18-3-3958 US purchasers' questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 18-3-3958; Expiration Date: 6/30/2020
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
LARGE RESIDENTIAL WASHERS FROM KOREA AND MEXICO
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by November 8, 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 review of the countervailing and antidumping duty orders concerning large residential washers from
Korea and Mexico (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-488 and 731-TA-1199-1200 (Review)). The information requested in the
questionnaire is requested under the authority of the Tariff Act of 1930, title VII. This report is mandatory and failure to
reply as directed can result in a subpoena or other order to compel the submission of records or information in your
firm’s possession (19 U.S.C. § 1333(a)). Further information on this questionnaire can be obtained from Tana von Kessler
(202-205-2389, tana.vonkessler@usitc.gov).

Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm purchased large residential washers and/or out-of-scope top-load washers (as defined on pages
2-3) from any source (domestic or foreign) at any time since January 1, 2012?

NO

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

YES

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

Return questionnaire via the Commission Drop Box by clicking on the following link:
https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/. (PIN: WASH)
CERTIFICATION
I certify that the information herein supplied in response to this questionnaire is complete and correct to the best of my
knowledge and belief and understand that the information submitted is subject to audit and verification by the Commission. By
means of this certification I also grant consent for the Commission, and its employees and contract personnel, to use the
information provided in this questionnaire and throughout this proceeding in any other import-injury proceedings or reviews
conducted by the Commission on the same or similar merchandise.
I, the undersigned, acknowledge that information submitted in response to this request for information and throughout this
proceeding or other 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 - Large Residential Washers (Review)

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PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.--On February 15, 2013, the Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) issued a
countervailing duty order on imports of large residential washers from Korea and antidumping duty
orders on imports of large residential washers from Korea and Mexico. On January 2, 2018, the
Commission instituted reviews pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. § 1675(c))
(the Act) to determine whether revocation of the orders would be likely to lead to continuation or
recurrence of material injury to the domestic industry within a reasonably foreseeable time. If both the
Commission and Commerce make affirmative determinations, the orders will remain in place. If either
the Commission or Commerce makes negative determinations, Commerce will revoke the orders.
Questionnaires and other information pertinent to this proceeding are available at
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2018/large_residential_washers_korea_and_mexico/first
_review_full.htm.
Large residential washers covered by these reviews are all automatic clothes washing machines,
regardless of the orientation of the rotational axis, except as noted below, with a cabinet width
(measured from its widest point) of at least 24.5 inches (62.23 cm) and no more than 32.0 inches (81.28
cm).
Also covered are certain subassemblies used in large residential washers, namely: (1) all assembled
cabinets designed for use in large residential washers which incorporate, at a minimum: (a) at least
three of the six cabinet surfaces; and (b) a bracket; (2) all assembled tubs 1 designed for use in large
residential washers which incorporate, at a minimum: (a) a tub; and (b) a seal; (3) all assembled baskets 2
designed for use in large residential washers which incorporate, at a minimum: (a) a side wrapper; 3 (b) a
base; and (c) a drive hub; 4 and (4) any combination of the foregoing subassemblies.
Excluded from the scope are stacked washer-dryers and commercial washers. The term “stacked
washer-dryers” denotes distinct washing and drying machines that are built on a unitary frame and
share a common console that controls both the washer and the dryer. The term “commercial washer”
denotes an automatic clothes washing machine designed for the “pay per use” market meeting either of
the following two definitions:
(1) (a) it contains payment system electronics; 5 (b) it is configured with an externally mounted
steel frame at least six inches high that is designed to house a coin/token operated payment
system (whether or not the actual coin/token operated payment system is installed at the
time of importation); (c) it contains a push button user interface with a maximum of six
manually selectable wash cycle settings, with no ability of the end user to otherwise modify
water temperature, water level, or spin speed for a selected wash cycle setting; and (d) the

A “tub” is the part of the washer designed to hold water.
A “basket” (sometimes referred to as a “drum”) is the part of the washer designed to hold clothing or other
fabrics.
3
A “side wrapper” is the cylindrical part of the basket that actually holds the clothing or other fabrics.
4
A “drive hub” is the hub at the center of the base that bears the load from the motor.
5
“Payment system electronics” denotes a circuit board designed to receive signals from a payment acceptance
device and to display payment amount, selected settings, and cycle status. Such electronics also capture cycles and
payment history and provide for transmission to a reader.
1
2

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console containing the user interface is made of steel and is assembled with security
fasteners; 6 or
(2) (a) it contains payment system electronics; (b) the payment system electronics are enabled
(whether or not the payment acceptance device has been installed at the time of importation)
such that, in normal operation, 7 the unit cannot begin a wash cycle without first receiving a
signal from a bona fide payment acceptance device such as an electronic credit card reader;
(c) it contains a push button user interface with a maximum of six manually selectable wash
cycle settings, with no ability of the end user to otherwise modify water temperature, water
level, or spin speed for a selected wash cycle setting; and (d) the console containing the user
interface is made of steel and is assembled with security fasteners.
Also excluded from the scope are automatic clothes washing machines with a vertical rotational axis and
a rated capacity of less than 3.7 cubic feet, as certified to the U.S. Department of Energy pursuant to 10
CFR 429.12 and 10 CFR 429.20, and in accordance with the test procedures established in 10 CFR Part
430.
Large residential washers are currently imported under statistical reporting numbers 8450.20.0040 and
8450.20.0080 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). They may also be
imported under HTSUS subheadings 8450.11.0040, 8450.11.0080, 8450.90.2000, and 8450.90.6000. The
HTSUS provisions are for convenience and customs purposes; the written description of the scope is
dispositive.
Out-of-scope top-load washers.-- Automatic clothes washing machines with a vertical rotational axis
and a rated capacity of less than 3.7 cubic feet, as certified to the U.S. Department of Energy pursuant to
10 CFR 429.12 and 10 CFR 429.20, and in accordance with the test procedures established in 10 CFR Part
430.
Purchaser.--Any firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or subsidiary, in purchasing
large residential washers from another firm that produces, imports, or otherwise distributes large
residential washers.
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 in connection with this
proceeding (i.e., a producer, importer, and/or purchaser questionnaire), you need not respond to
duplicated questions.

A “security fastener” is a screw with a non-standard head that requires a non-standard driver. Examples include
those with a pin in the center of the head as a “center pin reject” feature to prevent standard Allen wrenches or
Torx drivers from working.
7
“Normal operation” refers to the operating mode(s) available to end users (i.e., not a mode designed for testing
or repair by a technician).
6

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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 of your 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.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Large Residential Washers (Review)
I-1.

Page 5

Establishments covered.--Provide the name and address of 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 large residential washers,
including auxiliary facilities operated in conjunction with (whether or not physically separate
from) such facilities.

I-2.

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

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

I-3.

Address

Related importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or
foreign, that import large residential washers into the United States or that export large
residential washers to the United States?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

I-4.

Extent of ownership
(percent)

Country

Affiliation

Related producers.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, that
produce large residential washers?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name and country

Country

Affiliation

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Large Residential Washers (Review)
I-5.

Page 6

Business plan.--Does your company or any related firm have a business plan or any internal
documents that describe, discuss, or analyze expected market conditions for large residential
washers?

No

Yes

If yes, please provide these documents. If you are not providing the
requested documents, please explain why not.

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.—
(a)

Please estimate your firm’s total U.S. purchases of large residential washers in 2017. (Do
not include imports for which your firm was the importer of record; such imports should
be reported in your U.S. importer’s questionnaire.)
Quantity (units)

(b)

Estimate the percentage of the quantity of your firm’s purchases of large residential
washers in 2017 that were produced in each of the specified countries.
Large residential washers produced in:

Share of quantity of 2017 purchases

United States

%

Korea

%

Mexico

%

All other countries1

%

Sources unknown

%

Total (should sum to 100.0%)
1

Please identify these countries:

0.0

%

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Large Residential Washers (Review)

(c)

Estimate the percentage of the quantity of your firm’s purchases of large residential
washers in 2017 that were produced by each of the specified firms.
Large residential washers produced by:

Share of quantity of 2017 purchases

Whirlpool and/or GE

%

Samsung

%

LG

%

Electrolux

%

All other firms1

%

Total (should sum to 100.0%)
1

II-2.

Page 7

0.0

%

Please identify these firms:

Purchases before and after orders.-(a)

Did your firm purchase large residential washers from Korea and/or Mexico before
2013?
No--skip to (d)

(b)

Yes

If yes, has your pattern of purchasing large residential washers from Korea and/or
Mexico changed since February 2013?
No, our pattern of purchasing is essentially unchanged.
Yes, we discontinued purchases from Korea because of the order.
Yes, we reduced purchases from Korea because of the order.
Yes, but we changed the pattern of purchases from Korea for reasons other than the
order. Please explain:
Yes, we discontinued purchases from Mexico because of the order.
Yes, we reduced purchases from Mexico because of the order.
Yes, but we changed the pattern of purchases from Mexico for reasons other than the
order. Please explain:

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Large Residential Washers (Review)
(c)

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Has your pattern of purchasing large residential washers from nonsubject foreign
sources (i.e., countries other than Korea and Mexico) changed since the imposition of
the orders in February 2013?
We did not purchase from nonsubject foreign sources before or after the order.
No, our pattern of purchasing is essentially unchanged.
Yes, we increased purchases from nonsubject foreign sources because of the order.
Yes, but we changed our pattern of purchases from nonsubject foreign sources for
reasons other than the order. Please explain:

(d)

If you responded that your firm discontinued or reduced purchases from Korea and/or
Mexico in II-2b and that your firm increased purchases of LRWs from other country
sources in II-2c, were such increased purchases from the same LRW producer/supplier?
No

II-3.

Yes

Changes in purchasing patterns.--Please indicate how the shares of your firm’s purchases of
large residential washers from different sources have changed since January 1, 2012.

Did not
Source of purchases purchase Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated

Explanation for trend

United States
Korea
Mexico
All other countries
Sources unknown
II-4.

Country knowledge.--Please indicate the countries of origin with which your firm has
experience or information in the large residential washers market.
United
States

Korea

Mexico

Other
countries

Other countries (specify)

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Large Residential Washers (Review)
II-5.

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Supplier identification.--Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers of large residential washers
since January 1, 2012. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s total purchases of
large residential washers 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 large residential
washers (check all that apply)?
Retailer
Buying group
Home builder/contractor
Distributor/ wholesaler
Other (Describe:
)

If your firm is a distributor/wholesaler of large residential washers, please answer questions III-2 and
III-3.
III-2.

Competition for sales.--Do you compete for sales to your customers with the manufacturers or
importers from which you purchase large residential washers?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

III-3.

Types of customers.--What are the major types of customers to which you sell large residential
washers?

III-4.

Substitutes.--Have there been any changes in the number or types of products that can be
substituted for large residential washers since January 1, 2012? Do you anticipate any future
changes?
Changes in substitutes No Yes
Changes since January
1, 2012
Anticipated changes

Explain

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Large Residential Washers (Review)
III-5.

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Demand trends.--Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United
States (if known) for large residential washers has changed since January 1, 2012, and how you
anticipate demand will change in the future. Explain any trends and describe the principal
factors that have affected, and that you anticipate will affect, these changes in demand.

Overall
increase

Market

No
change

Overall
decrease

Fluctuate
with no
clear trend

Explanation and factors

Demand since January 1, 2012
Within the United States
Outside the United States
Anticipated future demand
Within the United States
Outside the United States
III-6.

Market studies.--Please provide as a separate attachment to this request any studies, surveys,
etc. that you are aware of that quantify and/or otherwise discuss large residential washers
supply (including production capacity and capacity utilization) and demand in (1) the United
States, (2) each of the other major producing/consuming countries, including Korea and Mexico,
and (3) the world as a whole. Of particular interest is such data from 2012 to the present and
forecasts for the future.

III-7.

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

Yes

If yes, identify the countries and explain.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Large Residential Washers (Review)
III-8.

Importance of purchasing domestic product.--Please fill out the table below, estimating the
percentage of your firm’s total 2017 purchases of large residential washers that required large
residential washers 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%)
III-9.

Page 12

Estimated percentage of
your firm’s total 2017
purchases of large
residential washers
%
%
%
%
0.0 %

Conditions of competition.-(a) Is the large residential washers market subject to business cycles (other than general
economy-wide conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to large
residential washers?
Check all that apply.

Please describe.

No

Skip to question III-10.

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
large residential washers since January 1, 2012?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

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III-10. Impact of the section 201 safeguard measure on firm and market.—
(a) Did the announcement on January 22, 2018 and subsequent implementation of the section
201 safeguard measure on imports of large residential washers have any discernible impact
on your firm's large residential washers purchases and/or the market as a whole? If the
impact on your firm and/or the overall market was different based on the different tariffrate quotas provided for fully assembled washers versus covered washer parts, please
describe this difference as appropriate in your firm's narrative response below.
No

Yes--Please specify.
Item

Response

Impact on firm1
Impact on overall market2
Please identify the magnitude and timing of any effects, and compare your firm's operations before
and after the announcement of the safeguard measures on January 22, 2018.
2
Please identify the magnitude and timing of any effects, and compare the overall market before and
after the announcement of the safeguard measures on January 22, 2018.
1

(b) Assessment of specific effects of the section 201 safeguard measure.--Please indicate the
effects that your firm has observed with regards to the announcement on January 22, 2018
and subsequent implementation of the section 201 safeguard measure on imports of large
residential washers.

Item
Overall demand for
large residential
washers in the U.S.
market
Prices for large
residential washers
in the U.S. market
Impact on your
firm's large
residential washers
purchases in the
United States

Overall
No
improve change

Overall
worsen

Fluctuate
with no
clear trend

Explanation and factors

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(c) Changes to forward looking outlook due to the section 201 safeguard measure.--What
impact did the announcement on January 22, 2018 and subsequent implementation of the
section 201 safeguard measure on imports of large residential washers have on your firm's
forward-looking outlook?
Strongly
worsened

Item

Somewhat
worsened

No change

Somewhat
improved

Strongly
improved

Firm's forward
looking outlook
Please explanation:

III-11. Decisions based on producer and country-of-origin.--How often does your firm, and if you
know, do your customers, make purchasing decisions involving large residential washers based
on its producer or country of origin?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

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

If at least sometimes, explain.

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III-12. Availability of supply.--Has the availability of large residential washers in the U.S. market
changed since January 1, 2012? Do you anticipate any future changes?
Availability in the U.S.
market

Please explain, noting the countries and reasons for the
No Yes changes.

Changes since January 1, 2012:
U.S.-produced product
Imports from Korea
Imports from Mexico
Imports from all other
countries
Anticipated changes:
U.S.-produced product
Imports from Korea
Imports from Mexico
Imports from all other
countries
III-13. Availability of specific product types.--Are certain grades/types/sizes of large residential
washers only available from certain country sources?
No

Yes

If yes, please identify the countries and the grade/type/size.

III-14. Supply constraints.--Has any firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply your firm with
large residential washers since January 1, 2012 (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.

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III-15. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

How frequently do you make purchases of large residential washers (check one)?
Daily

(b)

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Annually

Other

If other, specify

Do you expect this purchasing frequency to change in the next two years?
No

Yes

If yes, explain.

III-16. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers do you generally contact before making a
purchase? Between
and
firms.
III-17. Supplier negotiations.--Do your firm’s purchases of large residential washers usually involve
negotiations between supplier and purchaser?

No

Yes

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

III-18. Change in suppliers.--Has your firm changed suppliers since January 1, 2012?

No

Yes

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

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III-19. New suppliers.-(a)

Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have entered the
market since January 1, 2012?
No

(b)

Yes

If yes, please identify the firms.

Do you expect new large residential washers suppliers to enter the U.S. market?
No

Yes

If yes, please explain.

III-20. Supplier qualification.--Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified
to sell large residential washers 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, 2012, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their
attempts to certify or qualify their large residential washers 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.

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III-22. Major purchasing factors.-- Please list, in order of their importance, the three major factors
your firm considers in deciding from whom to purchase large residential washers (examples
include price, profit margin, features, quality, promotions, availability, 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 large residential washers.

Factor

Very
important

Somewhat
important

Not
important

Availability
Brand
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Design and styling
Direct discounts offered1
Dual-wash chambers
Ease of use
Fit, feel, and finish
Indirect discounts offered2
Innovative features
Internet-connectivity
Large capacity
Margin opportunity3
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Payment terms
Price
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs
1 Direct

discounts are all discounts, incentives, allowances, rebates, promotional amount, cash incentives for retail
sales personnel (SPIFFS), or other sales support, and/or any other form of payment or allowance to a retailer that are
tied to sales of the specific large residential washers(s) for which the discounts are provided, whether or not such
discounts are given on the sales price to the consumer or are in the form of a post-sale discount, rebate, or other type
of sales support after the customer resells the product to its customer.
2 Indirect discounts are any discounts, incentives, allowances, rebates, promotional amount, cash incentives for
retail sales personnel (SPIFFS) or other sales support, and/or any other form of payment or allowance to a retailer that,
while not specifically tied to the products in question, are properly allocable to sales of such products because sales of
such products were part of the basis on which the discount, incentive, allowance, etc. was given.
3 Margin opportunity refers to the profit margins for retails for the product in question.

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III-24. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of large residential washers?

III-25. Minimum quality.--How often does large residential washers 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
Korea
Mexico
Other:
III-26. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the large
residential washers that are offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

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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 large residential washers
market since January 1, 2012.

Firm(s)

Production location/country source

Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price
leadership

III-28. Innovation leaders.—An innovation leader is defined as a firm that initiated technological or
quality improvements that mattered to your firm or to your firm’s customers, or both. Please
list the names of any firms you considered innovation leaders in the large residential washers
market since January 1, 2012.
Firm(s)

Describe how the firm(s) exhibited innovation leadership

III-29. Customer flexibility top vs. front.-How often are consumers willing to switch between a top
load and a front load large residential washer based on relative pricing between the two
offerings?
Always

Frequently

Sometimes

Never

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III-30. Cross product impact.—
(a)

Does the availability and/or price of a highly featured large residential washer (i.e., one
with many features such as large capacity heat, steam, color, etc.) affect the sales of less
featured large residential washers?
No

(b)

Yes

Explain

How often do price reductions on highly featured top-load and front load washers
imported from Korea and/or Mexico put downward pressure on prices for less featured
top-load washers from the United States?
Frequency that price reductions on imported highly featured LRWs affect
the price of less featured top-load washers from the United States
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

Explain.

Imported top-load
from Korea
Imported top-load
from Mexico
Imported front load
from Korea
Imported front load
from Mexico
(c)

How often do price reductions on less featured top-load washers from the United States
put downward pressure on prices for highly featured top-load washers and front load
washers imported from Korea and/or Mexico?
Frequency that price reductions of less featured top-load washers from
the United States affect the price on imported highly featured LRWs
Item

Imported top-load
from Korea
Imported top-load
from Mexico
Imported front load
from Korea
Imported front load
from Mexico

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

Explain.

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III-31. Cross supplier impact.--Is the price you are willing to pay for offerings from any particular
supplier influenced by the prices/features offered by competing suppliers?

No

Yes

If yes, please describe how price and feature differences (e.g., capacity,
steam, color, etc.) in the product offerings of different suppliers are taken
into account in your purchasing decisions.

III-32. Floor spots.—
(a)

Since January 1, 2012, has your firm allocated floor spots to different types of residential
washers at different price points?
No

(b)

If yes, please describe how your firm decides on the allocated floor spots.

Is wholesale pricing, including discounts and promotional allowances, important in your
decision to floor one LRW model over another when allocating a given floor spot?
No

(c)

Yes

Yes

If yes, please describe.

How has your firm’s allocation of floor spots of LRWs changed since January 1, 2012?

Change in allocation Did not
floor space to LRWs purchase Decreased Increased Constant
Overall
Produced in the
United States
Imported from Korea
Imported from
Mexico
Imported from all
other countries

Fluctuated

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III-33. Promotional prices.—
(a)

Since January 1, 2012, has the volume of large residential washers sold each year at
promotional prices:
Increased

(b)

Decreased

Remained the same

What percentage of your large residential washer sales was made at promotional
prices in 2017?
%

III-34. Drive type.—
(a)

Do belt-driven front load washers compete in the U.S. market with direct drive front
load washers?
No—skip to III-34c.

(b)

Yes

If you answered yes in III-34a, does the price of belt-driven front load washers affect the
price of direct drive front load washers?

No

(c)

Yes

If yes, please describe.

Do belt-driven top load washers compete in the U.S. market with direct drive top load
washers?
No—skip to III-35.

(d)

No

Yes

If you answered yes in III-34c, does the price of belt-driven top load washers affect the
price of direct drive top load washers?
Yes

If yes, please describe.

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III-35. Changes in U.S. industry.-(a)

Please identify and discuss any improvements/changes in the U.S. large residential
washers industry since January 1, 2012 and explain the factors, including the order(s)
under review, that were responsible for each improvement/change.

(b)

Please discuss any improvements/changes that you anticipate in the future in the U.S.
large residential washers industry. Identify the time period and causes for these
improvements/changes.

III-36. Effect of revocation of orders.-- What do you think will be the effects on your firm and on the
U.S. market of any revocation of the countervailing duty order and antidumping duty orders on
imports of large residential washers from Korea and Mexico? Please include how the section 201
safeguard measure would impact the effect of any revocation.

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PART IV.-- PRODUCT COMPARISIONS
IV-1.

Interchangeability.--Are large residential washers 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

Korea

Mexico

Other countries

United States
Korea
Mexico
For any country-pair producing large residential washers 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 - Large Residential Washers (Review)
IV-2.

Page 27

Factors other than price.--Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between large residential
washers 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

Korea

Mexico

Other countries

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

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Large Residential Washers (Review)
IV-3.

Page 28

Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how large residential
washers produced in each country you identified in your response to question II-4 compares
with large residential washers 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. S = Superior, C = Comparable, and I = Inferior.
Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Korea
Factor

Availability
Brand
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Design and styling
Direct discounts offered1
Dual-wash chamber
Ease of use
Fit, feel, and finish
Indirect discounts offered2
Innovative features
Internet connectivity
Large capacity
Margin opportunity3
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Payment terms
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs4

S

C

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Mexico
I

S

C

Product from
Korea compared to
product from
Mexico
I

S

C

I

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Large Residential Washers (Review)
IV-3.

Page 29

Continued.

If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank. S = Superior, C = Comparable, and I = Inferior.
Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries
Factor
Availability
Brand
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Design and styling
Direct discounts offered1
Dual wash chamber
Ease of use
Fit, feel, and finish
Indirect discounts offered2
Innovative features
Internet connectivity
Large capacity
Margin opportunity3
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Payment terms
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs4
Notes on next page.

S

C

Product from
Korea compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries
I

S

C

I

Product from
Mexico compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries
S

C

I

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Notes for question IV-3:
Direct discounts are all discounts, incentives, allowances, rebates, promotional amount, cash
incentives for retail sales personnel (SPIFFS), or other sales support, and/or any other form of
payment or allowance to a retailer that are tied to sales of the specific large residential washers(s) for
which the discounts are provided, whether or not such discounts are given on the sales price to the
consumer or are in the form of a post-sale discount, rebate, or other type of sales support after the
customer resells the product to its customer.
1

Indirect discounts are any discounts, incentives, allowances, rebates, promotional amount, cash
incentives for retail sales personnel (SPIFFS) or other sales support, and/or any other form of
payment or allowance to a retailer that, while not specifically tied to the products in question, are
properly allocable to sales of such products because sales of such products were part of the basis on
which the discount, incentive, allowance, etc. was given.
2

3

Margin opportunity refers to the profit margins for retails for the product in question.

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.
4

IV-4.

Change in price.-(a)

Since January 1, 2012, has there been a change in the price of large residential washers?
Source

Yes (also respond to
question part (b))

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

United States
Korea
Mexico

(b)

If your firm responded “yes” to any of the above countries, please describe how the
price of U.S.-produced large residential washers has changed relative to the price of
imported large residential washers from Korea and Mexico.

Country
Korea
Mexico

Prices changed by
the same percent

Price of U.S.-produced
Price of U.S.-produced
large residential washers is large residential washers is
now relatively higher
now relatively lower

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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.

V-2.

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
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.

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

Pin: WASH

• E-mail.—E-mail the MS Word questionnaire to tana.vonkessler@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 you submit (see 19 CFR
§ 207.7). Service of the questionnaire must be made in paper form.