments (i.e., lines F, H, J, and L). 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 years
Reconciliation

2015

2016

A + B + D – F – H – J – L – N = should
equal zero ("0") or provide an
explanation.1

January-March
2017

2017

2018

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 O, P, and Q) in each time period equal the quantity reported for commercial U.S. shipments
(i.e., line F) 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 years
Reconciliation item
O + P + Q – F = zero ("0"), if not
revise.

2015

2016
0

January-March
2017

2017
0

2018
0

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
II-5b.

Page 13

U.S. imports from China (only for Both-Well (Taizhou) Steel Fittings Co., Ltd.).–Report your
firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and inventories of forged steel fittings imported from
China (only for Both-Well) by your firm during the specified periods.

China (Both-Well)

Quantity (in short tons), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2015

2016

January-March
2017

2017

2018

Beginning-of-period inventories (quantity)
(A)
Imports of unfinished or semi-finished
1
forged steel fittings:
Quantity (B)
Value (C)
Imports of finished forged steel fittings:
Quantity (D)

Value (E)
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity (F)
Value (G)
2

Internal consumption:
Quantity (H)
2

Value (I)
Transfers to related firms:
Quantity (J)

Value (K)
Export shipments:
Quantity (L)

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
II-5b.

Page 14

U.S. imports from China.–Continued

2015

2016

A + B + D – F – H – J – L – N = should
equal zero ("0") or provide an
explanation.1

January-March
2017

2017

2018

2015

2016
0

January-March
2017

2017
0

2018
0

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
II-5c.

Page 15

U.S. shipments by product type and size: China (excluding Both-Well (Taizhou) Steel Fittings
Co., Ltd.).--Report your firm's U.S. shipments (i.e., inclusive of commercial U.S. shipments,
internal consumption, and transfers to related firms) of imports from China (excluding BothWell) by product type and size for calendar year 2017. If any fittings have both a threaded and
non-threaded end, classify those fittings as threaded for the purposes of this question. If any
fittings have both a less than 4 inch end and a 4 inch or greater end, classify those as 4 inch or
greater fittings for the purposes of this question.

China (Excluding Both-Well)
Calendar year 2017
Product type

Less than 4 inches

4 inches or greater

All sizes

Quantity (in short tons)
Elbows.-Threaded (R)

Non-threaded (S)

Tees.-Threaded (T)

Non-threaded (U)

Couplings.—
Threaded (V)

Non-threaded (W)

Unions.—
Threaded (X)

Non-threaded (Y)

Other fittings. —
Threaded (Z)

Non-threaded (AA)

All in-scope fittings.—
Threaded (AB)

Non-threaded (AC)

Please identify the foreign producers, if known:

RECONCILIATION OF SHIPMENTS, PRODUCTION, AND INVENTORY.--The data reported for the quantity of
U.S. shipments in this question (i.e., lines R through AA) should equal to the quantity of U.S. shipments
(i.e., lines F, H, and J) for calendar year 2017 in part "a" of this question. If the calculated fields below do
not equal to zero, please revise these data prior to submission to the Commission.
Reconciliation
Quantity: R + S + T + U + V + W + X + Y + Z + AA – F – H – J
= zero ("0"), if not revise.

Calendar year 2017
0

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
II-5d.

Page 16

U.S. shipments by product type and size: China (only for Both-Well (Taizhou) Steel Fittings
Co., Ltd.).--Report your firm's U.S. shipments (i.e., inclusive of commercial U.S. shipments,
internal consumption, and transfers to related firms) of imports from China (only for Both-Well)
by product type and size for calendar year 2017. If any fittings have both a threaded and nonthreaded end, classify those fittings as threaded for the purposes of this question. If any fittings
have both a less than 4 inch end and a 4 inch or greater end, classify those as 4 inch or greater
fittings for the purposes of this question.

China (Both-Well)
Calendar year 2017
Product type

Less than 4 inches

4 inches or greater

All sizes

Quantity (in short tons)
Elbows.-Threaded (R)

Non-threaded (S)

Tees.-Threaded (T)

Non-threaded (U)

Couplings.—
Threaded (V)

Non-threaded (W)

Unions.—
Threaded (X)

Non-threaded (Y)

Other fittings. —
Threaded (Z)

Non-threaded (AA)

All in-scope fittings.—
Threaded (AB)

Non-threaded (AC)

Please identify the foreign producers, if known:

Calendar year 2017
0

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 17

U.S. imports from Italy.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and inventories
of forged steel fittings imported from Italy by your firm during the specified periods.

II-6a.

Italy

Quantity (in short tons), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2015

2016

January-March
2017

2017

2018

Beginning-of-period inventories (quantity)
(A)
Imports of unfinished or semi-finished
1
forged steel fittings:
Quantity (B)
Value (C)
Imports of finished forged steel fittings:
Quantity (D)

Value (E)
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity (F)
Value (G)
2

Internal consumption:
Quantity (H)
2

Value (I)
Transfers to related firms:
Quantity (J)

Value (K)
Export shipments:
Quantity (L)

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
II-6a.

Page 18

U.S. imports from Italy.–Continued

RECONCILIATION OF SHIPMENTS, IMPORTS, AND INVENTORIES.-- Generally, the data reported for the
end-of-period inventories (i.e., line N) should be equal to the beginning-of-period inventories (i.e., line
A), plus imports (i.e., lines B and D), less total shipments (i.e., lines F, H, J, and L). 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 years
Reconciliation

2015

2016

A + B + D – F – H – J – L – N = should
equal zero ("0") or provide an
explanation.1

January-March
2017

2017

2018

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 O, P, and Q) in each time period equal the quantity reported for commercial U.S. shipments
(i.e., line F) 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 years
Reconciliation item
O + P + Q – F = zero ("0"), if not
revise.

2015

2016
0

January-March
2017

2017
0

2018
0

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
II-6b.

Page 19

U.S. shipments by product type and size: Italy.--Report your firm's U.S. shipments (i.e.,
inclusive of commercial U.S. shipments, internal consumption, and transfers to related firms) of
imports from Italy by product type and size for calendar year 2017. If any fittings have both a
threaded and non-threaded end, classify those fittings as threaded for the purposes of this
question. If any fittings have both a less than 4 inch end and a 4 inch or greater end, classify
those as 4 inch or greater fittings for the purposes of this question.

Italy
Calendar year 2017
Product type

Less than 4 inches

4 inches or greater

All sizes

Quantity (in short tons)
Elbows.-Threaded (R)

Non-threaded (S)

Tees.-Threaded (T)

Non-threaded (U)

Couplings.—
Threaded (V)

Non-threaded (W)

Unions.—
Threaded (X)

Non-threaded (Y)

Other fittings. —
Threaded (Z)

Non-threaded (AA)

All in-scope fittings.—
Threaded (AB)

Non-threaded (AC)

Please identify the foreign producers, if known:

Calendar year 2017
0

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 20

U.S. imports from Taiwan.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and
inventories of forged steel fittings imported from Taiwan by your firm during the specified
periods.

II-7a.

Taiwan

Quantity (in short tons), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2015

2016

January-March
2017

2017

2018

Beginning-of-period inventories (quantity)
(A)
Imports of unfinished or semi-finished
1
forged steel fittings:
Quantity (B)
Value (C)
Imports of finished forged steel fittings:
Quantity (D)

Value (E)
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity (F)
Value (G)
2

Internal consumption:
Quantity (H)
2

Value (I)
Transfers to related firms:
Quantity (J)

Value (K)
Export shipments:
Quantity (L)

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
II-7a.

Page 21

U.S. imports from Taiwan.–Continued

RECONCILIATION OF SHIPMENTS, IMPORTS, AND INVENTORIES.-- Generally, the data reported for the
end-of-period inventories (i.e., line N) should be equal to the beginning-of-period inventories (i.e., line
A), plus imports (i.e., lines B and D), less total shipments (i.e., lines F, H, J, and L). 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 years
Reconciliation

2015

2016

A + B + D – F – H – J – L – N = should
equal zero ("0") or provide an
explanation.1

January-March
2017

2017

2018

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 O, P, and Q) in each time period equal the quantity reported for commercial U.S. shipments
(i.e., line F) 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 years
Reconciliation item
O + P + Q – F = zero ("0"), if not
revise.

2015

2016
0

January-March
2017

2017
0

2018
0

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
II-7b.

Page 22

U.S. shipments by product type and size: Taiwan.--Report your firm's U.S. shipments (i.e.,
inclusive of commercial U.S. shipments, internal consumption, and transfers to related firms) of
imports from Taiwan by product type and size for calendar year 2017. If any fittings have both a
threaded and non-threaded end, classify those fittings as threaded for the purposes of this
question. If any fittings have both a less than 4 inch end and a 4 inch or greater end, classify
those as 4 inch or greater fittings for the purposes of this question.

Taiwan
Calendar year 2017
Product type

Less than 4 inches

4 inches or greater

All sizes

Quantity (in short tons)
Elbows.-Threaded (R)

Non-threaded (S)

Tees.-Threaded (T)

Non-threaded (U)

Couplings.—
Threaded (V)

Non-threaded (W)

Unions.—
Threaded (X)

Non-threaded (Y)

Other fittings. —
Threaded (Z)

Non-threaded (AA)

All in-scope fittings.—
Threaded (AB)

Non-threaded (AC)

Please identify the foreign producers, if known:

Calendar year 2017
0

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 23

U.S. imports from all other sources.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and
inventories of forged steel fittings imported from all other sources by your firm during the
specified periods.

II-8a.

ALL OTHER SOURCES

(List sources:

)
Quantity (in short tons), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years

Item

2015

2016

January-March
2017

2017

2018

Beginning-of-period inventories (quantity)
(A)
Imports of unfinished or semi-finished
1
forged steel fittings:
Quantity (B)
Value (C)
Imports of finished forged steel fittings:
Quantity (D)

Value (E)
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity (F)
Value (G)
2

Internal consumption:
Quantity (H)
2

Value (I)
Transfers to related firms:
Quantity (J)

Value (K)
Export shipments:
Quantity (L)

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
II-8a.

Page 24

U.S. imports from all other sources.–Continued

RECONCILIATION OF SHIPMENTS, IMPORTS, AND INVENTORIES.-- Generally, the data reported for the
end-of-period inventories (i.e., line N) should be equal to the beginning-of-period inventories (i.e., line
A), plus imports (i.e., lines B and D), less total shipments (i.e., lines F, H, J, and L). 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 years
Reconciliation

2015

2016

A + B + D – F – H – J – L – N = should
equal zero ("0") or provide an
explanation.1

January-March
2017

2017

2018

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 O, P, and Q) in each time period equal the quantity reported for commercial U.S. shipments
(i.e., line F) 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 years
Reconciliation item
O + P + Q – F = zero ("0"), if not
revise.

2015

2016
0

January-March
2017

2017
0

2018
0

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
II-8b.

Page 25

U.S. shipments by product type and size: All other sources.--Report your firm's U.S. shipments
(i.e., inclusive of commercial U.S. shipments, internal consumption, and transfers to related
firms) of imports from all other sources by product type and size for calendar year 2017. If any
fittings have both a threaded and non-threaded end, classify those fittings as threaded for the
purposes of this question. If any fittings have both a less than 4 inch end and a 4 inch or greater
end, classify those as 4 inch or greater fittings for the purposes of this question.

All other sources
Calendar year 2017
Product type

Less than 4 inches

4 inches or greater

All sizes

Quantity (in short tons)
Elbows.-Threaded (R)

Non-threaded (S)

Tees.-Threaded (T)

Non-threaded (U)

Couplings.—
Threaded (V)

Non-threaded (W)

Unions.—
Threaded (X)

Non-threaded (Y)

Other fittings. —
Threaded (Z)

Non-threaded (AA)

All in-scope fittings.—
Threaded (AB)

Non-threaded (AC)

Please identify the foreign producers, if known:

Calendar year 2017
0

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
II-9.

Page 26

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 - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 27

PART III.--PRICING AND MARKET FACTORS
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Jeffrey Clark (202-2053318, jeffrey.clark@usitc.gov).
III-1.

PRICE DATA
III-2.

This question requests quarterly quantity and value data for your firm’s commercial shipments
to unrelated U.S. customers since January 1, 2015 of the following products your firm imported
from China, Italy, and Taiwan:
Product 1.--ASME B16.11, ¼” 3000 Tee (threaded)
Product 2.--ASME B16.11, 1” 2000 90 Elbow (threaded)
Product 3.--ASME B16.11, ¾” 3000 Union (threaded)
Product 4.--ASME B16.11, 2” 3000 Coupling (threaded)

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).
During January 2015-March 2018, did your firm import from China, Italy, and Taiwan 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 - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 28

III-2(a). Price data.--Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from China,
excluding Both-Well (Taizhou) Steel Fittings Co., Ltd., and sold by your firm.

China (excluding Both-Well)
Report data in pounds (not short tons) and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
Product 1
Quantity
Value

(Quantity in pounds, value in dollars)
Product 2
Product 3
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value

Product 4
Period of shipment
Quantity
Value
2015:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2016:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2017:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2018:
January-March
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 your firm’s product. Also, please explain any anomalies in your firm’s reported pricing data.
Product 1:
Product 2:
Product 3:
Product 4:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 29

III-2(b). Price data.--Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from China,
only from Both-Well (Taizhou) Steel Fittings Co., Ltd., and sold by your firm.

China (only from Both-Well)
Report data in pounds (not short tons) and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
Product 1
Quantity
Value

(Quantity in pounds, value in dollars)
Product 2
Product 3
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 30

III-2(c). Price data.--Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from Italy and
sold by your firm.

Italy

Report data in pounds (not short tons) and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
Product 1
Quantity
Value

(Quantity in pounds, value in dollars)
Product 2
Product 3
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 31

III-2(d). Price data.--Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from Taiwan
and sold by your firm.

Taiwan

Report data in pounds (not short tons) and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
Product 1
Quantity
Value

(Quantity in pounds, value in dollars)
Product 2
Product 3
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 32

III-2 (e). Price data checklist.--Please check that the pricing data in questions III-2(a), III-2(b), III-2(c), and
III-2(d) has been correctly reported.
Is the price data reported above:

√ if Yes

Value data In actual dollars (not $1,000)?
Quantity data in pounds (not short tons)?
F.o.b. U.S. point of shipment (i.e., does not include U.S. transport costs)?
Net of all discounts and rebates?
Have returns credited to the quarter in which the sale occurred?
Less than reported commercial shipments in question II-5 in each year?
III-2(f). 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 - Forged Steel Fittings
III-3.

Price setting.--How does your firm determine the prices that it charges for sales of forged steel
fittings (check all that apply)? If your firm issues price lists, please submit sample pages of a
recent list.
Transaction
by
transaction

III-4.

Contracts

Other

If other, describe

Annual
total
volume
discounts

No
discount
policy

Other

Describe

Pricing terms.-(a)

What are your firm’s typical sales terms for forged steel fittings imported from China,
Italy, and Taiwan?
Net 30
days

(b)

Net 60
days

2/10 net 30
days

Other

Other (specify)

On what basis are your firm’s prices of imported forged steel fittings from China, Italy,
and Taiwan usually quoted (check one)?
Delivered

III-6.

Set
price
lists

Discount policy.--Please indicate and describe your firm’s discount policies (check all that apply).

Quantity
discounts

III-5.

Page 33

F.o.b.

If f.o.b., specify point

Contract versus spot.--Approximately what share of your firm’s sales of forged steel fittings
imported from China, Italy, and Taiwan in 2017 was on a (1) long-term contract basis, (2) annual
contract basis, (3) short-term contract basis, and (4) spot sales basis?

Share of 2017
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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
III-7.

Page 34

Contract provisions.— Please fill out the table regarding your firm’s typical sales contracts for
forged steel fittings from China, Italy, and Taiwan (or check “not applicable” if your firm does
not sell on a long-term, short-term and/or annual contract basis).
Short-term
contracts
(multiple deliveries
for less than 12
months)

Typical sales
contract provisions

Item

Average contract
duration

No. of
days

Price renegotiation
(during contract
period)

Yes

Fixed quantity
and/or price
Meet or release
provision

Annual contracts
(multiple deliveries
for 12 months)

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

365

No
Quantity
Price
Both
Yes
No

Not applicable

III-8.

Lead times.--What is your firm’s share of sales of forged steel fittings imported from China, Italy,
and Taiwan 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 forged steel fittings?

Source

Share of 2017
sales

Lead time (Average
number of days)

From your firm’s U.S. inventory

From foreign manufacturers’ inventory

Produced to order

Total (should sum to 100.0%)

0.0 %

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
III-9.

Page 35

Shipping information.—
(a)

What is the approximate percentage of the cost of forged steel fittings imported from
China, Italy, and Taiwan that is accounted for by U.S. inland transportation costs?
percent.

(b)

Who generally arranges the transportation to your firm’s customers’ locations?
Your firm
Purchaser (check one)

(c)

When your firm sells forged steel fittings imported from China, Italy, and Taiwan, from
where is it shipped?
Point of importation
Storage facility (check one)

(d)

Indicate the approximate percentage of your firm’s sales of forged steel fittings
imported from China, Italy, and Taiwan 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

Within 100 miles

101 to 1,000 miles

Over 1,000 miles

Total (should sum to 100.0%)

0.0

III-10. Geographical shipments.--In which U.S. geographic market area(s) has your firm sold forged
steel fittings imported from subject countries since January 1, 2015 (check all that apply)?
Geographic area
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.

China

Italy

Taiwan

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 36

III-11. End uses.--List the end uses of the forged steel fittings that your firm imports. For each end-use
product, what percentage of the total cost is accounted for by forged steel fittings and other
inputs?
Share of total cost of end-use product
accounted for by
End use product

forged steel fittings

Total
(should sum to
100.0% across)

Other inputs

0.0 %

III-12. Substitutes.--Can other products be substituted for forged steel fittings?
No

Substitute

Yes--Please fill out the table.

End use in which this
substitute is used

Have changes in the price of this substitute
affected the price for forged steel fittings?
No Yes

Explanation

1.
2.
3.
III-13. Unfinished fittings. –
(a) Is there a market for unfinished forged steel fittings?
No – skip to part (c)

Yes – continue to part (b)

(b) Please describe your firm’s efforts to sell unfinished forged steel fittings since January 1,
2015?

Reason
There is no demand for unfinished forged steel fittings
Your firm does not want to supply competitors with unfinished forged steel fittings
It is not profitable to sell unfinished forged steel fittings
Other:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 37

III-14. Demand trends Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United States
(if known) for forged steel fittings has changed since January 1, 2015. Explain any trends and
describe the principal factors that have affected these changes in demand.
January 1, 2015-December 31, 2016
Overall
increase

Market

No change

Overall
decrease

Since January 1, 2017
Overall
increase

No change

Overall
decrease

Within the United States
for the Oil and Gas
Sector
Within the United States
for all other sectors1
Outside the United States
for the Oil and Gas
Sector
Outside the United States
for all other sectors1
Explanation and factors:
1

Please describe the "other" sectors:

III-15. Product changes.--Have there been any significant changes in the product range, product mix or
marketing of forged steel fittings since January 1, 2015?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 38

III-16. Conditions of competition.—
(a) Is the forged steel fittings market subject to business cycles (other than general economywide conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to forged steel fittings?
Check all that apply.

Please describe.

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
forged steel fittings since January 1, 2015?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

III-17. Supply constraints.--Has your firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply forged steel
fittings since January 1, 2015 (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, being unable to meet timely shipment commitments, etc.)?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 39

III-18. Raw materials.--How have forged steel fittings raw material prices changed since January 1,
2015?
Fluctuate
Overall
No
Overall
with no
increase change decrease clear trend

Explain, noting how raw material price changes
have affected your firm’s selling prices for forged
steel fittings.

III-19. Interchangeability.--Is forged steel fittings produced in the United States and in other countries
interchangeable (i.e., can they physically be used in the same applications)?
Please indicate A, F, S, N, or 0 in the table below:
A = the products from a specified country-pair are always interchangeable
F = the products are frequently interchangeable
S = the products are sometimes interchangeable
N = the products are never interchangeable
0 = no familiarity with products from a specified country-pair
Country-pair

China

Italy

Taiwan

Other countries

United States
China
Italy
Taiwan
For any country-pair producing forged steel fittings 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 - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 40

III-20. Factors other than price.--Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between forged steel fittings
produced in the United States and in other countries a significant factor in your firm’s sales of
the products?
Please indicate A, F, S, N, or 0 in the table below:
A = such differences are always significant
F = such differences are frequently significant
S = such differences are sometimes significant
N = such differences are never significant
0 = no familiarity with products from a specified country-pair
Country-pair

China

Italy

Taiwan

Other countries

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 41

III-21. Customer identification.--List your firm’s 10 largest U.S. customers for forged steel fittings since
January 1, 2015. Indicate the share of the quantity of your firm’s total shipments of forged steel
fittings that each of these customers accounted for in 2017.

Firm name

City and state

Share of 2017
sales (%)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

III-22. 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 - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 42

PART IV--CERTAIN EXCLUDED FITTINGS
IV-I.

U.S. imports of certain excluded fittings.--Report your firm’s imports of certain excluded fittings
(as defined on page 2) imported from any source during the specified periods. Indicate as
directed whether your firm's imports of certain excluded fittings were classified under the
primary HTS numbers for forged steel fittings (i.e., HTS statistical reporting numbers
7307.99.5045, 7307.99.5060, 7307.99.1000, and 7307.99.3000) for Customs purposes or
whether your firm classified its imports of certain excluded fittings other HTS numbers (i.e., any
HTS statistical reporting numbers other than those listed above) for Customs purposes.

Certain Excluded Fittings
Quantity (in short tons), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item
U.S. imports from China.—(Excluding
Both-Well)
Primary HTS numbers:
Quantity
Value
Other HTS numbers:
Quantity
Value
U.S. imports from China.—(Both-Well)
Primary HTS numbers:
Quantity
Value
Other HTS numbers:
Quantity
Value
U.S. imports from Italy.-Primary HTS numbers:
Quantity
Value
Other HTS numbers:
Quantity
Value
U.S. imports from Taiwan.-Primary HTS numbers:
Quantity
Value
Other HTS numbers:
Quantity
Value

2015

2016

January-March
2017

2017

2018

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 43

PART IV--CERTAIN EXCLUDED FITTINGS
IV-I.

U.S. imports of certain excluded fittings.—Continued.
Quantity (in short tons), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2015

2016

January-March
2017

2017

2018

U.S. imports from All other sources.-Primary HTS numbers:
Quantity
Value
Other HTS numbers:
Quantity
Value
IV-2.

U.S. imports of certain excluded fittings in the 12-month period preceding the petition.--Has
your firm imported certain excluded fittings from any source between October 1, 2016 and
September 30, 2017? Indicate as directed whether your firm's imports of certain excluded
fittings were classified under the primary HTS numbers for forged steel fittings (i.e., HTS
statistical reporting numbers 7307.99.5045, 7307.99.5060, 7307.99.1000, and 7307.99.3000) for
Customs purposes or whether your firm classified its imports of certain excluded fittings other
HTS numbers (i.e., any HTS statistical reporting numbers other than those listed above) for
Customs purposes.

Certain Excluded Fittings
No

Yes-Report the quantity of such import below by source.
Quantity (in short tons)
October 2016 through September 2017

Source
China (excluding Both-Well)
China (Both-Well)
Italy
Taiwan
Other sources

Primary HTS numbers

Other HTS numbers

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 44

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 questionnaire. When you finish reporting the data then you can close the questionnaire and switch
back to Italy settings.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 45

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 46

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/701731/2018/forged_steel_fittings_china_ital
y_and_taiwan/final.htm
Please do not attempt to modify the format or permissions of the questionnaire
document. Please submit the completed questionnaire using one of the methods noted
below. If your firm is unable to complete the MS Word questionnaire or cannot use one
of the electronic methods of submission, please contact the Commission for further
instructions.
• Upload via Secure Drop Box.—Upload the MS Word questionnaire along with a scanned copy of the
signed certification page (page 1) through the Commission’s secure upload facility:
Web address: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/

Pin: FSF

• E-mail.—E-mail the MS Word questionnaire to celia.feldpausch@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 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 (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.

File Type	application/pdf
File Title	US importer questionnaire
Subject	Title 7 investigations
Author	USITC
File Modified	2018-05-21
File Created	2018-05-21