18-3-3998 US purchasers' questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 18-3-3998; Expiration Date: 6/30/2020
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
QUARTZ SURFACE PRODUCTS FROM CHINA
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by January 18, 2019
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 quartz surface products from China
(Inv. Nos. 701-TA-606 and 731-TA-1416 (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 Aimee Larsen (202-205-3179, aimee.larsen@usitc.gov).

Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

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

NO
YES

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Final)

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PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.--This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on April 17, 2018 by Cambria
Company LLC, Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Antidumping and countervailing duties may be assessed on the
subject imports as a result of these proceedings if the Commission makes an affirmative determination
of injury, threat, or material retardation, and if the U.S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) makes
an affirmative determination of subsidization and/or dumping. Questionnaires and other information
pertinent to this proceeding are available at
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2018/quartz_surface_products_china/final.htm
Quartz surface products (QSP) covered by these investigations of slabs and other surfaces created from
a mixture of materials that includes predominately silica (e.g., quartz, quartz powder, cristobalite) as
well as a resin binder (e.g., an unsaturated polyester). The incorporation of other materials, including,
but not limited to, pigments, cement, or other additives does not remove the merchandise from the
scope of the investigation. However, the scope of the investigation only includes products where the
silica content is greater than any other single material, by actual weight. Quartz surface products are
typically sold as rectangular slabs with a total surface area of approximately 45 to 60 square feet and a
nominal thickness of one, two, or three centimeters. However, the scope of this investigation includes
surface products of all other sizes, thicknesses, and shapes. In addition to slabs, the scope of this
investigation includes, but is not limited to, other surfaces such as countertops, backsplashes, vanity
tops, bar tops, work tops, tabletops, flooring, wall facing, shower surrounds, fire place surrounds,
mantels, and tiles. Certain quartz surface products are covered by the investigation whether polished or
unpolished, cut or uncut, fabricated or not fabricated, cured or uncured, edged or not edged, finished or
unfinished, thermoformed or not thermoformed, packaged or unpackaged, and regardless of the type of
surface finish.
In addition, quartz surface products are covered by the investigation whether or not they are imported
attached to, or in conjunction with, non-subject merchandise such as sinks, sink bowls, vanities,
cabinets, and furniture. If quartz surface products are imported attached to, or in conjunction with, such
non-subject merchandise, only the quartz surface product is covered by the scope.
Subject merchandise includes material matching the above description that has been finished,
packaged, or otherwise fabricated in a third country, including by cutting, polishing, curing, edging,
thermoforming, attaching to, or packaging with another product, or any other finishing, packaging, or
fabrication that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of the investigation if
performed in the country of manufacture of the quartz surface products.
The scope of the investigation does not cover quarried stone surface products, such as granite, marble,
soapstone, or quartzite. Specifically excluded from the scope of the investigation are crushed glass
surface products. Crushed glass surface products are surface products in which the crushed glass
content is greater than any other single material, by actual weight.
The products subject to the scope are currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States (HTSUS) under the following subheading: 6810.99.0010. Subject merchandise may also
enter under subheadings 6810.11.0010, 6810.11.0070, 6810.19.1200, 6810.19.1400, 6810.19.5000,
6810.91.0000, 6810.99.0080, 6815.99.4070, 2506.10.0010, 2506.10.0050, 2506.20.0010, 2506.20.0080.

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The HTSUS subheadings set forth above are provided for convenience and U.S. Customs purposes only.
The written description of the scope is dispositive.
Quartz surface products within the scope of these investigations include not fabricated slabs, fabricated
quartz surface products, and custom-finished fully-fabricated quartz products.
Not fabricated slabs ("Slabs") are defined as quartz surface products that have not been fabricated or
finished in any way (i.e. cutting to a specific size, edging, attaching to another product, or any other
fabrication or finishing, etc.). Slabs require further fabrication to be ready for installation. Synonyms:
Slabs, unfabricated quartz surface products, unfabricated QSP, not fabricated quartz surface products,
not fabricated QSP, unfabricated slabs, quartz slabs.
Fabricated quartz surface products ("Fabs") are defined as quartz products that have been fabricated or
finished to any degree (i.e. cutting to a specific size, edging, attaching to another product, or any other
fabrication or finishing, etc.). Fabs may be ready for installation or may require some additional
fabrication prior to installation. Synonyms: Fabs, fabricated quartz surface products, fabricated QSP,
fabricated products.
Custom-finished fully-fabricated quartz surface products (“CFFFQSP”) are defined as a fully finished
fabricated quartz surface products designed to work with other quartz and non-quartz components and
to be installed without further cutting or fabrication. CFFFQSP are quartz surface products fabricated
with fully finished edges and joints, and all exposed surfaces are polished. CFFFQSP are created for
particular projects that have already been completely designed, including details such as specialized
edge styles, shapes and sizes of sinks, counter shapes, millwork, and other details. CFFFQSP has a range
of prefinished products (e.g., vanities and backsplashes), assembled to form structural units or attached
together to form a perceived single unit, which can be installed without further fabrication. CFFFQSP
are a subset of fabricated quartz surface products.
Equation 1: 𝑸𝑺𝑷 = 𝑺𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒔 + 𝑭𝒂𝒃𝒔
Equation 2: 𝑸𝑺𝑷 = 𝑺𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒔 + (𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑭𝒂𝒃𝒔 + 𝑪𝑭𝑭𝑭𝑸𝑺𝑷)
Equation 3: 𝑭𝒂𝒃𝒔 = 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑭𝒂𝒃𝒔 + 𝑪𝑭𝑭𝑭𝑸𝑺𝑷
Purchaser.--Any firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or subsidiary, in purchasing
quartz surface products from another firm that produces, imports, or otherwise distributes quartz
surface products.
Reporting of information.--If information is not readily available from your records, provide carefully
prepared estimates. If your firm is completing more than one questionnaire (i.e., a producer, importer,
and/or purchaser questionnaire), you need not respond to duplicated questions.
Confidentiality.--The commercial and financial data furnished in response to this questionnaire that
reveal the individual operations of your firm will be treated as confidential by the Commission to the
extent that such data are not otherwise available to the public and will not be disclosed except as may
be required by law (see 19 U.S.C. 1677f). Such confidential information will not be published in a manner
that will reveal the individual operations of your firm; however, general characterizations of numerical
business proprietary information (such as discussion of trends) will be treated as confidential business
information only at the request of the submitter for good cause shown.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Quartz Surface Products (Final)

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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.

Establishments 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 quartz surface products,
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
Firm name

Yes--List the following information.
Address

Extent of ownership
(percent)

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Quartz Surface Products (Final)
I-3.

Related importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or
foreign, which import quartz surface products into the United States or which export quartz
surface products to the United States?
No
Firm name

I-4.

Page 5

Yes--List the following information.
Country

Affiliation

Related producers.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, which
produce quartz surface products?
No
Firm name

Yes--List the following information.
Country

Affiliation

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Quartz Surface Products (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
“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.
II-1a.

Purchases and imports of slabs.--Report separately your firm’s domestic purchases and imports
of slabs.

Slabs
2015

2016

Item

JanuarySeptember
2018

2017

Quantity (in square feet)

Purchases of slabs produced in—
United States
China
Israel
Spain
All other countries1
Sources unknown
Total purchases

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Imports of slabs from—
China
Israel
Spain
All other countries1
Total imports2
1

Please identify these countries if known:
If your firm imported quartz surface products at any time since January 1, 2015, please also
complete and return a U.S. importers' questionnaire in this proceeding. If your firm purchased slabs
and then further fabricated them, please complete and return a U.S. producer s' questionnaire.
2

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Quartz Surface Products (Final)
II-1b.

Page 7

Purchases and imports of fabs.--Report separately your firm’s domestic purchases and imports
of fabs.

Fabs
2015

2016

Item

JanuarySeptember
2018

2017

Quantity (in square feet)

Purchases of fabs produced in—
United States
China
Israel
Spain
All other countries1
Sources unknown
Total purchases

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Imports of fabs from—
China
Israel
Spain
All other countries1
Total imports
1

Please identify these countries if known:

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Quartz Surface Products (Final)
II-2.

Page 8

Changes in purchasing patterns.--Please indicate how the shares of your firm’s purchases of
quartz surface products from different sources have changed since January 1, 2015.

Source of
purchases

Did not
purchase Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated

Explanation for trend

United States
China
Israel
Spain
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 quartz surface products market.
United
States

II-4.

China

Israel

Spain

Other
countries

Other countries (specify)

Supplier identification.--Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers for quartz surface products
since January 1, 2015. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s total purchases of
quartz surface products 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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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Quartz Surface Products (Final)

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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 quartz surface
products (check all that apply)?
Fabricator/
retailers

Builder/
contractor

Distributor

Other

Describe other

If your firm is a distributor of quartz surface products, 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 quartz surface products?
No

III-3.

Yes

If yes, please describe.

Types of customers.—
(a) What are the major types of consumers to which your firm sells quartz surface products?

(b) Is your firm a Cambria retailer or part of a Cambria exclusivity arrangement?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Quartz Surface Products (Final)

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If your firm is an end user of quartz surface products, please answer questions III-4 and III-5.
III-4.

End uses.--List the top 3 products your firm makes using quartz surface products and estimate
the percent of your total production cost that is accounted for by quartz surface products 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

III-5.

Quartz surface
products

Total
(should
sum to
100.0%
across)

Other inputs
% +

%

=

0.0 %

% +

%

=

0.0 %

% +

%

=

0.0 %

Demand for end-use products.-(a)

Has the demand for your firm’s final products incorporating quartz surface products
changed since January 1, 2015?
Increased

(b)

No change

Decreased

Fluctuated

Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for quartz surface products?
No

Yes

Explain

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Quartz Surface Products (Final)
III-6.

Page 11

Substitutes.—
(a)

Specific substitutes.--Are these specific products considered as substitutes for quartz
surface products in the same end use(s)?

Specific substitutes

Are these
considered
Have changes in the price of this
substitutes in the
substitute affected the price for quartz
End use(s) in which
market?
surface products?
this substitute is
No
Yes
used
No
Yes
Explanation

Marble
Granite
Quartzite
(b)

Other substitutes.--Can other products not already listed in part "a" of this question be
substituted for quartz surface products?
No

Other substitutes

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 quartz surface products?
No Yes

Explanation

1.
2.
3.
5.
III-7.

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

Market
Within the United States
Outside the United States

Overall
increase

No
change

Fluctuate
Overall
with no
decrease clear trend

Explanation and factors

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Quartz Surface Products (Final)
III-8.

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

III-9.

Page 12

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 quartz surface products that required quartz
surface products 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 quartz
surface products
%
%
%
%
0.0 %

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

Is the quartz surface products market subject to business cycles (other than general
economy-wide conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to quartz
surface products?

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
quartz surface products since January 1, 2015?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

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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 quartz surface products based on its
producer or country of origin?
Item

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
III-12. Availability of supply.--Has the availability of quartz surface products 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
Chinese imports
Non-Chinese imports
III-13. Supply constraints.--Has any firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply your firm with
quartz surface products 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.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Quartz Surface Products (Final)
III-14.

Page 14

Availability of specific product types.—
(a)

Are certain grades/qualities/sizes of quartz surface products only available from certain
country sources?
No

(b)

Yes

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

Are certain colors, designs, particulates, or aesthetic appearances only available from
specific suppliers?

No

Yes

If yes, please identify the suppliers and the particular colors, designs, trends,
or other aesthetics.

III-15. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

How frequently does your firm make purchases of quartz surface products (check one)?
Daily

(b)

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Annually

Other

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

Yes

If yes, please describe.

If other, specify

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Quartz Surface Products (Final)

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III-16. Raw material prices.—
(a)

Is your firm familiar with the prices for raw materials used in the production of quartz
surface products?
No

(b)

Yes – please answer (b)

Has information on raw material prices affected your firm’s negotiations or contracts to
purchase quartz surface products since 2015?
No

Yes Explain

III-17. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers does your firm generally contact before
making a purchase? Between
and
firms
III-18. Supplier negotiations.--Do your firm’s purchases of quartz surface products 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.

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III-19. 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-20. 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.

III-21. Supplier qualification.--Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified
to sell quartz surface products 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-22. Failure to certify.--Since January 1, 2015, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their
attempts to certify or qualify their quartz surface products 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-23. Major purchasing factors.--Please list, in order of their importance, the main factors your firm
considers in deciding from whom to purchase quartz surface products (examples include
availability, extension of credit, contracts, price, quality, range of supplier’s product line,
traditional supplier, etc.). List one factor per line.
1.
2.
3.
Please list any other factors that are very important in your purchase decisions:
III-24. Purchasing factors.--Please rate the importance of the following factors in your firm’s
purchasing decisions for quartz surface products.

Factor
Availability
Color/design/aesthetics
Breton manufacturing equipment
Delivery terms
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
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs
Warranty

Very
important

Somewhat
important

Not
important

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Quartz Surface Products (Final)

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III-25. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of quartz surface products?

III-26. Minimum quality.--How often does quartz surface products 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
Israel
Spain
Other:
III-27. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the quartz surface
products that is offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

III-28. 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 quartz surface products
market since January 1, 2015.
Firm(s)

Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Quartz Surface Products (Final)

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III-29. Purchasing subject imports of slabs rather than domestic products.—
(a)

Since January 2015, did your firm purchase imports of slabs from China instead of U.S.produced slabs?

Slabs

Source

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

No
(Please ensure that this answer does
not contradict the response in question
II-1. 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?

Slabs
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?

Slabs
Source

China

Yes

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

No

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

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Quartz Surface Products (Final)

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III-30. Purchasing subject imports of fabs rather than domestic products.—
(a)

Since January 2015, did your firm purchase imports of fabs from China instead of U.S.produced fabs?

Fabs

Source

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

No
(Please ensure that this answer does
not contradict the response in question
II-1. 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?

Fabs
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?

Fabs
Source

China

Yes

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

No

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

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III-31. U.S. producers and import competition.—
(a)

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

Slabs
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” above, 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.

Slabs

Source
China

Estimated
reduction in U.S.
prices
(percent)
%

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

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III-32. U.S. producers and import competition.—
(a)

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

Fabs
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” above, 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.

Fabs

Source
China

Estimated
reduction in U.S.
prices
(percent)
%

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

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Quartz Surface Products (Final)

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PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS
IV-1.

Interchangeability.--Are quartz surface products 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

Israel

Spain

Other countries

United States
China
Israel
Spain
For any country-pair producing quartz surface products which is sometimes or never
interchangeable, please identify the country-pair and explain the factors that limit or
preclude interchangeable use:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Quartz Surface Products (Final)
IV-2.

Page 24

Factors other than price.--Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between quartz surface products
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

Israel

Spain

Other countries

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

IV-3.

No

Breton Manufacturing.--Are there any distinguishing characteristics (i.e. price, quality, designs)
between Breton-made quartz surface products and non-Breton-made quartz surface products?
Yes

Explanation

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Quartz Surface Products (Final)

Availability
Color/design/aesthetics
Breton manufacturing equipment
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price2
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs2
Warranty
1

Nonsubject sources include product from Israel, Spain and all other sources except China. If there are
major differences in nonsubject sources please indicate so here:
1
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.

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

Inferior

Factor

Comparable

Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how quartz surface
products produced in each country you identified in your response to the first question in Part
IV compares with quartz surface products 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.
Product from
Product from
United States
Product from
United States
compared to
China compared to
compared to
product from
product from
product from
Nonsubject
Nonsubject
China
sources1
sources1

Superior

IV-4.

Page 25

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Quartz Surface Products (Final)

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PART V.--ALTERNATIVE PRODUCT INFORMATION
V-1.

Comparisons.--For each of the following indicate whether listed quartz surface products are:
fully comparable or the same, i.e., have no differentiation between them; mostly comparable or
similar; somewhat comparable or similar; never or not-at-all comparable or similar; or no
familiarity with products.
F: fully comparable or the same, i.e., have no differentiation between them;
M: mostly comparable or similar;
S: somewhat comparable or similar;
N: never or not-at-all comparable or similar; or
0: no familiarity with products.
(a) Physical Characteristics and End Uses.--The differences and similarities in the physical
characteristics and end uses.

Product-pair

Comparison

Please provide a narrative discussion for the
comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
physical characteristics and uses:

Slabs vs Fabs
Slabs vs CFFFQSP
Partial fabs vs CFFFQSP
(b) Interchangeability.--The ability to substitute the products in the same application.

Product-pair
Slabs vs Fabs
Slabs vs CFFFQSP
Partial fabs vs CFFFQSP

Comparison

Please provide a narrative discussion for the
comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
interchangeability:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Quartz Surface Products (Final)
V-1.

Page 27

Comparisons.--Continued.
F: fully comparable or the same, i.e., have no differentiation between them;
M: mostly comparable or similar;
S: somewhat comparable or similar;
N: never or not-at-all comparable or similar; or
0: no familiarity with products.
(c) Channels of distribution.--Channels of distribution/market situation through which the
products are sold (i.e., sold direct to end users, through wholesaler/distributors, etc.).

Product-pair

Comparison

Please provide a narrative discussion for the
comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
channels of distribution:

Slabs vs Fabs
Slabs vs CFFFQSP
Partial fabs vs CFFFQSP
(d) Manufacturing facilities, production processes, and production employees.--Whether
manufactured in the same facilities, from the same inputs, on the same machinery and
equipment, and using the same employees.

Product-pair
Slabs vs Fabs
Slabs vs CFFFQSP
Partial fabs vs CFFFQSP

Comparison

Please provide a narrative discussion for the
comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
manufacturing facilities, production or fabrication
processes, and production or fabrication employees:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Quartz Surface Products (Final)
V-1.

Page 28

Comparisons.--Continued.
F: fully comparable or the same, i.e., have no differentiation between them;
M: mostly comparable or similar;
S: somewhat comparable or similar;
N: never or not-at-all comparable or similar; or
0: no familiarity with products.
(e) Customer and producer perceptions.--Perceptions as to the differences and/or
similarities in the market (e.g., sales/marketing practices).

Product-pair

Comparison

Please provide a narrative discussion for the
comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
customer and product perceptions:

Slabs vs Fabs
Slabs vs CFFFQSP
Partial fabs vs CFFFQSP
(f) Price.--Whether prices are comparable or differ between the products.

Product-pair
Slabs vs Fabs
Slabs vs CFFFQSP
Partial fabs vs CFFFQSP

Comparison

Please provide a narrative discussion for the
comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
price:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Quartz Surface Products (Final)

Page 29

PART VI.—ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
VI-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.

VI-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 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 - Quartz Surface Products (Final)

Page 30

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/quartz_surface_products_china/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/
Investigation: Select “Quartz surface products” in the drop down menu
Pin: QSP
• E-mail.—E-mail the MS Word questionnaire to NAME@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.