17-3-3751 US purchasers' questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 17-3-3755; Expiration Date: 6/30/2020
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
BIODIESEL FROM ARGENTINA AND INDONESIA
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by October 3, 2017
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 biodiesel from Argentina and
Indonesia (inv. No. 701-TA-571-572 and 731-TA-1347-1348 (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 Cindy Cohen (202-205-3230,
Cindy.Cohen@usitc.gov).

Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm purchased biodiesel (as defined on next page) from any source (domestic or foreign) at any time
since January 1, 2014?

NO

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

YES

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

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

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PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background. --This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on March 23, 2017, by
National Biodiesel Board Fair Trade Coalition (Washington, DC) and its individual members.
Countervailing and/or antidumping duties may be assessed on the subject imports as a result of these
proceedings if the Commission makes an affirmative determination of injury, threat, or material
retardation, and if the U.S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) makes an affirmative
determination of subsidization and/or dumping. Questionnaires and other information pertinent to this
proceeding are available at
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2017/biodiesel_argentina_and_indonesia/final.htm
Biodiesel covered by these investigations is a fuel comprised of mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty
acids derived from vegetable oils or animal fats, including biologically-based waste oils or greases, and
other biologically-based oil or fat sources. This includes biodiesel in pure form (“B100”) as well as fuel
mixtures containing at least 99 percent biodiesel by volume (“B99”). For fuel mixtures containing less
than 99 percent biodiesel by volume, only the biodiesel component of the mixture is covered by the
scope of the petitions. 1
Biodiesel covered by these investigations is currently imported primarily under subheadings 3826.00.10
and 3826.00.30 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). The HTSUS provisions
are for convenience and customs purposes.
Purchaser.--Any firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or subsidiary, in purchasing
biodiesel from another firm that produces, imports, or otherwise distributes biodiesel.
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.
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

Biodiesel is generally produced to American Society for Testing and Materials International (“ASTM”) D6751
specifications, but it can also be made to other specifications. Biodiesel commonly has one of the following
Chemical Abstracts Service (“CAS”) numbers, generally depending upon the feedstock used: 67784-80-9 (soybean
oil methyl esters); 91051-34- 2 (palm oil methyl esters); 91051-32-0 (palm kernel oil methyl esters); 73891-99-3
(rapeseed oil methyl esters); 61788-61-2 (tallow methyl esters); 68990-52-3 (vegetable oil methyl esters); 12982816-6 (canola oil methyl esters); 67762-26-9 (unsaturated alkylcarboxylic acid methyl ester); or 68937-84-8 (fatty
acids, Cl2-C18, methyl ester).
1

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Biodiesel (Final)

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documents used in the preparation of the questionnaire response. Please also retain a copy of the final
document that you submit.
Release of information.--The information provided by your firm in response to this questionnaire, as
well as any other business proprietary information submitted by your firm to the Commission in
connection with this proceeding, may become subject to, and released under, the administrative
protective order provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. § 1677f) and section 207.7 of the
Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR § 207.7). This means that certain lawyers and
other authorized individuals may temporarily be given access to the information for use in connection
with this proceeding or other import-injury proceedings conducted by the Commission on the same or
similar merchandise; those individuals would be subject to severe penalties if the information were
divulged to unauthorized individuals.
I-1.

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

Dollars

The questions in this questionnaire have been reviewed with market participants to ensure that
issues of concern are adequately addressed and that data requests are sufficient, meaningful,
and as limited as possible. Public reporting burden for this questionnaire is estimated to average
25 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering data, and
completing and reviewing the questionnaire.
We welcome comments regarding the accuracy of this burden estimate, suggestions for
reducing the burden, and any suggestions for improving this questionnaire. Please attach such
comments to your response or send to the Office of Investigations, USITC, 500 E St. SW,
Washington, DC 20436.
I-2.

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 report.
“Establishment”--Each facility of a firm involved in the purchase of biodiesel, including auxiliary
facilities operated in conjunction with (whether or not physically separate from) such facilities.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Biodiesel (Final)
I-3.

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

I-4.

Yes--List the following information.
Address

Extent of ownership
(percent)

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

I-5.

Page 4

Yes--List the following information.
Country

Affiliation

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

Yes--List the following information.
Country

Affiliation

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Biodiesel (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
Purchases and imports.--Report your firm’s total domestic purchases and direct imports of
biodiesel. Please report separately your domestic purchases and your direct imports (where
your firm was the importer of record).

II-1.

“Domestic Purchase” – Purchase from a U.S. entity such as a U.S. producer, a U.S. distributor, or
a U.S. firm.
“Direct Import” – Purchase directly from a foreign supplier and your firm is the importer of
record.
2014
2015
2016
Item

Quantity (in 1,000 gallons)

Purchases of biodiesel produced in—
United States
with RINs
without RINs
Argentina
with RINs
without RINs
Indonesia
with RINs
without RINs
All other countries1
with RINs
without RINs
Sources unknown
with RINs
without RINs
Total purchases

0

0

0

0

0

0

Imports of biodiesel from –
Argentina
Indonesia
All other countries1
Total imports
1

Please identify these countries:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Biodiesel (Final)
II-2.

Page 6

Changes in purchasing patterns.--Please indicate how the shares of your firm’s purchases of
biodiesel from different sources have changed since January 1, 2014.

Source of purchases

Did not
purchase Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated

Explanation for trend

United States
Argentina
Indonesia
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 biodiesel market.
United
States

II-4.

Argentina

Indonesia

Other
countries

Other countries (specify)

Supplier identification.--Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers for biodiesel since January
1, 2014. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s total purchases of biodiesel that
each of these suppliers accounted for in 2016.

No.

Supplier’s name

City and state

Share of quantity of
2016 purchases

1

%

2

%

3

%

4

%

5

%

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Biodiesel (Final)
II-5.

Page 7

Shipping information.—
(a) Does your firm purchase biodiesel on a delivered or f.o.b. basis?
Delivered (skip to Part III)

F.o.b. (answer parts b-d)

Both (answer parts b-d)

(b) What is the approximate percentage of the total cost of biodiesel you purchased that is
accounted for by U.S. inland transportation and other logistics costs from:
the importer to your distribution network or retail store?
the U.S. producer to your distribution network or retail store?

percent.
percent.

(c) Did the share of U.S. inland transportation as a percentage of total cost of biodiesel change
since January 2014?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

(d) Do U.S. inland transportation costs limit your firm’s ability to purchase biodiesel from a
particular source?
Source
U.S.-produced
product
Argentine imports
Indonesian imports
Imports from other
sources

No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Biodiesel (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 biodiesel (check all
that apply)?
End user
(Blender)

End user
(Retailer)

End user
(Petrodiesel
producer)

Distributor

Other

Describe other

If your firm is a distributor of biodiesel, 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 biodiesel?
No

III-3.

Yes

If yes, please describe.

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

If your firm is an end user (blender, retailer, or petrodiesel producer) of biodiesel, please answer
questions III-4 and III-5.
III-4.

End uses.--Estimate the percent of your total production cost of the following products that is
accounted for by biodiesel 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

Biodiesel

Total
(should
sum to
100.0%
across)

Other inputs

On-road transportation
fuel

% +

%

=

0.0 %

Other fuel

% +

%

=

0.0 %

Heating oil

% +

%

=

0.0 %

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Biodiesel (Final)
III-5.

Demand for end use products.-(a)

Has the demand for your firm’s final products incorporating biodiesel changed since
January 1, 2014?
Increased

(b)

No change

Decreased

Fluctuated

Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for biodiesel?
No

III-6.

Page 9

Yes

Explain

Substitutes.--Can other products be substituted for biodiesel?
No

Substitute

Yes--Please fill out the table.

End use in which this
substitute is used

Have changes in the price of this substitute
affected the price for biodiesel?
No Yes

Explanation

1.
2.
3.
III-7.

Demand trends.--Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United
States (if known) for biodiesel has changed since January 1, 2014. 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

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Biodiesel (Final)
III-8.

Page 10

Demand by locality. –
(a) Do certain regions demand different types of biodiesel, such as biodiesel made from
soybean oil versus biodiesel made from palm oil?
Geographic area

No

Yes

Don’t know

Explain

Northeast.–CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ,
NY, PA, RI, and VT.
Midwest.–IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN,
MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, and WI.
Southeast.–AL, DE, DC, FL, GA,
KY, MD, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, and
WV.
Central Southwest.–AR, LA, OK,
and TX.
Mountains.–AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV,
NM, UT, and WY.
Pacific Coast.–CA, OR, and WA.
Other.–All other markets in the
United States not previously
listed, including AK, HI, PR, and
VI.
(b) Does this demand by region vary by season?
No

III-9.

Yes

If yes, identify the regions and seasons and explain.

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

Yes

If yes, identify the countries and explain.

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III-10. Availability of specific product types.--Are certain grades/types/sizes of biodiesel only available
from certain country sources?
No

Yes

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

III-11. Cloud point.--Does biodiesel made from different feedstocks (e.g. palm oil, or tallow) with
higher cloud points limit its application in the market?
No

Yes

If yes, please explain.

III-12. Importance of purchasing domestic product.--Please fill out the table below, estimating the
percentage of your firm’s total 2016 purchases of biodiesel that required biodiesel 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 2016
purchases of biodiesel
%
%
%
%
0.0 %

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Biodiesel (Final)

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III-13. Decisions based on producer and country-of-origin.--How often does your firm, and if known,
do your customers, make purchasing decisions involving biodiesel based on its producer or
country of origin?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

If at least sometimes, explain.

Decision based on producer
Your firm
Your customers
Decision based on country of origin
Your firm
Your customers
III-14. Conditions of competition.-(a) Is the biodiesel market subject to business cycles (other than general economy-wide
conditions) or other conditions of competition distinctive to biodiesel? If yes, describe.
Check all that apply.
No
Yes-Business cycles (e.g.
seasonal business)
Yes-Renewable Fuel
Standard
Yes-State mandates
Yes-Federal tax credits
Yes-State tax credits
Yes-Other distinctive
conditions of competition

Please describe.
Skip to question III-15.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Biodiesel (Final)

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III-14. Conditions of competition.—Continued.
(b) If yes, have there been any changes in the business cycles or conditions of competition for
biodiesel since January 1, 2014?
Item

No

Yes

If yes, describe.

Business cycles
Renewable Fuel Standard
State mandates
Federal tax credits
State tax credits or programs
Other distinctive conditions of
competition
III-15. Availability of supply.--Has the availability of biodiesel in the U.S. market changed since January
1, 2014?
Availability in the U.S.
market
No Yes Please explain.
U.S.-produced product
Argentine imports
Indonesian imports
Imports from other
sources

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III-16. Supply constraints.—
(a) Has any firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply your firm with biodiesel since
January 1, 2014 (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, been unable to meet timely shipment commitments, etc.)?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

(b) Are there any feedstocks that biodiesel is made from (e.g. biodiesel made from palm oil)
that are precluded from use in any state or local markets?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe, specifying the market.

(c) Are there any state or local regulations that promote the use of biodiesel made from one
feedstock over another?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe, specifying the market.

III-17. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

How frequently does your firm make purchases of biodiesel (check one)?
Daily

(b)

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Annually

Other

If other, specify

Has this purchasing frequency changed since January 1, 2014?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

III-18. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers does your firm generally contact before
making a purchase? Between
and
firms

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III-19. Supplier negotiations.--Do your firm’s purchases of biodiesel usually involve negotiations
between supplier and purchaser?

No

Yes

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

III-20. Change in suppliers.--Has your firm changed suppliers since January 1, 2014?

No

Yes

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

III-21. New suppliers.--Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have
entered the market since January 1, 2014?
No

Yes

If yes, please identify the firms.

III-22. Supplier qualification.--Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified
to sell biodiesel 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

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Biodiesel (Final)

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III-23. Failure to certify.--Since January 1, 2014, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their
attempts to certify or qualify their biodiesel with your firm or have any producers lost their
approved status?

No

Yes

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

III-24. Major purchasing factors.--Please list, in order of their importance, the main factors your firm
considers in deciding from whom to purchase biodiesel (examples include availability, extension
of credit, contracts, price, quality, range of supplier’s product line, traditional supplier, etc.).
1.
2.
3.
Please list any other factors that are very important in your purchase decisions:

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Biodiesel (Final)

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III-25. Purchasing factors.--Please rate the importance of the following factors in your firm’s
purchasing decisions for biodiesel.

Factor
Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
EPA certification
Extension of credit
Feedstock
Federal tax incentives
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price
Product consistency
Product range
Quality Assurance Program (“QAP”)
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Regulatory requirements
Reliability of supply
RIN classification (e.g. D4, D6)
RIN value
State tax incentives
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs

Very
important

Somewhat
important

Not
important

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Biodiesel (Final)

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III-26. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of biodiesel?

III-27. Minimum quality.--How often does biodiesel 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
Argentina
Indonesia
Canada
Other:
III-28. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the biodiesel that is
offered at the lowest price?
Always

III-29

Usually

Sometimes

Never

Choice of product not based on price.--If you purchased biodiesel from one country source
although a comparable product was available from another country source at a lower price,
please explain your reasons for doing so (please specify by country).

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Biodiesel (Final)

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III-30. Price indices.—
(a) Has your firm purchased biodiesel in which the price was tied to published price indices?
Index
No

Yes

If yes, please explain how your firm ties
prices to the index, specifying the discount or
premium applied.

New York Mercantile
Exchange (NYMEX) Ultra
Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD)
Futures
Chicago Board of Trade
(CBOT) Soybean Oil Index
Other (please identify):

(b) Since January 1, 2014, has the discount or premium to the price indices that your firm paid
changed?

No

Yes

If yes, please explain and estimate the percentage discount or premium
paid.

(c) Do you consider changes in the selling price of petrodiesel and/or raw materials to produce
biodiesel when determining the appropriate purchase price for biodiesel?

No

Yes

If yes, please indicate what data sources you examine and explain how
you take it into consideration when determining the purchase price for
biodiesel.

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III-31. 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 biodiesel market since
January 1, 2014.
Firm(s)

Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership

III-32. Purchasing subject imports rather than domestic products.—
(a)

Since January 2014, did your firm purchase imports of biodiesel from Argentina and
Indonesia instead of U.S.-produced biodiesel? Respond for each country listed.

Source

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

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

Argentina
Indonesia
(b)

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

Yes

No

Argentina
Indonesia
(c)

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

Source

Argentina
Indonesia

Yes

If Yes, estimate the quantity
of imports purchased instead
of domestic product since
January 2014
(in 1,000 gallons)

No

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

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Biodiesel (Final)

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III-33. U.S. producers and import competition.—
(a)

Since January 1, 2014, in connection with a sale or offer to sell biodiesel to your firm, did
U.S. producers reduce their prices of domestically produced biodiesel in order to
compete with lower-priced imports of biodiesel from the subject countries? Respond
for each country listed.
Source

Yes (also respond to
question part (b))

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

Don’t know

Argentina
Indonesia
(b)

If your firm responded “yes” to either of the above countries, please provide an
estimate of the reduction in U.S. producers’ prices, and any additional explanations,
such as timing (e.g., months/years), frequency of price reductions, or other
market/competitive factors.

Source

Estimated
reduction in U.S.
prices
(percent)

Argentina

%

Indonesia

%

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 – Biodiesel (Final)

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PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS
IV-1.

Interchangeability.--Is biodiesel 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

Argentina

Indonesia

Canada

Other countries

United States
Argentina
Indonesia
Canada
For any country-pair producing biodiesel 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 – Biodiesel (Final)
IV-2.

Page 23

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

Argentina

Indonesia

Canada

Other countries

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Biodiesel (Final)

Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how biodiesel produced
in each country you identified in your response to the first question in Part IV compares with
biodiesel produced in each of the other countries you identified. If you are unfamiliar with the
product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those country comparisons
blank.

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
EPA certification
Extension of credit
Feedstock
Federal tax incentives
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
1
Price
Product consistency
Product range
Quality Assurance Program (“QAP”)
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Regulatory requirements
Reliability of supply
RIN classification (e.g. D4, D6)
RIN value
State tax incentives
Technical support/service
1
U.S. transportation costs
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

Product from
Argentina
compared to
product from
Indonesia
Superior

Inferior

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Indonesia
Comparable

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Argentina

Superior

IV-3.

Page 24

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Biodiesel (Final)
IV-3.

Page 25

Continued.

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

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
EPA certification
Extension of credit
Feedstock
Federal tax incentives
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
1
Price
Product consistency
Product range
Quality Assurance Program (“QAP”)
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Regulatory requirements
Reliability of supply
RIN classification (e.g. D4, D6)
RIN value
State tax incentives
Technical support/service
1
U.S. transportation costs
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

Product from
Indonesia
compared to
product from
Canada
Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
Argentina
compared to
product from
Canada
Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Canada

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Biodiesel (Final)
IV-3.

Page 26

Continued.

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

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
EPA certification
Extension of credit
Feedstock
Federal tax incentives
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
1
Price
Product consistency
Product range
Quality Assurance Program (“QAP”)
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Regulatory requirements
Reliability of supply
RIN classification (e.g. D4, D6)
RIN value
State tax incentives
Technical support/service
1
U.S. transportation costs
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

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
Product from
Product from
United States
Argentina
Indonesia
compared to
compared to
compared to
product from
product from
product from
All other countries All other countries All other countries

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Biodiesel (Final)

Page 27

PART V.—ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
V-1.

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Biodiesel (Final)

Page 28

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/701731/2017/biodiesel_argentina_and_indonesia/final.htm
Please do not attempt to modify the format or permissions of the questionnaire
document. Please submit the completed questionnaire using one of the methods noted
below. If your firm is unable to complete the MS Word questionnaire or cannot use one
of the electronic methods of submission, please contact the Commission for further
instructions.
• Upload via Secure Drop Box.—Upload the MS Word questionnaire along with a scanned copy of the
signed certification page (page 1) through the Commission’s secure upload facility:
Web address: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/

Pin: BIOD

• E-mail.—E-mail the MS Word questionnaire to Cindy Cohen (202-205-3230, Cindy.Cohen@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.