Form 19-1-4027 US purchasers' questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 19-1-4027; 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
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by April
See last page for filing instructions.

30, 2019

The information called for in this questionnaire is for use by the United States International Trade Commission in
connection with investigation No. TA-204-013, Large Residential Washers: Monitoring Developments in the Domestic
Industry, under section 204 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. § 2254). The information requested in the questionnaire
is needed to supplement data available to the Commission from other sources and is requested under the authority of
section 204 of the Tariff Act of 1974. 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 (as defined on the next page) from any source (domestic or
foreign) at any time since January 1, 2016?

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: LRWS)
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

Signature

Title of Authorized Official

Phone

Date

Email address

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PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.--On January 23, 2018, the President, pursuant to section 203 of the Trade Act of 1974,
issued Proclamation 9694, imposing a safeguard measure on imports of certain residential washers and
parts thereof in the form of a tariff-rate quota, effective February 7, 2018. Section 204 (a) of the Act
requires the Commission to submit a report to the President and Congress on its monitoring of industry
developments at the midpoint of the initial period of relief exceeding three years, including the progress
and specific efforts made by workers and firms in the domestic industry to make a positive adjustment
to import competition. Questionnaires and other information pertinent to this proceeding are available
at

https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/title_7/2019/large_residential_washers_monitoring_developments/safeguard.htm

Products covered by this investigation
Large residential washers.—The products covered by the investigation are all large
residential washers and certain parts thereof.
The term “large residential washers” denotes all automatic clothes washing machines,
regardless of the orientation of the rotational axis, 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), except as noted below.
Covered parts.-- Also covered are certain parts used in large residential washers,
namely: (1) all cabinets, or portions thereof, designed for use in large residential
washers; (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
parts or subassemblies.
Products excluded from this investigation
(1) Stacked washers-dryers & commercial washers
Excluded 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” segment meeting either of the following two definitions:

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.
1
2

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(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 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.
(2) Top load residential washers with PSC/belt drive/clutch
Also excluded are automatic clothes washing machines that meet all of the following
conditions: (1) have a vertical rotational axis; (2) are top loading; 8 (3) have a drive train
consisting, inter alia, of (a) a permanent split capacitor (PSC) motor, 9 (b) a belt drive, 10
and (c) a flat wrap spring clutch. 11
(3) Front load residential washers with CIM/Belt Drive
Also excluded are automatic clothes washing machines that meet all of the following
conditions: (1) have a horizontal rotational axis; (2) are front loading; 12 and (3) have a
drive train consisting, inter alia, of (a) a controlled induction motor (CIM), 13 and (b) a
belt drive.

“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.
6
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).
8
“Top loading” means that access to the basket is from the top of the washer.
9
A “PSC motor” is an asynchronous, alternating current (AC), single phase induction motor that employs split
phase capacitor technology.
10
A “belt drive” refers to a drive system that includes a belt and pulleys.
11
A “flat wrap spring clutch” is a flat metal spring that, when engaged, links abutted cylindrical pieces on the input
shaft with the end of the concentric output shaft that connects to the drive hub.
12
“Front loading” means that access to the basket is from the front of the washer.
13
A “controlled induction motor” is an asynchronous, alternating current (AC), polyphase induction motor.
5

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(4) “Extra-wide” residential washers
Also excluded are automatic clothes washing machines that meet all of the following
conditions: (1) have a horizontal rotational axis; (2) are front loading; and (3) have
cabinet width (measured from its widest point) of more than 28.5 inches (72.39 cm).
Large residential washers are currently classifiable under subheading 8450.20.00 (statistical reporting
numbers 8450.20.0040 and 8450.20.0080) of the Harmonized Tariff System of the United States
(HTSUS). They may also be imported under HTSUS 8450.11.0040, 8450.11.0080, 8450.90.2000, and
8450.90.6000.14 The HTSUS provisions are for convenience and customs purposes; the written
description of the scope is dispositive.
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 (i.e., a producer, importer,
purchaser and/or foreign producer 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 CFR §§ 206.17(a)(1) and 206.52(c)). 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 confidential business 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 Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. § 2252(i)) and sections 206.17 and 206.52
of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR §§ 206.17(a)(1) and 206.52(c)). 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.

14

Large residential washers and parts and certain subassemblies covered by the scope are currently subject to
tariff-rate quotas under a safeguard measure imposed effective February 7, 2018, under subheadings 9903.45.01
and 9903.45.02 (large residential washers) and 9903.45.05 and 9903.45.06 (covered parts) and related legal notes.

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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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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.

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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
Purchases and imports.--Report your firm’s domestic purchases and imports of large residential
washers.

II-1.

“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.
a. Purchases by country source
2016

2017

Item

JanuaryMarch 2018

2018

JanuaryMarch 2019

Quantity (in units)

Purchases of large
residential washers
produced in—
United States
China
Korea
Mexico
Thailand
Vietnam
All other countries1
Sources unknown
Total purchases2

0

0

0

0

Please identify these countries:
If your firm imported large residential washers at any time since January 1, 2016, please also
complete and return a U.S. importers' questionnaire in this proceeding.
1
2

0

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b. Purchases by firm
2016

2017

Item

JanuaryMarch 2018

2018

JanuaryMarch 2019

Quantity (in units)

Purchases of large
residential washers from—
Whirlpool
GE Appliances
LG
Samsung
Electrolux
All other companies1
Total purchases2

0

0

0

0

0

Please identify these companies:
If your firm imported large residential washers at any time since January 1, 2016, please also
complete and return a U.S. importers' questionnaire in this proceeding.
1
2

c. Purchases of excluded product
2016

2017

Item

JanuaryMarch 2018

2018

JanuaryMarch 2019

Quantity (in units)

Purchases of—
PSC/belt drive/clutch topload washers1
CIM/belt drive front-load
washers2
“Extra-wide” residential
washers3
Total excluded
purchases4

0

0

0

0

Please identify the company(ies) you purchased these washers from:
Please identify the company(ies) you purchased these washers from:
3
Please identify the company(ies) you purchased these washers from:
4
If your firm imported large residential washers at any time since January 1, 2016, please also
complete and return a U.S. importers' questionnaire in this proceeding.
1
2

0

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II-2.

Page 9

Purchases before and after remedy went into effect.
(a)

Did your firm purchase imported large residential washers before February 7, 2018?
No--skip to II-3

(b)

Yes

If yes, has your pattern of purchasing imported large residential washers changed since
February 7, 2018?
No, our pattern of purchasing is essentially unchanged.
Yes, we discontinued purchases of imports because of the safeguard measure.
Yes, we reduced purchases of imports because of the safeguard measure.
Yes, but we changed the pattern of purchases of imports for reasons other than
the safeguard measure (please explain below).

II-3.

Changes in purchasing patterns.--Please indicate how the shares of your firm’s purchases of
large residential washers from different sources have changed since February 7, 2018.
Source of Did not
purchases purchase Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated
United
States
Imports
from all
countries
Sources
unknown

Explanation for trend

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

Availability of supply.--Has the availability of large residential washers in the U.S. market
changed since February 7, 2018?
Availability in the U.S.
market

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

Changes since February 7, 2018:
U.S.-produced product
Imports from all
countries
III-2.

Availability of specific product types.--Are certain grades/types/sizes of large residential
washers only available from certain country sources?
No

III-3.

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

Supply constraints.--Has any firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply your firm with
large residential washers since February 7, 2018 (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

III-4.

Yes

Yes

If yes, please describe.

Change in suppliers.--Has your firm changed suppliers since February 7, 2018?

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-5.

Page 11

Demand trends.-- Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United
States (if known) for large residential washers has changed since February 7, 2018, 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 February 7, 2018
Within the United States
Outside the United States
Anticipated future demand
Within the United States
Outside the United States
III-6.

Conditions of competition.--Have there been any changes in the business cycles or conditions of
competition for large residential washers since February 7, 2018?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

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III-7.

Page 12

Price related factors.—

a. Please indicate whether changes in the following factors have tended to increase, decrease, or
have had no effect on the price of large residential washers in the U.S. market since February 7,
2018.
Factor
Competition between U.S. producers
Level of competition from substitute products
Level of competition from imports
Cost of raw materials
Energy costs
Domestic production capacity
Allocation of production capacity to alternate
products
Productivity of domestic producers
Labor agreements, contracts, etc.
Transportation/delivery cost
Market patterns
Demand in the United States
Demand outside the United States
Government subsidies or incentives
Other

Increased

Decreased

No effect

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b. Please rate the importance of changes in the following factors based on their contribution to the
price of large residential washers since February 7, 2018.

Factor

Very
important

Somewhat
important

Not
important

Competition between U.S. producers
Level of competition from substitute products
Level of competition from imports
Cost of raw materials
Energy costs
Domestic production capacity
Allocation of production capacity to alternate
products
Productivity of domestic producers
Labor agreements, contracts, etc.
Transportation/delivery cost
Market patterns
Demand in the United States
Demand outside the United States
Government subsidies or incentives
Other
c. Please provide any detailed discussion/elaboration on factors affecting price changes of large
residential washers in the U.S. market since February 7, 2018.

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III-8.

Page 14

Based on your firm’s experience, have domestic producers taken the following actions since
February 7, 2018? If so, please specify the producer(s) and product(s) involved.
Please explain, noting the producer(s) and product(s)
No Yes involved.

Action
Introduction of new or
innovative product
Improved product quality
Expansion of marketing
efforts, including ecommerce
Improvements in
customer service
Other efforts to make a
positive adjustment to
import competition
(please identify)

PART IV.—ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
IV-1.

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

IV-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: LINK

https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/title_7/2019/large_residential_washers_monitoring_developments/safeguard.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: LRWS

• 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.