17-3-3747 US purchasers' questinnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 17-3-3747; Expiration Date: 6/30/2020
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
CUT-TO-LENGTH CARBON STEEL PLATE (“CTL PLATE”) FROM
INDIA, INDONESIA, AND KOREA
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by October 23, 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 review of the countervailing duty and antidumping duty orders concerning cut-to-length carbon steel
plate (“CTL plate”) from India, Indonesia, and Korea (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-388, 389, and 391 and 731-TA-817, 818, and 821
(Third Review)).The information requested in the questionnaire is requested under the authority of the Tariff Act of
1930, title VII. This report is mandatory and failure to reply as directed can result in a subpoena or other order to compel
the submission of records or information in your possession (19 U.S.C. § 1333(a)). Further information on this
questionnaire can be obtained from Fernando Gracia (202-205-2747, Fernando.Gracia@usitc.gov).

Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm purchased CTL plate (as defined on the next page) from any source (domestic or foreign) at any
time since January 1, 2011?

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

Name of Authorized Official

Title of Authorized Official

Date

Phone:
Signature

Email address

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CTL plate

Page 2

PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.-- On February 10, 2000, the Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) issued an
antidumping order on imports of CTL plate from Japan as well as countervailing and antidumping duty
orders on imports of CTL plate from France, India, Indonesia, Italy, and Korea (65 FR 6585 and 65 FR
6587). Following first five-year reviews by Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission
(“Commission”), effective December 6, 2005, Commerce issued continuations of the countervailing and
antidumping duty orders on CTL plate from India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, and Korea (70 FR 72607).
Following second five-year reviews by Commerce and the Commission, effective January 4, 2012,
Commerce issued a second continuation of the countervailing and antidumping duty orders on CTL plate
from India, Indonesia, and Korea (77 FR 264). On December 1, 2016, the Commission instituted a review
pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. § 1675(c)) (the Act) to determine whether
revocation of the orders would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury to the
domestic industry within a reasonably foreseeable time. If both the Commission and Commerce make
affirmative determinations, the orders will remain in place. If either the Commission or Commerce
makes a negative determination, Commerce will revoke the orders. Questionnaires and other
information pertinent to this proceeding are available at
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2016/cut_to_length_carbon_quality_steel_plate_india/th
ird_review_full.htm.
CTL plate covered by these reviews is certain hot-rolled carbon-quality steel: (1) Universal mill plates
(i.e., flat-rolled products rolled on four faces or in a closed box pass, of a width exceeding 150 mm but
not exceeding 1250 mm, and of a nominal or actual thickness of not less than 4 mm, which are cut-tolength (not in coils) and without patterns in relief), of iron or non-alloy-quality steel; and (2) flat-rolled
products, hot-rolled, of a nominal or actual thickness of 4.75 mm or more and of a width which exceeds
150 mm and measures at least twice the thickness, and which are cut-to-length (not in coils).
Steel products to be included in the scope are of rectangular, square, circular or other shape and of
rectangular or non-rectangular cross-section where such non-rectangular cross-section is achieved
subsequent to the rolling process (i.e., products which have been ‘‘worked after rolling’’)—for example,
products which have been beveled or rounded at the edges. Steel products that meet the noted physical
characteristics that are painted, varnished or coated with plastic or other non-metallic substances are
included within the scope. Also, specifically included in the scope are high strength, low alloy (‘‘HSLA’’)
steels. HSLA steels are recognized as steels with microalloying levels of elements such as chromium,
copper, niobium, titanium, vanadium, and molybdenum.
Steel products to be included in the scope, regardless of Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United
States (‘‘HTSUS’’) definitions, are products in which: (1) Iron predominates, by weight, over each of the
other contained elements, (2) the carbon content is two percent or less, by weight, and (3) none of the
elements listed below is equal to or exceeds the quantity, by weight, respectively indicated: 1.80
percent of manganese, or 1.50 percent of silicon, or 1.00 percent of copper, or 0.50 percent of
aluminum, or 1.25 percent of chromium, or 0.30 percent of cobalt, or 0.40 percent of lead, or 1.25
percent of nickel, or 0.30 percent of tungsten, or 0.10 percent of molybdenum, or 0.10 percent of
niobium, or 0.41 percent of titanium or 0.15 percent of vanadium, or 0.15 percent zirconium. All
products that meet the written physical description, and in which the chemistry quantities do not equal
or exceed any one of the levels listed above, are within the scope unless otherwise specifically excluded.
The following products are specifically excluded from the orders:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CTL plate

Page 3

(1) Products clad, plated, or coated with metal, whether or not painted, varnished or
coated with plastic or other non-metallic substances;
(2) SAE grades (formerly AISI grades) of series 2300 and above;
(3) products made to ASTM A710 and A736 or their proprietary equivalents;
(4) abrasion-resistant steels (i.e., USS AR 400, USS AR 500);
(5) products made to ASTM A202, A225, A514 grade S, A517 grade S, or their
proprietary equivalents;
(6) ball bearing steels;
(7) tool steels; and
(8) silicon manganese steel or silicon electric steel.
CTL plate is currently classifiable in the HTSUS under statistical reporting numbers: 7208.40.3030,
7208.40.3060, 7208.51.0030, 7208.51.0045, 7208.51.0060, 7208.52.0000, 7208.53.0000, 7208.90.0000,
7210.70.3000, 7210.90.9000, 7211.13.0000, 7211.14.0030, 7211.14.0045, 7211.90.0000, 7212.40.1000,
7212.40.5000, 7212.50.0000, 7225.40.3050, 7225.40.7000, 7225.50.6000, 7225.99.0090, 7226.91.5000,
7226.91.7000, 7226.91.8000, and 7226.99.0000.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
CTL plate from another firm that produces, imports, or otherwise distributes CTL plate.
Reporting of information.--If information is not readily available from your records, provide carefully
prepared estimates. If your firm is completing more than one questionnaire in connection with this
proceeding (i.e., a producer, importer, and/or purchaser questionnaire), you need not respond to
duplicated questions.
Confidentiality.--The commercial and financial data furnished in response to this questionnaire that
reveal the individual operations of your firm will be treated as confidential by the Commission to the
extent that such data are not otherwise available to the public and will not be disclosed except as may
be required by law (see 19 U.S.C. § 1677f). Such confidential information will not be published in a
manner that will reveal the individual operations of your firm; however, general characterizations of
numerical business proprietary information (such as discussion of trends) will be treated as confidential
business information only at the request of the submitter for good cause shown.
Verification.--The information submitted in this questionnaire is subject to audit and verification by the
Commission. To facilitate possible verification of data, please keep all of your files, worksheets, and
supporting documents used in the preparation of the questionnaire response. Please also retain a copy
of the final document that you submit.
Release of information.--The information provided by your firm in response to this questionnaire, as
well as any other business proprietary information submitted by your firm to the Commission in
connection with this proceeding, may become subject to, and released under, the administrative
protective order provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. § 1677f) and section 207.7 of the
Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR § 207.7). This means that certain lawyers and
other authorized individuals may temporarily be given access to the information for use in connection
with this proceeding or other import-injury proceedings conducted by the Commission on the same or
similar merchandise; those individuals would be subject to severe penalties if the information were
divulged to unauthorized individuals.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CTL plate
I-1.

Page 4

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.
I-2.

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 CTL plate, including auxiliary
facilities operated in conjunction with (whether or not physically separate from) such facilities.

I-3.

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

Yes--List the following information.
Address

Extent of ownership
(percent)

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CTL plate
I-4.

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

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

I-5.

Country

Affiliation

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

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name and country

I-6.

Page 5

Country

Affiliation

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 CTL plate?

No

Yes

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CTL plate

Page 6

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

Purchases.—
(a)

Please estimate your firm’s total U.S. purchases of CTL plate in 2016. (Do not include
imports for which your firm was the importer of record; such imports should be
reported in your U.S. importer’s questionnaire.)
Quantity (in short tons)

(b)

Estimate the percentage of the quantity of your firm’s purchases of CTL plate in 2016
that were produced in each of the specified countries.
CTL plate produced in:

Share of quantity of 2016 purchases

United States

%

India

%

Indonesia

%

Korea (excluding POSCO)

%

All other sources (including Korea
POSCO):1

%

Sources unknown

%

Total (should sum to 100.0%)
1

Please identify these countries:

0.0

%

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CTL plate
II-2.

Page 7

Changes in purchasing patterns.--Please indicate how the shares of your firm’s purchases of CTL
plate from different sources have changed since January 1, 2011.

Source of purchases

Did not
purchase Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated

Explanation for trend

United States
India
Indonesia
Korea (excluding
POSCO)
Korea (POSCO only)
All other sources
Sources unknown
II-3.

Country knowledge.--Please indicate the countries of origin with which your firm has
experience or information in the CTL plate market.

United
States

II-4.

India

Indonesia

Korea
(excluding
POSCO)

Korea
(POSCO
only)

Other
sources

Other countries (specify)

Supplier identification.--Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers for CTL plate since January
1, 2011. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s total purchases of CTL plate 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

%

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CTL plate

Page 8

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

Firm type.--Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of CTL plate (check all
that apply)?
Distributor

End user
construction

Other end user

Describe other

If your firm is a distributor of CTL plate, please answer questions III-2 and III-3.
III-2.

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

III-3.

Yes

If yes, please describe.

Types of customers.--What are the major types of consumers to which you sell CTL plate?

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CTL plate

Page 9

If your firm is an end user of CTL plate, please answer questions III-4 and III-5.
III-4.

End uses.—
(a)

List the top 3 products you make using CTL plate and estimate the percent of your total
production cost that is accounted for by CTL plate 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

(b)

CTL plate

Total
(should
sum to
100.0%
across)

Other inputs
% +

%

=

0.0 %

% +

%

=

0.0 %

% +

%

=

0.0 %

Have there been any changes in the end uses of CTL plate since January 1, 2011? Do
you anticipate any future changes?

Changes in end uses

No

Yes

Explain

Changes since
January 1, 2011
Anticipated changes
III-5.

Demand for end use products.-(a)

Has the demand for your firm’s final products incorporating CTL plate changed since
January 1, 2011?
Increased

(b)

No change

Decreased

Fluctuated

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

Yes

Explain

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CTL plate
III-6.

Page 10

Substitutes.—
(a)

Can other products be substituted for CTL plate?
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 CTL plate?
No Yes

Explanation

1.
2.
3.
(b)

Have there been any changes in the number or types of products that can be
substituted for CTL plate since January 1, 2011? Do you anticipate any future changes?

Changes in substitutes No Yes
Changes since January
1, 2011
Anticipated changes

Explain

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CTL plate
III-7.

Page 11

Demand trends.-- Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United
States (if known) for CTL plate has changed since January 1, 2011, and how you anticipate
demand will change in the future. Explain any trends and describe the principal factors that
have affected, and that you anticipate will affect, these changes in demand.

Overall
increase

Market

No
change

Overall
decrease

Fluctuate
with no
clear trend

Explanation and factors

Demand since January 1, 2011
Within the United States
Outside the United States
Anticipated future demand
Within the United States
Outside the United States
III-8.

Market studies.--Please provide as a separate attachment to this request any studies, surveys,
etc. that you are aware of that quantify and/or otherwise discuss CTL plate supply (including
production capacity and capacity utilization) and demand in (1) the United States, (2) each of
the other major producing/consuming countries, including India, Indonesia, and/or Korea
(excluding POSCO), and (3) the world as a whole. Of particular interest is such data from 2011 to
the present and forecasts for the future.

III-9.

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

Yes

If yes, identify the countries and explain.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CTL plate

Page 12

III-10. Importance of purchasing domestic product.--Please fill out the table below, estimating the
percentage of your firm’s total 2016 purchases of CTL plate that required CTL plate 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 CTL plate
%
%
%
%
0.0 %

III-11. Conditions of competition.-(a) Is the CTL plate market subject to business cycles (other than general economy-wide
conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to CTL plate?
Check all that apply.

Please describe.

No

Skip to question III-12.

Yes-Business cycles (e.g.
seasonal business)
Yes-Other distinctive
conditions of competition
(b) If yes, have there been any changes in the business cycles or conditions of competition for
CTL plate since January 1, 2011?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CTL plate

Page 13

III-12. Decisions based on producer and country-of-origin.--How often does your firm, and if you
know, do your customers, make purchasing decisions involving CTL plate 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-13. Availability of supply.--Has the availability of CTL plate in the U.S. market changed since January
1, 2011? Do you anticipate any future changes?

Availability in the U.S. market
Changes since January 1, 2011:
U.S.-produced product
Imports from India
Imports from Indonesia
Imports from Korea (Excluding
POSCO)
Imports from all other sources
Anticipated changes:
U.S.-produced product
Imports from India
Imports from Indonesia
Imports from Korea (Excluding
POSCO)
Imports from all other sources

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CTL plate

Page 14

III-15. Availability of specific product types.--Are certain grades/types/sizes of CTL plate only available
from certain country sources?
No

Yes

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

III-16. Supply constraints.--Has any firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply your firm with CTL
plate since January 1, 2011?
No

Yes

Supply constraint (check all that apply)
Our domestic supplier(s) have placed our firm on
allocation or “controlled order entry”.
Our import supplier(s) have placed our firm on
allocation or “controlled order entry”.
Our domestic supplier(s) have declined order(s)
Our import supplier(s) have declined order(s)
Our domestic supplier(s) has accepted order(s)
but delivered less than promised and/or
contracted
Our import supplier(s) has accepted order(s) but
delivered less than promised and/or contracted
Our domestic supplier(s) have been unable to
provide timely order completion or had extended
delivery times
Our import supplier(s) have been unable to
provide timely order completion or had extended
delivery times
Our domestic supplier(s) have been unable or
unwilling to provide specific types of CTL
plate/product specifications
Our import supplier(s) have been unable or
unwilling to provide specific types of CTL
plate/product specifications

Please explain.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CTL plate

Page 15

III-17. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

How frequently do you make purchases of CTL plate (check one)?
Daily

(b)

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Annually

Other

If other, specify

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

Yes

If yes, explain.

III-18. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers do you generally contact before making a
purchase? Between
and
firms.
III-19. Supplier negotiations.--Do your firm’s purchases of CTL plate usually involve negotiations
between supplier and purchaser?

No

Yes

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CTL plate

Page 16

III-20. Change in suppliers.--Has your firm changed suppliers since January 1, 2011?

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.-(a)

Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have entered the
market since January 1, 2011?
No

(b)

Yes

If yes, please identify the firms.

Do you expect new CTL plate suppliers to enter the U.S. market?
No

Yes

If yes, please explain.

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CTL plate

Page 17

III-23. Project-specific requirements.—Do you require qualified suppliers to also meet specific
requirements to be awarded a project?

No

Yes

If yes, provide a general description of the typical project-specific
requirements that a supplier must meet to be awarded a project by your
firm (e.g., physical characteristics, testing capabilities, etc.).

Since January 1, 2011, what proportion of your CTL plate needs had such
requirements?
percent

III-24. Failure to certify.--Since January 1, 2011, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their
attempts to certify or qualify their CTL plate 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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CTL plate

Page 18

III-25. Major purchasing factors.--Please list, in order of their importance, the three major factors your
firm considers in deciding from whom to purchase CTL plate (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:
III-26. Purchasing factors.--Please rate the importance of the following factors in your firm’s
purchasing decisions for CTL plate.

Factor

Very
important

Somewhat
important

Not
important

Availability
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
III-27. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of CTL plate?

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CTL plate

Page 19

III-28. Minimum quality.--How often does CTL plate 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
India
Indonesia
Korea (excluding POSCO)
Other:
III-29. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the CTL plate that
is offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

III-30. 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 CTL plate market since
January 1, 2011.
Firm(s)

Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CTL plate

Page 20

III-31. Changes in U.S. industry.-(a)

Please identify and discuss any improvements/changes in the U.S. CTL plate industry
since January 1, 2011 and explain the factors, including the order(s) under review, that
were responsible for each improvement/change.

(b)

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

III-32. Effect of revocation of orders.--What do you think will be the effects on your firm and on the
U.S. market of any revocation of the antidumping duty order on imports of CTL plate from India,
Indonesia, and/or Korea (excluding POSCO)?

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CTL plate

Page 21

PART IV.--PRODUCT COMPARISIONS
IV-1. Interchangeability.--Is CTL plate 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

India

Indonesia

Korea1

Other countries1

United States
India
Indonesia
Korea1
For any country-pair producing CTL plate which is sometimes or never interchangeable, please
identify the country-pair and explain the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable use:

1

“Korea” includes CTL plate from all producers in Korea other than POSCO; “Other countries”
includes CTL plate from POSCO.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CTL plate
IV-2.

Page 22

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

India

Indonesia

Korea1

Other countries1

United States
India
Indonesia
Korea1
For any country-pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant
factor in your firm’s purchases of CTL plate, identify the country-pair and report the
advantages or disadvantages imparted by such factors:

1

“Korea” includes CTL plate from all producers in Korea other than POSCO; “Other countries”
includes CTL plate from POSCO.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CTL plate
IV-3.

Page 23

Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how CTL plate produced
in each country you identified in your response to the first question in Part IV compares with CTL
plate 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.

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Korea (excluding
POSCO)

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Indonesia

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
India

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CTL plate
IV-3.

Page 24

Factor country comparisons.--Continued.

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

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
Indonesia
compared to
product from
Korea (excluding
POSCO)

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
India
compared to
product from
Indonesia

Product from
India
compared to
product from
Korea (excluding
POSCO)

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CTL plate
IV-3.

Page 25

Factor country comparisons.--Continued.

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

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
India
compared to product from
all other sources2

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
United States
compared to product from
all other sources2

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
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.
2
Includes Korea (POSCO).

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CTL plate
IV-3.

Page 26

Factor country comparisons.--Continued.

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

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
Korea (excluding POSCO)
compared to product from
all other sources2

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
Indonesia
compared to product from
all other sources2

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
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.
2
Includes Korea (POSCO).

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – CTL plate
IV-4.

Page 27

Change in price.-(a)

Since January 1, 2011, has there been a change in the price of CTL plate? If so, has the
price of U.S.-produced CTL plate changed more or less than the price of imported CTL
plate from India, Indonesia, and/or Korea (excluding POSCO)?
No change in price.
Prices have changed by the same amount.
Price of U.S.-produced CTL plate has changed relative to the price of CTL
plate from India.
Price of U.S.-produced CTL plate has changed relative to the price of CTL
plate from Indonesia.
Price of U.S.-produced CTL plate has changed relative to the price of CTL
plate from Korea (excluding POSCO).

(b)

If the price of U.S.-produced CTL plate has changed relative to the price of CTL plate
from India, Indonesia, and/or Korea (Excluding POSCO), the price of U.S.-produced CTL
plate is now relatively
Higher

Lower
than those from India.
than those from Indonesia.
than those from Korea (excluding
POSCO).

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 – CTL plate

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/701731/2016/cut_to_length_carbon_quality_stee
l_plate_india/third_review_full.htm
Please do not attempt to modify the format or permissions of the questionnaire
document. Please submit the completed questionnaire using one of the methods noted
below. If your firm is unable to complete the MS Word questionnaire or cannot use one
of the electronic methods of submission, please contact the Commission for further
instructions.
• Upload via Secure Drop Box.—Upload the MS Word questionnaire along with a scanned copy of the
signed certification page (page 1) through the Commission’s secure upload facility:
Web address: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/

Pin: CTLP

• E-mail.—E-mail the MS Word questionnaire to fernando.gracia@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.