18-4-3983 Foreign producers' questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 18-4-3983; Expiration Date: 6/30/2020
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

FOREIGN PRODUCERS’/EXPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
FRESH TOMATOES FROM MEXICO
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by December 3, 2018
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 suspended antidumping duty investigation concerning fresh tomatoes from Mexico (Inv.
No. 731-TA-747 (Fourth Review)). The information requested in the questionnaire is requested under the authority of the
Tariff Act of 1930, Title VII.

Name of firm
Address
Website
Has your firm produced or exported fresh tomatoes (as defined on next page) at any time since January 1, 2012?

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: FRESH)
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 proceeding 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

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Fourth Review)

Page 2

PART I.--GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.-- On November 1, 1996, the Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) suspended an
investigation on imports of fresh tomatoes from Mexico pursuant to a suspension agreement with
growers and processors that accounted for substantially all imports of fresh tomatoes from Mexico. The
suspension agreement was renegotiated three subsequent times, and the most recent suspension
agreement was adopted on March 8, 2013. On February 1, 2018, 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
termination of the suspended investigation 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 an affirmative determination, the suspension agreement will remain in place. If
either the Commission or Commerce makes a negative determination, Commerce will terminate the
suspension agreement. Questionnaires and other information pertinent to this proceeding are available
at https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2018/fresh_tomatoes_mexico/fourth_review_full.htm.
Fresh Tomatoes is all fresh or chilled tomatoes (fresh tomatoes) which have Mexico as their origin,
except for those tomatoes which are for processing. For purposes of this suspension agreement,
processing is defined to include preserving by any commercial process, such as canning, dehydrating,
drying, or the addition of chemical substances, or converting the tomato product into juices, sauces, or
purees. Fresh tomatoes that are imported for cutting up, not further processing (e.g., tomatoes used in
the preparation of fresh salsa or salad bars), are covered by this suspension agreement.
Commercially grown tomatoes, both for the fresh market and for processing, are classified as
Lycopersicon esculentum. Important commercial varieties of fresh tomatoes include common round,
cherry, grape, plum, greenhouse, and pear tomatoes, all of which are covered by this Suspension
Agreement.
Tomatoes imported from Mexico covered by this suspension agreement are classified under the
following subheading of the Harmonized Tariff Schedules of the United States (HTSUS), according to the
season of importation: 0702.00. Although the HTSUS numbers are provided for convenience and
customs purposes, the written description of the scope of this investigation is dispositive.
Reporting of information.-- If information is not readily available from your records, provide carefully
prepared estimates. If your firm is completing more than one questionnaire (i.e., a producer, importer,
purchaser and/or foreign producer questionnaire), you need not respond to duplicated questions.
Confidentiality.--The commercial and financial data furnished in response to this questionnaire that
reveal the individual operations of your firm will be treated as confidential by the Commission to the
extent that such data are not otherwise available to the public and will not be disclosed except as may
be required by law (see 19 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.

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Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Fourth Review)

Page 3

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 Christopher
Couper (202-708-1440, christopher.couper@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 30
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 your firm is publicly traded, please specify the stock exchange and trading
symbol.
“Establishment”-- Each facility of a firm in Mexico involved in the production or export of fresh
tomatoes, including auxiliary facilities operated in conjunction with (whether or not physically
separate from) such facilities. Firms operating more than one establishment in Mexico should
combine the data for all establishments into a single report.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Fourth Review)
I-3.

Page 4

U.S. importers.--Please provide the names, contacts, email addresses, and telephone numbers
of the FIVE largest U.S. importers of your firm’s fresh tomatoes in 2017.

No.

Importer’s
name

Contact person

Email address

Share of
Area code
your firm’s
and
2017 U.S.
telephone
exports
number
(%)

1
2
3
4
5
I-4.

U.S. or other country production.--Does your firm or any related firm produce, have the
capability to produce, or have any plans to produce fresh tomatoes in the United States or other
countries?
No

Yes--Please name the firm(s) and country(ies) below and, if U.S. producer(s),
ensure that they complete the Commission’s producer questionnaire.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Fourth Review)
I-5.

U.S. importation.--Does your firm or any related firm import or have any plans to import fresh
tomatoes into the United States?
No

I-6.

Page 5

Yes--Please name the firm(s) below and ensure that they complete the
Commission’s importer questionnaire.

Business plan.--In Parts II and III of this questionnaire we request a copy of your company’s
business plan. Does your company or any related firm have a business plan or any internal
documents that describe, discuss, or analyze expected future market conditions for fresh
tomatoes?
No

Yes--Please provide the requested documents. If you are not providing the
requested documents, please explain why not.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Fourth Review)

Page 6

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Christopher Couper (202708-1440, christopher.couper@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-2a.

Nature of tomato production.—Please identify the nature of your firm’s tomato production per
the definitions below.
“Grower” – Firm involved only in the growing of fresh tomatoes.
“Integrated Grower/Packer” – Firm involved in the growing of fresh tomatoes and in the
packing of fresh tomatoes. Packing operations may include tomatoes grown by the firm and
tomatoes purchased and/or imported from other operations.
“Packer/Repacker” – Firm involved only in the packing of fresh tomatoes. Tomatoes may be
purchased from domestic farmers and/or imported.
Select one

Please answer the relevant questions outlined below.

Mexican Grower

Please complete questions II-2a – II-3a and II-3e – II13. Do not complete questions specifically related only
to growing operations.

Integrated Mexican
Grower/Packer

Please complete all questions in this section.

Mexican Packer/Repacker

Please complete questions II-2a – II-2c and II-3b – II13. Do not complete questions specifically related only
to growing operations.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Fourth Review)
II-2b.

Page 7

Changes in operations.--Please indicate whether your firm has experienced any of the following
changes in relation to the production of fresh tomatoes since January 1, 2012.

Check as many as appropriate.
Establishment openings
Establishment closings
Relocations
Expansions
Acquisitions
Consolidations
Prolonged shutdowns or
production curtailments
Revised labor agreements
Other (e.g., technology)

If checked, please describe; leave blank if not
applicable.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Fourth Review)
II -2c

Anticipated changes in operations.—Does your firm anticipate any changes in in the character
of its operations or organization relating to the production of fresh tomatoes in the future?

No

II-3a.

Page 8

Yes

If yes, supply details as to the time, nature, and significance of
such changes and provide underlying assumptions, along with
relevant portions of business plans or other supporting
documentations that address this issue. Include in your
response a specific projection of your firm’s capacity to
produce fresh tomatoes (in 1,000 pounds) for 2018 and 2019.

Total acreage.-- Please report your farm’s average acreage of tomato plants as well as acreage
used for other crops in each specified crop year.
Land (in acres)
Item

2015

2016

2017

Average acreage:
Dedicated to fresh
tomatoes
Dedicated to out-ofscope tomatoes
Other products1
Fallow
Total land
1

0

Please list in order or importance these other crops:

0

.

0

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Fourth Review)
II-3b.

Page 9

Packing using same machinery.-- Please report your firm’s packing of products made on the
same equipment, machinery, or employees as used to package fresh tomatoes, and the
combined production capacity on this shared equipment, machinery, or employees in the
periods indicated.
“Overall production capacity” or “capacity” –The level of production that your
establishment(s) could reasonably have expected to attain during the specified periods for all
products manufactured in that establishment using the same manufacturing equipment.
Assume normal operating conditions (i.e., using equipment and machinery in place and ready to
operate; normal operating levels (hours per week/weeks per year) and time for downtime,
maintenance, repair, and cleanup).
“Production” --All production in your establishment(s) in Mexico, including production
consumed internally within your firm.
Quantity (in pounds)
Calendar year
Item

2015

2016

January-September
2017

2017

2018

Overall packaging
capacity1
Packaging of:
Fresh tomatoes
Out-of-scope
production of other
products2
Total
1
2

0

0

0

0

0

Data reported for capacity (first line) should be greater than data reported for total production (last line).
Please identify these products:
.

II-3c.

Operating parameters.--The production capacity reported in II-3b is based on operating
hours per week,
weeks per year.

II-3d.

Capacity calculation.--Please describe the methodology used to calculate overall production
capacity reported in II-3b, and explain any changes in reported capacity.

II-3e.

Production constraints.--Please describe the constraint(s) that set the limit(s) on your firm’s
production capacity.

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Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Fourth Review)

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II-3f.

Growth cycle.--Describe your firm/farm crop cycle for tomatoes (e.g., what years are peak
production years/what years are low production years) and efforts you have made (e.g., plant
management techniques employed) to even out the growth cycle and any impact these efforts
have had on your production numbers.

II-4.

Share of sales.--What percentage of your firm’s total sales in its most recent fiscal year was
represented by sales of fresh tomatoes?
percent.

II-5.

Firm's estimated share of production in country.--Please estimate the percentage of total
production of fresh tomatoes in the country specified on the certification page accounted for by
your firm’s production in 2017.
percent.

II-6.

Firm's estimated share of country's exports.--Please estimate the percentage of total exports to
the United States of fresh tomatoes from the country specified on the certification page
accounted for by your firm’s exports in 2017.
percent.

II-7.

Third country trade actions.--Are the fresh tomatoes exported by your firm subject to
antidumping/countervailing duty/safeguard findings, remedies, or proceedings?
No

Yes--List the products(s), countries affected, and the date of such
findings/remedies/proceedings.

II-8.

Other export markets.--Identify export markets (other than the United States) that your firm
has developed or where it has increased its sales of fresh tomatoes since 2012. Please identify
and discuss below.

II-9.

Significance of the suspension agreement.--Describe the significance of the existing suspension
agreement covering imports of fresh tomatoes from Mexico in terms of its effect on your firm’s
production capacity, production, home market shipments, exports to the United States and
other markets, and inventories. You may wish to compare your firm’s operations before and
after the imposition of the suspension agreement.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Fourth Review)
II-10.

Page 11

Likely impact of termination.--Would your firm anticipate any changes in in the character of its
operations or organization, including its production capacity, production, U.S. shipments,
inventories, purchases, employment, revenues, costs, profits, cash flow, capital expenditures,
research and development expenditures, or asset values relating to the production of fresh
tomatoes in the future if the suspension agreement concerning fresh tomatoes from Mexico
were to be terminated?

No

Yes

If yes, supply details as to the time, nature, and significance of
such changes and provide underlying assumptions, along with
relevant portions of business plans or other supporting
documentations that address this issue. Include in your
response a specific projection of your firm’s capacity to
produce fresh tomatoes (in pounds) for 2018 and 2019.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Fourth Review)
II-11.

Page 12

Trade data.--Report your firm’s production capacity, production, shipments, and inventories
related to the production of fresh tomatoes in your establishment(s) in Mexico during the
specified periods. Do not include resales of fresh tomatoes that your firm did not produce in
this question; those data to the degree they are exported to the United States should only be
reported in question II-13.
Do not submit data by manufacturing facility if they are in the same country. If your firm has
multiple manufacturing establishments within one country, you are required to combine data
for those establishments within one foreign producer questionnaire response.
Do not submit data on multiple countries combined. The establishments reported here should
all be located in the country of the firm’s address reported on the certification page.
Multinational companies with production in multiple subject countries should submit separate
foreign producer questionnaire responses for each subject country.
“Average production capacity” or “capacity” –The level of production that your
establishment(s) could reasonably have expected to attain during the specified periods for all
products manufactured in that establishment using the same manufacturing equipment.
Assume normal operating conditions (i.e., using equipment and machinery in place and ready to
operate; normal operating levels (hours per week/weeks per year) and time for downtime,
maintenance, repair, and cleanup; and a typical or representative product mix).
“Production” --All production in your establishment(s) in Mexico, including production
consumed internally within your firm.
“Shipments”--Shipments of products produced in your establishment(s) in Mexico. Quantities
reported should be net of returns. 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 in Mexico.
“Home market commercial shipments”--Shipments, other than internal consumption and
transfers to related firms, within Mexico.
“Home market internal consumption/transfers to related firms”--Shipments made to
related firms in Mexico, including product consumed internally by your firm.
“Export shipments”--Shipments to destinations outside Mexico, 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.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Fourth Review)
II-11.

Page 13

Trade data.--Continued.
Quantity (pounds) and Value (dollars)
Calendar year
Item

2015

2016

January-September
2017

2017

2018

Average capacity (A)
1

Beginning-of-period
inventories (B)
Production (C)
Home market shipments:
Internal consumption/
transfers
Quantity (D)
Value (E)
Commercial shipments
Quantity (F)
Value (G)
Export shipments:
to the United States:
Related party
Quantity (H)
Value (I)
Unrelated Party
Quantity (J)
Value (K)
to Canada:
Quantity (L)
Value (M)
to Central America: 2
Quantity (L)
Value (M)
to South America: 3
Quantity (N)
Value (O)
to all other markets:4
Quantity (P)
Value (Q)
Total exports (Quantity) (R)

0

0

0

0

0

Total shipments (Quantity) (S)

0

0

0

0

0

End-of-period inventories (T)
The production capacity reported is based on operating
hours per week,
weeks per year. Please
describe the methodology used to calculate production capacity, and explain any changes in reported capacity:
2
Identify your firm’s principal Central American export markets:
.
3
Identify your firm’s principal South American export markets:
.
4
Identify your firm’s principal other export markets:
.
1

.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Fourth Review)
II-11.

Page 14

Trade data.—Continued.
RECONCILIATION OF SHIPMENTS, PRODUCTION, AND INVENTORY.--Generally, the data reported
for the end-of-period inventories (i.e., line R) should be equal to the beginning-of-period
inventories (i.e., line B), plus production (i.e., line C), less total shipments (i.e., lines D, F, H, J, L,
and N). 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 year
Item

2015

B + C – D – F – H –J – L – N –
P – T = should equal zero
("0") or provide an
explanation.1

January-September

2016

0

2017

0

2017

0

2018

0

0

Explanation if the calculated fields above are returning values other than zero (i.e., “0”) but are
nonetheless accurate:
.
1

II-12.

Exports to the United States not produced by your firm.--Report your firm’s exports to the
United States of fresh tomatoes that was produced in Mexico but not by your firm during the
specified periods. Note these data should not be included in question II-12.
Quantity (pounds) and Value (in dollars)
Calendar year
Item

2015

2016

January-September
2017

2017

2018

Exports of fresh tomatoes to
the United States not
produced by your firm1.—
Quantity 1
Value
1

List the producer(s).

II-13.

Other explanations.--If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question in Part II
for which a narrative box was not provided, 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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Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Fourth Review)

Page 15

PART III.--MARKET FACTORS
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from James Horne (202-205-2722,
James.Horne@usitc.gov).
III-1.

Contact information.-- Please identify the responsible individual and how Commission staff may
contact the individual regarding the confidential information submitted in part III.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
Fax

III-2.

Contract versus spot.--Approximately what share of your firm’s sales of fresh tomatoes to U.S.
customers in 2017 was on a (1) short-term contract basis, (2) annual contract basis, (3) longterm contract basis, and (4) spot sales basis?

Item
Share of your
2017 sales

Type of sale

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)
%

Total
(should
sum to
100.0%)

Spot sales
(for a single
delivery)

%

0.0

%

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Fourth Review)
III-3.

Page 16

Contract provisions.--Please fill out the table regarding your firm’s typical sales contracts for
U.S.-produced fresh tomatoes (or check “not applicable” if your firm does not sell on a shortterm, annual and/or long-term contract basis).

Typical sales
contract provisions

Item

Average contract
duration

No. of
days

Price renegotiation
(during contract
period)

Yes

Fixed quantity
and/or price

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

Indexed to raw
material costs1

Price
Both
Yes
No

Not applicable
1

Please identify the indexes used:

III-4.

Lead times.— What is the typical lead time between a customer’s order and the date of delivery
for your firm’s sales of its U.S.-produced fresh tomatoes?
Lead time (days)

Explanation

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Fourth Review)
III-5.

Page 17

Raw materials.-- Indicate how the costs of growing fresh tomatoes have changed since January
1, 2012, and how you expect they will change in the future.

Raw
materials
prices

Fluctuate
with no
clear
Overall
No
Overall
increase change decrease trend

Explain, noting how raw material
price changes have affected your
firm’s selling prices for fresh
tomatoes.

Changes since
January 1,
2012
Anticipated
changes
III-6.

Changes in factors affecting supply.--Have any changes occurred in any other factors affecting
supply (e.g., changes in availability or labor; transportation conditions; production capacity
and/or methods of production; technology; export markets; or alternative production
opportunities) that affected the availability of Mexico-produced fresh tomatoes in the U.S.
market since January 1, 2012?
No

III-7.

Yes

If yes, please describe.

Availability of SUBJECT import supply.-- Do you anticipate any changes in terms of the
availability of Mexico-produced fresh tomatoes in the U.S. market in the future?
If you anticipate changes in supply, please identify the changes,
No
including the time period and the impact of such changes on
Increase change Decrease shipment volumes and prices.

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Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Fourth Review)

Page 18

III-8.

Product shifting.--Describe how easily your firm can shift its sales of fresh tomatoes between
the U.S. market and alternative country markets. In your discussion, please describe any
contracts, other sales arrangements, or other constraints (including any third-country trade
barriers such as tariffs, quotas, or other non-tariff barriers) that would prevent or retard your
firm from shifting fresh tomatoes between the U.S. and alternative country markets within a 12month period.

III-9.

Product range.--Is the product range, product mix, or marketing of fresh tomatoes in your firm’s
home market different from that of fresh tomatoes for export to the United States or to thirdcountry markets?
No

Yes

If yes, please explain.

III-10. Product changes.--Have there been any significant changes in the varieties, breeds, or
marketing of fresh tomatoes in your firm’s home market, for export to the United States, or for
export to third-country markets since January 1, 2012? Do you anticipate any future changes?
Changes in
product range,
product mix, or
marketing
No Yes
Changes since
January 1, 2012
Anticipated
changes

Explain

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Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Fourth Review)

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III-11. Substitutes. –
(a) Have there been any changes in the number or types of products that can be substituted for
fresh tomatoes since January 1, 2012? Do you anticipate any future changes?
Changes in
substitutes

No Yes

Explain

Changes since
January 1, 2012
Anticipated
changes
(b) Can tomatoes grown for processing be substituted for other fresh market tomatoes?
No

Yes

If yes, explain.

III-12. Interchangeability.--Is the fresh tomatoes produced by your firm and sold in its home market
interchangeable (i.e., can be used in the same applications) with your firm’s fresh tomatoes sold
to the United States and/or to third-country markets?
Yes

No

If no, identify the market(s) and any differences in the products.

III-13. Seasonal characteristics.-- Are there seasonal differences (such as availability, flavor, price,
quality, ripeness, etc.) between fresh tomatoes from the U.S. and Mexico?

No

Yes

If yes, please explain the seasonal differences between fresh tomatoes from
the U.S. and Mexico and report the months when these differences occur.

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Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Fourth Review)

Page 20

III-14. Demand trends.--Indicate how demand in the following markets for fresh tomatoes has
changed since January 1, 2012, 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.

Your firm’s market

Overall
increase

Fluctuate
No
Overall
with no
change decrease clear trend

Explanation and factors

Demand since January 1, 2012
Home market
United States
Other markets
Anticipated future demand
Home market
United States
Other markets
III-15. Price differences.--Please compare market prices of fresh tomatoes in your firm’s home market,
the United States, and third-country markets.

III-16. Description of home market.--Describe briefly your firm’s home market for fresh tomatoes,
including the number of, and competition between, producers.

III-17. Bundling sales.—Does your frim bundle sales of fresh tomatoes with other products?

No

Yes

Estimate share of your fresh
tomatoes in 2017 that were If yes, describe other products that are
sold in a bundle
typically in bundled sales

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Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Fourth Review)

Page 21

III-18. Import competition.--Does your firm face competition from imports of fresh tomatoes in your
firm’s home market?
No

Yes

If yes, please identify the country sources of these imports.

III-19. 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 fresh tomatoes supply
(including production capacity and capacity utilization) and demand in (1) the United States, (2)
each of the other major producing/consuming countries, including Mexico, and (3) the world as
a whole. Of particular interest is such data from 2012 to the present and forecasts for the
future.
III-20. Other explanations.--If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question in Part III
for which a narrative box was not provided, 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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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 USITC foreign producer questionnaire form. When you finish reporting the data then you can close
the questionnaire and switch back to Italy settings.

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Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire – Fresh Tomatoes (Fourth Review)

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HOW TO FILE YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSE
This questionnaire is available as a “fillable” form in MS Word format on the
Commission’s website at:
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2018/fresh_tomatoes_mexico/fourth_rev
iew_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: FRESH

• E-mail.—E-mail the MS Word questionnaire to christopher.couper@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 produce or export 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.