17-2-3778 US importers' questionnaire

Information collections for import injury investigations (producers, importers, purchasers, and foreign producer questionnaires and institution notices for 5-year reviews)

US Importers--Forged steel fittings (P)

Forged steel fittings from China, Italy, and Taiwan (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-589 and 731-TA-1394-1396 (Preliminary))

OMB: 3117-0016

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OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 17-2-3778; Expiration Date: 6/30/2020
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U.S. IMPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
FORGED STEEL FITTINGS FROM CHINA, ITALY, AND TAIWAN
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by October 19, 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 duty investigations concerning forged steel fittings from China,
Italy, and Taiwan (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-589 and 731-TA-1394-1396 (Preliminary)). The information requested in the
questionnaire is requested under the authority of the Tariff Act of 1930, title VII. This report is mandatory and failure to
reply as directed can result in a subpoena or other order to compel the submission of records or information in your
firm’s possession (19 U.S.C. § 1333(a)).

Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm imported forged steel fittings (as defined on next page) from any country at any time since
January 1, 2014?

(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: FSF)
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 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

Fax:

Email address

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

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PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background. --This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on October 5, 2017, by
Bonney Forge Corporation, Mount Union, PA; and United Steel Workers, Pittsburgh, PA. 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/title_7/2017/forged_steel_fittings_china_italy_and_taiwan/preliminary.htm

Forged steel fittings covered by these investigations are carbon and alloy forged steel fittings, whether
unfinished (commonly known as blanks or rough forgings) or finished. Such fittings are made in a variety
of shapes including, but not limited to, elbows, tees, crosses, laterals, couplings, reducers, caps, plugs,
bushings and unions. Forged steel fittings are covered regardless of end finish, whether threaded,
socket-weld or other end connections.
While these fittings are generally manufactured to specifications ASME B16.11, MSS SP-79, and MSS SP83, ASTM A105, ASTM A350, and ASTM A182, the scope is not limited to fittings made to these
specifications.
The term forged is an industry term used to describe a class of products included in applicable
standards, and does not reference an exclusive manufacturing process. Forged steel fittings are not
manufactured from casting. Pursuant to the applicable standards fittings may also be machined from
bar stock or machined from seamless pipe and tube.
All types of fittings are included in the scope regardless of nominal pipe size (which may or may not be
expressed in inches of nominal pipe size), pressure rating (usually, but not necessarily expressed in
pounds of pressure, e.g., 2,000 or 2M; 3,000 or 3M; 6,000 or 6M; 9,000 or 9M), wall thickness, and
whether or not heat treated.
Excluded from this scope are all fittings entirely made of stainless steel. Also excluded are flanges and
butt weld fittings.
Forged steel fittings are currently imported under statistical reporting numbers 7307.99.5045,
7307.99.5060, 7307.99.1000, and 7307.99.3000 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
(HTSUS). They may also be imported under HTSUS statistical reporting numbers 7307.92.3010,
7307.92.3030, 7307.92.9000, or 7326.19.0010. The HTSUS provisions are for convenience and customs
purposes; the written description of the scope is dispositive.
Importer.--Any person or firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or subsidiary, in
importing forged steel fittings (as defined above) into the United States from a foreign manufacturer or
through its selling agent.
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.

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Confidentiality.--The commercial and financial data furnished in response to this questionnaire that
reveal the individual operations of your firm will be treated as confidential by the Commission to the
extent that such data are not otherwise available to the public and will not be disclosed except as may
be required by law (see 19 U.S.C. § 1677f). Such confidential information will not be published in a
manner that will reveal the individual operations of your firm; however, general characterizations of
numerical business proprietary information (such as discussion of trends) will be treated as confidential
business information only at the request of the submitter for good cause shown.
Verification.-- The information submitted in this questionnaire is subject to audit and verification by the
Commission. To facilitate possible verification of data, please keep all 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.
Valid number error messages.--If you are completing this form in a country that uses periods (“.”) to
delineate multiples of 1000 (e.g., one million would appear as $1.000.000 rather than $1,000,000), you
may be unable to enter in numbers greater than 999 in numeric form fields. The solution to this data
entry issue is to temporarily change your operating system’s number formatting to be consistent with
the U.S. number formatting system while you complete this form. Detailed instructions on how to
resolve this issue is provided at the end of this questionnaire and is available upon request from Amelia
Shister (202-205-2047, Amelia.Shister@usitc.gov).
I-1.

OMB statistics.--Please report below 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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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
I-2.

Page 4

Establishments covered.--Provide the name and address of establishment(s) covered by this
questionnaire. If your firm is publicly traded, please specify the stock exchange and trading
symbol.
“Establishment”--Each facility of a firm involved in the importation of forged steel fittings,
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

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, that are engaged in importing forged steel fittings from China, Italy, and/or Taiwan into
the United States or that are engaged in exporting forged steel fittings from China, Italy, and/or
Taiwan to the United States?
No
Firm name

Yes--List the following information.
Country

Affiliation

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
I-5.

Related producers.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, that are
engaged in the production of forged steel fittings?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

I-6.

Country

Affiliation

Importing operations.--Please indicate the nature of your firm’s importing operations on forged
steel fittings. More than one answer may be applicable.
Importer of record

I-7.

Page 5

Takes title to the
imported product(s)

Consignee of the
imported products(s)

Customs broker or
freight forwarder

Consignee.--If your firm is an importer of record of forged steel fittings but is not the consignee,
please list the consignees below (firm name, address, telephone number, and individual to
contact).

Firm name

Address

Contact person
and phone
number

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
I-8.

Page 6

FTZ, TIB, or bonded warehouses.--Please indicate whether your firm enters forged steel fittings
into, or withdraws such merchandise from, foreign trade zones or bonded warehouses. Also
indicate whether your firm imports forged steel fittings under the TIB (temporary importation
under bond) program.
“Foreign trade zone” is a designated location in the United States where firms utilize special
procedures that allow delayed or reduced customs duty payments on foreign merchandise, as
well as other savings. A foreign trade zone must be designed as such pursuant to the rules and
procedures set forth in the Foreign-Trade Zones Act.
“Bonded warehouse” is a secured facility supervised by U.S. customs, where dutiable landed
imports are stored pending their re-export, or release after payment of import duties, taxes, and
other charges. A bonded warehouse must be designed as such pursuant to the rules and
procedures set forth in 19 U.S.C. § 1555.
“Temporary Importation under Bond (“TIB”) program” is a procedure whereby imported
merchandise may be entered under certain conditions for a limited time into the United States
free of duty. Under the program, an importer posts a bond for twice the amount of duty, taxes,
etc. that would otherwise be owed on the importation and agrees to export or destroy the
merchandise within a specified time or pay liquidated damages. This program is restricted to
certain categories of merchandise listed in subheadings 9813.00.05 through 9813.00.75 of the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS).
Item

Yes

Foreign trade zones
Bonded warehouses
Temporary importation under bond

I-9.

Other trade actions.--To your knowledge, have the products subject to this proceeding been the
subject of any other import relief proceedings in the United States or in any other countries?
No

Yes–Please specify.

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PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Amelia Shister (202-2052047, amelia.shister@usitc.gov). Supply all data requested on a calendar-year basis.
II-1.

Contact information.--Please identify the responsible individual and the manner by which
Commission staff may contact that individual regarding the confidential information submitted
in part II.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
Fax

II-2.

Changes in operations.--Please indicate whether your firm has experienced any of the following
changes in relation to the importation of forged steel fittings since January 1, 2014.
(check as many as appropriate)
Office/warehouse openings
Office/warehouse closings
Relocations
Expansions
Acquisitions
Consolidations
Prolonged shutdowns or
importation curtailments
Revised labor agreements
Other (e.g., technology)

(If checked, please describe; leave blank if not applicable)

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
II-3a.

Page 8

Arranged imports.--Has your firm imported or arranged for the importation of forged steel
fittings for delivery after June 30, 2017?
“Arranged imports” are imports for which your firm has placed an order with a foreign supplier
for subject merchandise, but delivery of those imports is not scheduled to occur until after the
date listed above.
No

Yes–Fill out the table below.
Quantity (in short tons)

Period/Source

Jul-Sept 2017

Oct-Dec 2017

Jan-Mar 2018

Apr-Jun 2018

China
Italy
Taiwan
Other sources
II-3b.

Imports in the 12 month period preceding the petition.--Has your firm imported forged steel
fittings from any source between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017? (i.e., the last three
months in 2016 and first nine months in 2017 combined)
No

Yes-Report the quantity of such import below by source.
Quantity (in short tons)
Source

October 2016 through September 2017

China
Italy
Taiwan
Other sources
II-4.

Reasons for importing if producer.--If your firm also produces forged steel fittings in the United
States, please indicate the reasons for importing this product. If your firm’s reasons differ by
source, please elaborate.

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Definitions
“Imports” –Those products identified for Customs purposes as imports for consumption for
which your firm was the importer of record (i.e., was responsible for paying any import duty) or
consignee (i.e., to which the merchandise was first delivered).
“Import quantities” –Quantities reported should be net of returns.
“Import values”—Values reported should be landed, duty-paid values at the U.S. port of entry,
including ocean freight and insurance costs, brokerage charges, and import duties (i.e., all
charges except inland freight in the United States).
“U.S. commercial shipments”— Shipments made within the United States as a result of an arm’s
length commercial transaction in the ordinary course of business. Report net values (i.e., gross
sales values less all discounts, allowances, rebates, prepaid freight, and the value of returned
goods) in U.S. dollars, f.o.b. your point of shipment.
“Internal consumption” –Product consumed internally by your firm. Such transactions are
valued at fair market value.
“Transfers to related firms” –Shipments made to related domestic firms. Such transactions are
valued at fair market value.
“Related firm” –A firm that your firm solely or jointly owns, manages, or otherwise controls.
“Export shipments”— Shipments to destinations outside the United States, including shipments
to related firms.
“Inventories” --Finished goods inventory, not raw materials or work in progress.
Note: As requested in Part I of this questionnaire, please keep all supporting documents/records
used in the preparation of the trade data, as Commission staff may contact your firm regarding
questions on the trade data. The Commission may also request that your company submit copies
of the supporting documents/records (such as production and sales schedules, inventory records,
etc.) used to compile these data.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
II-5a.

Page 10

U.S. imports from China.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and inventories
of forged steel fittings imported from China by your firm during the specified periods.

China
Quantity (in short tons), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2014

2015

January-June
2016

2016

2017

Beginning-of-period inventories
(quantity) (A)
Imports:1
Quantity (B)
Value (C)
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity (D)
Value (E)
Internal consumption/
company transfers:2
Quantity (F)
Value2 (G)
Export shipments:3
Quantity (H)
Value (I)
End-of-period inventories
(quantity) (J)
Channels of distribution:
Commercial U.S. shipments:
To distributors (quantity) (K)
To end users (quantity) (L)
To finishers/converters
(quantity) (M)
1

Please identify the foreign producers, if known:
.
Sales to related firms (including internal consumption) must be valued at fair market value. In the event that your firm
uses a different basis for valuing these sales within your company, please specify that basis (e.g., cost, cost plus, etc.) and
provide value data using that basis for each of the periods noted above:
.
3
Identify your firm’s principal export markets:
.
2

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Page 11

U.S. imports from China.–Continued

RECONCILIATION OF SHIPMENTS, IMPORTS, AND INVENTORIES.--Generally, the data reported for the
end-of-period inventories (i.e., line J) should be equal to the beginning-of-period inventories (i.e., line A),
plus imports (i.e., line B), less total shipments (i.e., lines D, F, and H). Please ensure that any differences
are not due to data entry errors in completing this form, but rather actually reflect your firm’s records;
and also provide any likely explanations for any differences (e.g., theft, loss, damage, record systems
issues, etc.) if they exist.
Calendar years
Reconciliation

2014

2015

A + B – D – F – H – J = should equal zero
("0") or provide an explanation.1

January-June
2016

2016
0

2017
0

Explanation if the calculated fields above are returning values other than zero (i.e., “0”) but are nonetheless
accurate:
.
RECONCILIATION OF CHANNELS.--Please ensure that the quantities reported for channels of distribution
(i.e., lines K, L, and M) in each time period equal the quantity reported for commercial U.S. shipments
(i.e., line D) in each time period. If the calculated fields below return values other than zero (i.e., “0”), the
data reported must be revised prior to submission to the Commission.
Calendar years
Reconciliation item
K + L + M – D = zero ("0"), if not
revise.

2014

2015
0

January-June
2016

2016
0

2017
0

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II-5b.

Page 12

U.S. imports by type: China.–Report your firm’s imports of forged steel fittings imported from
China by during the specified periods.

China
Quantity (in short tons) and value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2014

January-June

2015

2016

2017

U.S. imports:
Unfinished forged steel fittings
not otherwise processed after
forging:
Quantity (N)
Value (O)
Forged steel fittings, processed
after forging but not finished:
Quantity (P)
Value (Q)
Finished forged steel fittings:
Quantity (R)
Value (S)
RECONCILIATION OF IMPORTS BY TYPE.--Please ensure that the quantities reported for U.S. imports in
this question (i.e., lines N through S) in each time period equal the quantity reported for U.S. imports the
previous question (i.e., lines B through C) in each time period. If the calculated fields below return values
other than zero (i.e., “0”), the data reported must be revised prior to submission to the Commission.
Calendar years
Reconciliation
Quantity: N + P + R – B = zero ("0"),
if not revise.
Value: O + Q + S – C = zero ("0"), if
not revise.

2014

2015

January-June
2016

2016

2017

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
II-6a.

Page 13

U.S. imports by Italy.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and inventories of
forged steel fittings imported from Italy by your firm during the specified periods.

Italy
Quantity (in short tons), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2014

2015

January-June
2016

2016

2017

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Page 14

U.S. imports by Italy.–Continued

2014

2015

A + B – D – F – H – J = should equal zero
("0") or provide an explanation.1

January-June
2016

2016
0

2017
0

2014

2015
0

January-June
2016

2016
0

2017
0

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II-6b.

Page 15

U.S. imports by type: Italy.–Report your firm’s imports of forged steel fittings imported from
Italy by during the specified periods.

Italy
Quantity (in short tons) and value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2014

January-June

2015

2016

2017

Reconciliation
Quantity: N + P + R – B = zero ("0"),
if not revise.
Value: O + Q + S – C = zero ("0"), if
not revise.

Calendar years
2015

2014

January-June
2016
2017

2016

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Page 16

U.S. imports from Taiwan.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and
inventories of forged steel fittings imported from Taiwan by your firm during the specified
periods.

Taiwan
Quantity (in short tons), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2014

2015

January-June
2016

2016

2017

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Page 17

U.S. imports from Taiwan.–Continued

2014

2015

A + B – D – F – H – J = should equal zero
("0") or provide an explanation.1

January-June
2016

2016
0

2017
0

2014

2015
0

January-June
2016

2016
0

2017
0

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II-7b.

Page 18

U.S. imports by type: Taiwan.–Report your firm’s imports of forged steel fittings imported from
Taiwan by during the specified periods.

Taiwan
Quantity (in short tons) and value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2014

January-June

2015

2016

2017

Reconciliation
Quantity: N + P + R – B = zero ("0"),
if not revise.
Value: O + Q + S – C = zero ("0"), if
not revise.

Calendar years
2015

2014

January-June
2016
2017

2016

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II-8a.

Page 19

U.S. imports from all other sources.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and
inventories of forged steel fittings imported from all other sources by your firm during the
specified periods.

All Other Sources

(list sources:

)
Quantity (in short tons), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years

Item

2014

2015

January-June
2016

2016

2017

Beginning-of-period inventories
(quantity) (A)
Imports:1
Quantity (B)
Value (C)
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity (D)
Value (E)
Internal consumption/
company transfers:
Quantity (F)
Value2 (G)
Export shipments:3
Quantity (H)
Value (I)
End-of-period inventories
(quantity) (J)
Channels of distribution:
Commercial U.S. shipments:
To distributors (quantity) (K)
To end users (quantity) (L)
To finishers/converters
(quantity) (M)
1

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Page 20

U.S. imports from all other sources.–Continued

2014

2015

A + B – D – F – H – J = should equal zero
("0") or provide an explanation.1

January-June
2016

2016
0

2017
0

2014

2015
0

January-June
2016

2016
0

2017
0

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II-8b.

Page 21

U.S. imports by type: All other sources.–Report your firm’s imports of forged steel fittings
imported from all other sources by during the specified periods.

All Other Sources
Quantity (in short tons) and value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2014

January-June

2015

2016

2017

Reconciliation
Quantity: N + P + R – B = zero ("0"),
if not revise.
Value: O + Q + S – C = zero ("0"), if
not revise.
II-9.

Calendar years
2015

2014

January-June
2016
2017

2016

Other explanations.--If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question in Part II
that did not provide a narrative response box, please note the question number and the
explanation in the space provided below. Please also use this space to highlight any issues your
firm had in providing the data in this section, including but not limited to technical issues with
the MS Word questionnaire.

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Page 22

PART III.--PRICING AND MARKET FACTORS
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Tamara Gurevich (202-2053403, tamara.gurevich@usitc.gov).
III-1.

PRICE DATA
III-2.

This question requests quarterly quantity and value data for your firm’s commercial shipments
to unrelated U.S. customers since January 1, 2014 of the following forged steel fittings your firm
imported from China, Italy, and/or Taiwan:
Product 1.--ASME B16.11, ¼” 3000 Tee (threaded)
Product 2.--ASME B16.11, 1” 2000 90 Elbow (threaded)
Product 3.--ASME B16.11, ¾” 3000 Union (threaded)
Product 4.--ASME B16.11 2” 3000 Coupling (threaded)

Please note that values should be f.o.b., U.S. point of shipment and should not include U.S.-inland
transportation costs. Values should reflect the final net amount paid to your firm (i.e., should be net
of all deductions for discounts or rebates).
During January 2014-June 2017, did your firm import from China, Italy, and/or Taiwan and sell to
unrelated U.S. customers any of the above listed products (or any products that were
competitive with these products)?
Yes.--Please complete the following pricing data table(s) as appropriate.
No.--Skip to question III-3.

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III-2(a). Price data.--Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from China
and sold by your firm.

China

Report data in pounds (not short tons) and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
Product 1
Quantity
Value

(Quantity in pounds, value in dollars)
Product 2
Product 3
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value

Product 4
Period of shipment
Quantity
Value
2014:
January-March
April-June
July-June
October-December
2015:
January-March
April-June
July-June
October-December
2016:
January-March
April-June
July-June
October-December
2017:
January-March
April-June
1
Net values (i.e., gross sales values less all discounts, allowances, rebates, prepaid freight, and the value of returned goods), f.o.b. your firm’s U.S.
point of shipment.
2
Pricing product definitions are provided on the first page of Part III.
Note.--If your firm’s product does not exactly meet the product specifications but is competitive with the specified product, provide a description of
your firm’s product. Also, please explain any anomalies in your firm’s reported pricing data.
Product 1:
Product 2:
Product 3:
Product 4:

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 24

III-2(b). Price data.--Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from Italy and
sold by your firm.

Italy

Report data in pounds (not short tons) and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
Product 1
Quantity
Value

(Quantity in pounds, value in dollars)
Product 2
Product 3
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

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III-2(c). Price data.--Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from Taiwan
and sold by your firm.

Taiwan

Report data in pounds (not short tons) and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
Product 1
Quantity
Value

(Quantity in pounds, value in dollars)
Product 2
Product 3
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 26

III-2 (b). Price data checklist.--Please check that the pricing data in question III-2(a) has been correctly
reported.
Is the price data reported above:

√ if Yes

In actual dollars (not $1,000)?
In pounds (not short tons)?
F.o.b. U.S. point of shipment (i.e., does not include U.S. transport costs)?
Net of all discounts and rebates?
Have returns credited to the quarter in which the sale occurred?
Less than reported commercial shipments in questions II-5/6/7 in each year?
III-2(c). Pricing data methodology.--Please describe the method and the kinds of documents/records
that were used to compile your price data.

Note: As requested in Part I of this questionnaire, please keep all supporting documents/records used in
the preparation of the price data, as Commission staff may contact your firm regarding questions on the
price data. The Commission may also request that your company submit copies of the supporting
documents/records (such as sales journal, invoices, etc.) used to compile these data.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
III-3.

Price setting.--How does your firm determine the prices that it charges for sales of forged steel
fittings (check all that apply)? If your firm issues price lists, please submit sample pages of a
recent list.
Transaction
by
transaction

III-4.

Contracts

Other

If other, describe

Annual
total
volume
discounts

No
discount
policy

Other

Describe

Pricing terms.-(a)

What are your firm’s typical sales terms for forged steel fittings imported from China,
Italy, and/or Taiwan?
Net 30
days

(b)

Net 60
days

2/10 net 30
days

Other

Other (specify)

On what basis are your firm’s prices of imported forged steel fittings from China, Italy,
and/or Taiwan usually quoted (check one)?
Delivered

III-6.

Set
price
lists

Discount policy.--Please indicate and describe your firm’s discount policies (check all that apply).

Quantity
discounts

III-5.

Page 27

F.o.b.

If f.o.b., specify point

Contract versus spot.--Approximately what share of your firm’s sales of forged steel fittings
imported from China, Italy, and/or Taiwan in 2016 was on a (1) long-term contract basis,
(2) annual contract basis, (3) short-term contract basis, and (4) spot sales basis?

Share of 2016
sales

Long-term
contracts
(multiple
deliveries for
more than 12
months)
%

Type of sale
Short-term
Annual
contracts
contracts
(multiple
(multiple
deliveries for
deliveries for 12
less than 12
months)
months)
%

Total
(should
sum to
100.0%)

Spot sales
(for a single
delivery)
%

0.0

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
III-7.

Page 28

Contract provisions.— Please fill out the table regarding your firm’s typical sales contracts for
forged steel fittings from China, Italy, and/or Taiwan (or check “not applicable” if your firm does
not sell on a long-term, short-term and/or annual contract basis).

Typical sales
contract provisions

Item

Average contract
duration

No. of
days

Price renegotiation
(during contract
period)

Yes

Fixed quantity
and/or price
Meet or release
provision

Short-term
contracts
(multiple deliveries
for less than 12
months)

Annual contracts
(multiple deliveries
for 12 months)

Long-term contracts
(multiple deliveries for
more than 12 months)

365

No
Quantity
Price
Both
Yes
No

Not applicable

III-8.

Lead times.--What is your firm’s share of sales of forged steel fittings imported from China, Italy,
and/or Taiwan from inventory and produced to order and what is the typical lead time between
a customer’s order and the date of delivery for your firm’s sales of forged steel fittings?

Source

Share of 2016
sales

From your firm’s U.S. inventory

From foreign manufacturers’ inventory

Produced to order

Total (should sum to 100.0%)

0.0 %

Lead time
(Average number
of days)

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
III-9.

Page 29

Shipping information.—
(a)

What is the approximate percentage of the cost of forged steel fittings imported from
China, Italy, and/or Taiwan that is accounted for by U.S. inland transportation costs?
percent.

(b)

Who generally arranges the transportation to your firm’s customers’ locations?
Your firm
Purchaser (check one)

(c)

When your firm sells forged steel fittings imported from China, Italy, and/or Taiwan,
from where is it shipped?
Point of importation
Storage facility (check one)

(d)

Indicate the approximate percentage of your firm’s sales of forged steel fittings
imported from China, Italy, and/or Taiwan that are delivered the following distances
from your firm’s U.S. point of shipment.
Distance from your firm’s U.S. point of shipment

Within 100 miles

101 to 1,000 miles

Over 1,000 miles

Total (should sum to 100.0%)

0.0

III-10. Geographical shipments.--In which U.S. geographic market area(s) has your firm sold forged
steel fittings imported from subject countries since January 1, 2014 (check all that apply)?
Geographic area
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.

China

Italy

Taiwan

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 30

III-11. End uses.--List the end uses of the forged steel fittings that your firm imports. For each end-use
product, what percentage of the total cost is accounted for by forged steel fittings and other
inputs?
Share of total cost of end-use product
accounted for by
End use product

Forged steel fittings

Total
(should sum to
100.0% across)

Other inputs

0.0 %

III-12. Substitutes.--Can other products be substituted for forged steel fittings?
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 forged steel fittings?
No Yes

Explanation

1.
2.
3.
III-13. Demand trends.--Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United
States (if known) for forged steel fittings 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
Overall Fluctuate with
change decrease no clear trend

Explanation and factors

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 31

III-14. Product changes.--Have there been any significant changes in the product range, product mix or
marketing of forged steel fittings since January 1, 2014?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

III-15. Conditions of competition.—
(a) Is the forged steel fittings market subject to business cycles (other than general economywide conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to forged steel fittings?
Check all that apply.

Please describe.

Skip to question III-16.

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
forged steel fittings since January 1, 2014?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 32

III-16. Supply constraints.--Has your firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply forged steel
fittings 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, being unable to meet timely shipment commitments, etc.)?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

III-17. Raw materials.--How have forged steel fittings raw material prices changed since January 1,
2014?
Fluctuate
Overall
No
Overall
with no
increase change decrease clear trend

Explain, noting how raw material price changes
have affected your firm’s selling prices for forged
steel fittings.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 33

III-18. Interchangeability.--Is forged steel fittings produced in the United States and in other countries
interchangeable (i.e., can they physically be used in the same applications)?
Please indicate A, F, S, N, or 0 in the table below:
A = the products from a specified country-pair are always interchangeable
F = the products are frequently interchangeable
S = the products are sometimes interchangeable
N = the products are never interchangeable
0 = no familiarity with products from a specified country-pair
Country-pair

China

Italy

Taiwan

Other countries

United States
China
Italy
Taiwan
For any country-pair producing forged steel fittings that is sometimes or never
interchangeable, identify the country-pair and explain the factors that limit or preclude
interchangeable use:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 34

III-19. Factors other than price.--Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between forged steel fittings
produced in the United States and in other countries a significant factor in your firm’s sales of
the products?
Please indicate A, F, S, N, or 0 in the table below:
A = such differences are always significant
F = such differences are frequently significant
S = such differences are sometimes significant
N = such differences are never significant
0 = no familiarity with products from a specified country-pair
Country-pair

China

Italy

Taiwan

Other countries

United States
China
Italy
Taiwan
For any country-pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant
factor in your firm’s sales of forged steel fittings, identify the country-pair and report the
advantages or disadvantages imparted by such factors:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 35

III-20. Approved manufacturers’ lists.—
(a) Please estimate the share of your firm’s commercial U.S. shipments of forged steel fittings that
were to customers that required the listing of the producer on an approved manufacturers’ list
(whether published or proprietary).
Share of 2016 sales
Estimated share of your firm’s commercial U.S. shipments of
imported forged steel fittings subject to an approved manufacturers’
listing

(b) With what frequency are forged steel fittings produced by firms listed on approved
manufacturers’ lists and forged steel fittings produced by firms not on approved manufacturers’
lists interchangeable?
Always

Please explain your answer:

Usually

Sometimes

Never

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 36

III-21. Customer identification.--List the names and contact information for your firm’s 10 largest U.S.
customers for forged steel fittings since January 1, 2014. Indicate the share of the quantity of
your firm’s total shipments of forged steel fittings that each of these customers accounted for in
2016.

Customer’s name

Contact person

Telephone

City

State

Share
of
2016
sales
(%)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

III-22. Other explanations.--If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question in Part III
that did not provide a narrative response box, please note the question number and the
explanation in the space provided below. Please also use this space to highlight any issues your
firm had in providing the data in this section, including but not limited to technical issues with
the MS Word questionnaire.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 37

Correcting Valid number error messages.--If you are completing a Commission

questionnaire in a country that uses periods (“.”) to delineate multiples of 1000 (e.g., one million would
appear as $1.000.000 instead of as $1,000,000), you may be unable to enter in numbers greater than
999 in numeric form fields. This issues stem from your computer number formatting setting (e.g., not
the MS Word document itself, but the computer from which you are opening up the document). In the
United States commas (,) delineate multiples of 1000 and periods (.) delineate fractions less than one.
Many EU countries use the reverse where multiples of 1000 are delineated with periods (.) and
fractions less than one are delineated with commas (,). The US International Trade Commission’s
questionnaires are set-up in the United States with the U.S. number formatting. When this formatting
interacts with a computer set to EU number formatting, we believe this may cause this issue.
The solution to this data entry issue is to temporarily change your operating system’s number
formatting to be consistent with the U.S. number formatting system while you complete the
questionnaire.
To temporarily change your computer’s number settings to U.S. settings, please do the following (for
Microsoft Windows Operating system):
•
•
•
•
•

START
Control Panel
Region and Language (under Clock, Language, and Region category)
Format tab
Change the Format from your existing one (e.g. “Italian (Italy)”) to “English (United States)” (see
screen shots below)

When you do this the number “twelve million dollars and thirty five cents” would change from
$12.000.000,35 (Italy format) to $12,000,000.35 (U.S. format), and then there will be no conflict with
the questionnaire. When you finish reporting the data then you can close the questionnaire and switch
back to Italy settings.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings

Page 38

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/title_7/2017/forged_steel_fittings_china_italy_and_taiwan/preliminary.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: FSF

• E-mail.—E-mail the MS Word questionnaire to NAME@usitc.gov; include a scanned copy of the signed
certification page (page 1). Submitters are strongly encouraged to encrypt nonpublic documents that are
electronically transmitted to the Commission to protect your sensitive information from unauthorized
disclosure. The USITC secure drop-box system and the Electronic Document Information System (EDIS)
use Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 140-2 cryptographic algorithms to encrypt data in
transit. Submitting your nonpublic documents by a means that does not use these encryption algorithms
(such as by email) may subject your firm’s nonpublic information to unauthorized disclosure during
transmission. If you choose a non-encrypted method of electronic transmission, the Commission warns
you that the risk of such possible unauthorized disclosure is assumed by you and not by the Commission.
If your firm did not import 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.

File Type	application/pdf
File Title	USITCQUESTIONNAIRE
Subject	Title 7 investigations
Author	USITC
File Modified	2017-10-25
File Created	2017-10-25