18-3-3926 US purchasers' questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 18-3-3926; Expiration Date: 6/30/2020
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
PLASTIC DECORATIVE RIBBON FROM CHINA
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by October 1, 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 investigations concerning plastic decorative ribbon from China
(Inv. Nos. 701-TA-592 and 731-TA-1400 (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 possession (19 U.S.C. § 1333(a)).
Further information on this questionnaire can be obtained from Jonathan Ruder (202-205-3250,
jonathan.ruder@usitc.gov).
Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm purchased plastic decorative ribbon (as defined on next page) from any source (domestic or
foreign) at any time since January 1, 2015?

NO

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

YES

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

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

Title of Authorized Official

Date

Phone:
Signature

Email address

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Plastic Decorative Ribbon (Final)

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PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.--This proceeding was instituted in response to petitions filed on December 27, 2017, by
Berwick Offray, LLC, Berwick, Pennsylvania. 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://usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2018/plastic_decorative_ribbon_china/final.htm.
Plastic decorative ribbon covered in these investigations are certain plastic decorative ribbon having a
width (measured at the narrowest span of the ribbon) of less than or equal to four (4) inches in actual
measurement, including but not limited to ribbon wound onto itself; a spool, a core or a tube (with or
without flanges); attached to a card or strip; wound into a keg- or egg-shaped configuration; made into
bows, bow-like items, or other shapes or configurations; and whether or not packaged or labeled for
retail sale. The subject merchandise is typically made of substrates of polypropylene, but may be made
in whole or in part of any type of plastic, including without limitation, plastic derived from petroleum
products and plastic derived from cellulose products. Unless the context otherwise clearly indicates, the
word “ribbon” used in the singular includes the plural and the plural “ribbons” includes the singular.
The subject merchandise includes ribbons comprised of one or more layers of substrates made, in whole
or in part, of plastics adhered to each other, regardless of the method used to adhere the layers
together, including without limitation, ribbons comprised of layers of substrates adhered to each other
through a lamination process. Subject merchandise also includes ribbons comprised of (a) one or more
layers of substrates made, in whole or in part, of plastics adhered to (b) one or more layers of substrates
made, in whole or in part, of non-plastic materials, including, without limitation, substrates made, in
whole or in part, of fabric.
The ribbons subject to these investigations may be of any color or combination of colors (including
without limitation, ribbons that are transparent, translucent or opaque) and may or may not bear words
or images, including without limitation, those of a holiday motif. The subject merchandise includes
ribbons with embellishments and/or treatments, including, without limitation, ribbons that are printed,
hot-stamped, coated, laminated, flocked, crimped, die-cut, embossed (or that otherwise have impressed
designs, images, words or patterns), and ribbons with holographic, metallic, glitter or iridescent finishes.
Subject merchandise includes “pull-bows” an assemblage of ribbons connected to one another, folded
flat, and equipped with a means to form such ribbons into the shape of a bow by pulling on a length of
material affixed to such assemblage, and “pre-notched” bows, an assemblage of notched ribbon loops
arranged one inside the other with the notches in alignment and affixed to each other where notched,
and which the end user forms into a bow by separating and spreading the loops circularly around the
notches, which form the center of the bow. Subject merchandise includes ribbons that are packaged
with non-subject merchandise, including ensembles that include ribbons and other products, such as gift
wrap, gift bags, gift tags and/or other gift packaging products. The ribbons are covered by the scope of
these investigations; the “other products” (i.e., the other, non-subject merchandise included in the
ensemble) are not covered by the scope of these investigations.
Excluded from the scope of these investigations are the following: (1) ribbons formed exclusively by
weaving plastic threads together; (2) ribbons that have metal wire in, on, or along the entirety of each of

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the longitudinal edges of the ribbon; (3) ribbons with an adhesive coating covering the entire span
between the longitudinal edges of the ribbon for the entire length of the ribbon; (4) ribbon formed into
a bow without a tab or other means for attaching the bow to an object using adhesives, where the bow
has: (a) an outer layer that is either flocked or made of fabric, and (b) a flexible metal wire at the base
which permits attachment to an object by twist-tying; (5) elastic ribbons, meaning ribbons that elongate
when stretched and return to their original dimension when the stretching load is removed; (6) ribbons
affixed as a decorative detail to non-subject merchandise, such as a gift bag, gift box, gift tin, greeting
card or plush toy, or affixed (including by tying) as a decorative detail to packaging containing nonsubject merchandise; (7) ribbons that are (a) affixed to non-subject merchandise as a working
component of such non-subject merchandise, such as where the ribbon comprises a book marker, bag
cinch, or part of an identity card holder, or (b) affixed (including by tying) to non-subject merchandise as
a working component that holds or packages such non-subject merchandise or attaches packaging or
labeling to such non-subject merchandise, such as a “belly band” around a pair of pajamas, a pair of
socks or a blanket; (8) imitation raffia made of plastics having a thickness not more than one (1) mil
when measured in an unfolded/untwisted state; and (9) ribbons in the form of bows having a diameter
of less than seven-eighths (7/8) of an inch, or having a diameter of more than 16 inches, based on actual
measurement. For purposes of this exclusion, the diameter of a bow is equal to the diameter of the
smallest circular ring through which the bow will pass without compressing the bow.
The scope of these investigations is not intended to include shredded plastic film or shredded plastic
strip, in each case where the shred does not exceed 5 mm in width and does not exceed 18 inches in
length, imported in bags, typically labeled as artificial Easter grass or as decorative packaging shred.
Further, excluded from the scope of the antidumping duty investigation are any products covered by the
existing antidumping duty order on polyethylene terephthalate film, sheet, and strip (PET Film) from the
People's Republic of China (China). See Polyethylene Terephthalate Film, Sheet, and Strip from Brazil, the
People's Republic of China and the United Arab Emirates: Antidumping Duty Orders and Amended Final
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value for the United Arab Emirates, 73 FR 66595 (November 10,
2008).
Merchandise covered by these investigations are currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule
of the United States (HTSUS) under subheadings 3920.20.0015 and 3926.40.0010. Merchandise covered
by these investigations also may enter under subheadings 3920.10.0000; 3920.20.0055; 3920.30.0000;
3920.43.5000; 3920.49.0000; 3920.62.0050; 3920.62.0090; 3920.69.0000; 3921.90.1100; 3921.90.1500;
3921.90.1910; 3921.90.1950; 3921.90.4010; 3921.90.4090; 3926.90.9996; 5404.90.0000; 9505.90.4000;
4601.99.9000; 4602.90.0000; 5609.00.3000; 5609.00.4000; and 6307.90.9889. These HTSUS
subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes; the written description of the scope
of these investigations is dispositive.
Purchaser.--Any firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or subsidiary, in purchasing
plastic decorative ribbon (as defined above) from another U.S. firm that produces, imports, or otherwise
distributes plastic decorative ribbon.
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

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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.
I-1.

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

Dollars

The questions in this questionnaire have been reviewed with market participants to ensure that
issues of concern are adequately addressed and that data requests are sufficient, meaningful,
and as limited as possible. Public reporting burden for this questionnaire is estimated to average
25 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering data, and
completing and reviewing the questionnaire.
We welcome comments regarding the accuracy of this burden estimate, suggestions for
reducing the burden, and any suggestions for improving this questionnaire. Please attach such
comments to your response or send to the Office of Investigations, USITC, 500 E St. SW,
Washington, DC 20436.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Plastic Decorative Ribbon (Final)
I-2.

Page 5

Establishment(s) covered.--Provide the name and address of your U.S. establishment(s) covered
by this questionnaire, if different from that listed on the cover page. Firms operating more than
one establishment should combine the data for all establishments into a single response.
“Establishment”--Each facility of a firm involved in the purchase of plastic decorative ribbon,
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

I-4.

Address

Extent of ownership
(percent)

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

I-5.

Yes--List the following information.

Yes--List the following information.
Country

Affiliation

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

Yes--List the following information.
Country

Affiliation

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Plastic Decorative Ribbon (Final)

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PART II.--PURCHASES
Contact information.--Please identify the responsible individual and the manner by which Commission
staff may contact that individual regarding the confidential information submitted in this questionnaire.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
II-1.

Purchases and imports.--Report separately your firm’s domestic purchases and imports of
plastic decorative ribbon.
“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

Jan.-Jun. 2018

Value (in $1,000)

Purchases of plastic
decorative ribbon produced
in-United States
China
All other countries1
Sources unknown
Total purchases

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Imports of plastic decorative
ribbon from—
China
All other countries1
Total imports
1

Please identify these countries:

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Plastic Decorative Ribbon (Final)
II-2.

Page 7

Changes in purchasing patterns.--Please indicate how the shares of your firm’s purchases of
plastic decorative ribbon from different sources have changed since January 1, 2015.
Source of Did not
purchases purchase Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated

Explanation for trend

United
States
China
All other
countries
Sources
unknown
II-3.

Country knowledge.--Please indicate the countries of origin with which your firm has
experience or information in the plastic decorative ribbon market.
United
States

II-4.

China

Other
countries

Other countries (specify)

Supplier identification.--Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers of plastic decorative ribbon
since January 1, 2015. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s total purchases of
plastic decorative ribbon that each of these suppliers accounted for in 2017.

No.

Supplier’s name

City and state

Share of quantity of
2017 purchases

1

%

2

%

3

%

4

%

5

%

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES
III-1.

Firm type.--Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of plastic decorative
ribbon (check all that apply)?
Retailer

End user

Distributor

Other

Describe other

If your firm is a distributor of plastic decorative ribbon, please answer questions III-2 and III-3.
III-2.

Competition for sales.--Does your firm compete for sales to customers with the manufacturers
or importers from which your firm purchases plastic decorative ribbon?
No

III-3.

Yes

If yes, please describe.

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

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

End uses.--List the top 3 products your firm makes using plastic decorative ribbon and estimate
the percent of your total production cost that is accounted for by plastic decorative ribbon and
by other inputs (such as labor, energy, and other raw materials).
Share of total cost in each of the product(s) your
firm produces accounted for by
Product(s) your firm
produces

Plastic decorative
ribbon

Total
(should
sum to
100.0%
across)

Other inputs
% +

%

=

0.0 %

% +

%

=

0.0 %

% +

%

=

0.0 %

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Plastic Decorative Ribbon (Final)
III-5.

Demand for end-use products.-(a)

Has the demand for your firm’s final products incorporating plastic decorative ribbon
changed since January 1, 2015?
Increased

(b)

Substitute

2.
3.

Decreased

Fluctuated

Yes

Explain

Substitutes.--Can other products be substituted for plastic decorative ribbon?
No

1.

No change

Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for plastic decorative ribbon?
No

III-6.

Page 9

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 plastic decorative ribbon?
No Yes

Explanation

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Plastic Decorative Ribbon (Final)
III-7.

Page 10

Demand trends.--Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United
States (if known) for plastic decorative ribbon has changed since January 1, 2015. Explain any
trends and describe the principal factors that have affected these changes in demand.

Overall
increase

Market

No
change

Fluctuate
Overall
with no
decrease clear trend

Explanation and factors

Within the United States
Outside the United States
III-8.

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

III-9.

Yes

If yes, identify the countries and explain.

Importance of purchasing domestic product.--Please fill out the table below, estimating the
percentage of your firm’s total 2017 purchases of plastic decorative ribbon that required plastic
decorative ribbon produced in the United States.

Purchases that did not require domestic product
Purchases that were required by law or regulation to be domestic product
(e.g., government purchases under “Buy American” provisions)
Purchases that were not required by law or regulation, but were required by
your customers to be domestic product
Purchases that were required to be domestic product for other reasons
(explain:
)
Total (should sum to 100.0%)

Estimated percentage of
your firm’s total 2017
purchases of plastic
decorative ribbon
%
%
%
%
0.0 %

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

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

Check all that apply.

Please describe.

No

Skip to question III-11.

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

Have there been any changes in the business cycles or conditions of competition for
plastic decorative ribbon since January 1, 2015?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

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

Usually

Sometimes

Never

If at least sometimes, explain.

Decision based on producer
Your firm
Your
customers
Decision based on country of origin
Your firm
Your
customers

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III-12. Availability of supply.--Has the availability of plastic decorative ribbon in the U.S. market
changed since January 1, 2015?
Availability in the U.S.
Please explain, noting the countries and reasons for the
market
No Yes changes.
U.S.-produced product
Subject imports
Nonsubject imports
III-13. Supply constraints.--Has any firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply your firm with
plastic decorative ribbon 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.

III-14. Availability of specific product types.--Are certain types of plastic decorative ribbon only
available from certain country sources?
No

Yes

If yes, please identify the countries and the type.

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III-15. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

How frequently does your firm make purchases of plastic decorative ribbon (check
one)?
Daily

(b)

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Annually

Other

If other, specify

Has this purchasing frequency changed since January 1, 2015?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

III-16. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers does your firm generally contact before
making a purchase? Between
and
firms
III-17. Supplier negotiations.--Do your firm’s purchases of plastic decorative ribbon usually involve
negotiations between supplier and purchaser?

No

Yes

If yes, explain the factors your firm generally negotiates and note
whether your firm quotes competing prices during negotiations.

III-18. Change in suppliers.--Has your firm changed suppliers since January 1, 2015?

No

Yes

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

III-19. New suppliers.--Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have
entered the market since January 1, 2015?
No

Yes

If yes, please identify the firms.

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III-20. Supplier qualification.--Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified
to sell plastic decorative ribbon to your firm?
If yes, provide the following information.
• The number of days to qualify a new supplier.
• A general description of the certification or qualification process. Also, a brief
description of the factors that you consider when qualifying a new supplier (e.g., quality
of product, reliability of supplier, etc.).

No

Yes

Number
of days Process and factors

III-21. Failure to certify.--Since January 1, 2015, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their
attempts to certify or qualify their plastic decorative ribbon with your firm or have any
producers lost their approved status?

No

Yes

If yes, please identify these firms, the countries where they are located,
and the reasons why they failed the certification/qualification.

III-22. Major purchasing factors.--Please list, in order of their importance, the main factors your firm
considers in deciding from whom to purchase plastic decorative ribbon (examples include
availability, extension of credit, contracts, price, quality, range of supplier’s product line,
traditional supplier, etc.).
1.
2.
3.
Please list any other factors that are very important in your purchase decisions:

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III-23. Purchasing factors.--Please rate the importance of the following factors in your firm’s
purchasing decisions for plastic decorative ribbon.

Factor

Very
important

Somewhat
important

Not
important

Availability
Delivery terms
Availability of bundles and assortments
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Specialty and custom designs
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs
III-24. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of plastic decorative ribbon?

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III-25. Minimum quality.--How often does plastic decorative ribbon from the following countries meet
minimum quality specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?
Source

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or
never

Don’t
know

United States
China
Other:
III-26. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase plastic decorative
ribbon that is offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

III-27. Price leaders.--A price leader is defined as (1) one or more firms that initiate a price change,
either upward or downward, that is followed by other firms, or (2) one or more firms that have a
significant impact on prices. A price leader is not necessarily the lowest-priced supplier.
Please list the names of any firms you considered price leaders in the plastic decorative ribbon
market since January 1, 2015.
Firm(s)

Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership

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III-28. Purchasing subject imports rather than domestic products.-(a)

Since January 2015, did your firm purchase imports of plastic decorative ribbon from
China instead of U.S.-produced plastic decorative ribbon?
Source

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

No
(If “No”, skip to next question)

China
(b)

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

Yes

No

China
(c)

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

Source

Yes

If Yes, estimate the value of
imports purchased instead of
domestic product since
January 2015
(in $1,000 dollars)

No

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

China
III-29. Online retail sales.--Have online retail sales of plastic decorative ribbon increased in prevalence
since January 1, 2015?

No

Yes

If yes, please describe, including a discussion of the impact of this trend on
your firm’s operations.

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III-30. U.S. producers and import competition.—
(a)

Since January 1, 2015, in connection with a sale or offer to sell plastic decorative ribbon
to your firm, did U.S. producers reduce their prices of domestically produced plastic
decorative ribbon in order to compete with lower-priced imports of plastic decorative
ribbon from China?
Source

Yes (also respond to
question part (b))

No (If “No”, skip to next
question)

Don’t know

China
(b)

If your firm responded “yes”, 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

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

%

III-31. Purchases over internet.--Does your firm purchase plastic decorative ribbon over the internet?

No

Yes

Share of 2017
purchases
(percent)
If yes, please describe supply trends.

III-32. Availability over internet.—Since January 1, 2015, has the availability of plastic decorative
ribbon over the internet increased, decreased, or remained constant?

Item
Availability over
internet

Overall
increase

No
change

Fluctuate
Overall
with no
decrease clear trend

Explain the impact on your firm's
operations

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Plastic Decorative Ribbon (Final)

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PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS
IV-1.

Interchangeability.--Is plastic decorative ribbon 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

Other countries

United States
China
For any country-pair producing plastic decorative ribbon which is sometimes or never
interchangeable, please identify the country-pair and explain the factors that limit or preclude
interchangeable use:

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Plastic Decorative Ribbon (Final)
IV-2.

Page 20

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

China

Other countries

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Plastic Decorative Ribbon (Final)
IV-3.

Page 21

Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how plastic decorative
ribbon produced in each country you identified in your response to the first question in Part IV
compares with plastic decorative ribbon produced in each of the other countries you identified.

If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.

Availability
Availability of bundles and assortments
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Specialty and custom designs
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has lower prices/U.S.
transportation costs than the second country.
1

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
China compared to
product from
Nonsubject countries

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from United
States compared to
product from
Nonsubject countries

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
United States
compared to product
from China

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Plastic Decorative Ribbon (Final)

Page 22

PART V.—ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
V-1.

Other explanations.--If your firm would like to further explain a response to any question that
did not provide a narrative response box, please note the question number and the explanation
in the space provided below.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Plastic Decorative Ribbon (Final)

Page 23

HOW TO FILE YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSE
This questionnaire is available as a “fillable” form in MS Word format on the
Commission’s website at:
https://usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2018/plastic_decorative_ribbon_china/final.ht
m.
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: DECO

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