19-3-4013 US purchasers' questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 19-3-4015; Expiration Date: 6/30/2020
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

LOST SALES AND LOST REVENUE SURVEY
ACETONE FROM BELGIUM, KOREA, SAUDI ARABIA, SINGAPORE, SOUTH AFRICA,
AND SPAIN
This survey must be received by the Commission by March 5, 2019
See last page for filing instructions.
The information called for in this survey is for use by the United States International Trade Commission in connection
with its antidumping investigations concerning acetone from Belgium, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, and
Spain (Inv. Nos. 731-TA-1435-1440 (Preliminary)). The information requested in the survey 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 survey can be obtained from Cindy Cohen (202-205-3230, cindy.cohen@usitc.gov).
Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm purchased or imported for own use acetone (as defined on next page) at any time since January 1,
2016?

NO

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

YES

(Complete all parts of the survey, and return the entire survey 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: ACET)
CERTIFICATION
I certify that the information herein supplied in this survey is complete and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief and
understand that the information submitted is subject to audit and verification by the Commission. By submitting this certification I
also grant consent for the Commission, and its employees and contract personnel, to use the information provided in this survey
and throughout these proceedings 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
investigation 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

Signature

Phone

Email address

Business Proprietary
Lost Sales and Lost Revenue Survey- Acetone (Preliminary)

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GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.--These proceedings were instituted in response to a petition filed on February 19, 2019, by
AdvanSix Inc., Parsippany, New Jersey, Altivia Petrochemicals, LLC, Haverhill, Ohio, and Olin Corporation,
Clayton, Missouri. 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 dumping. Questionnaires and other information pertinent to these proceedings are
available at:
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2019/acetone_belgium_korea_saudi_arabia_singapore_s
outh/preliminary.htm
Acetone covered by these investigations is acetone of all grades of liquid or aqueous acetone. Acetone
is also known under the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (“IUPAC”) name propan-2one. In addition to the IUPAC name, acetone is also referred to as ß-ketopropane (or “betaketopropane”), ketone propane, methyl ketone, dimethyl ketone, DMK, dimethyl carbonyl, propanone,
2-propanone, dimethyl formaldehyde, pyroacetic acid, pyroacetic ether, and pyroactic spirit. Acetone is
an isomer of the chemical formula C3H6O, with a specific molecular formula of CH3COCH3 or (CH3)2CO.
The scope includes acetone that is combined or mixed with other products, including, but not limited to,
benzene, diethyl ether, methanol, chloroform, and ethanol. For such combined products, only the
acetone component is covered by the scope of these investigations. Acetone that has been combined
with other products is included within the scope, regardless of whether the combining occurs in third
countries.
Acetone that is otherwise subject to these investigations is not excluded when commingled with
acetone from sources not subject to these investigations. Only the subject merchandise component of
such commingled products is covered by the scope of these investigations. The Chemical Abstracts
Service (“CAS”) registry number for acetone is 67-64-1.
The merchandise covered by these investigations is currently classifiable under Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (“HTSUS”) subheadings 2914.11.1000 and 2914.11.5000. Although these
HTSUS subheadings and CAS registry number are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the
written description of the scope of these investigations is dispositive.
Reporting of information.--If information is not readily available from your records, provide carefully
prepared estimates.
Confidentiality.--The data furnished in response to this survey 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.
Release of information.--The information provided by your firm in response to this survey, as well as
any other business proprietary information submitted by your firm to the Commission in connection

Business Proprietary
Lost Sales and Lost Revenue Survey- Acetone (Preliminary)

Page 3

with these 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 these
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. Please also retain a copy of the final document that you submit.
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 survey. This
may or may not be the person whose signature is at the bottom of page 1.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
Firms operating more than one establishment should combine the data for all establishments into a
single response.

Business Proprietary
Lost Sales and Lost Revenue Survey- Acetone (Preliminary)

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PURCHASE INFORMATION
Purchases and imports.--Report separately your firm’s domestic purchases and imports of
acetone.

1.

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

2017

2018

Quantity (in short tons)

Purchases of acetone produced in—
United States
Belgium
Korea
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
South Africa
Spain
All other countries1
Sources unknown2
Total purchases

0

0

0

0

0

0

Imports of acetone from—
Belgium
Korea
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
South Africa
Spain
All other countries1
Total imports3

Please identify these countries:
Please indicate the reason for not knowing the source of the acetone purchased and indicate
the firm(s) from which you purchased this merchandise:
3
If your firm imported acetone at any time since January 1, 2016, please also complete and
return a U.S. importers' questionnaire in these proceedings.
1

2

Business Proprietary
Lost Sales and Lost Revenue Survey- Acetone (Preliminary)

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2. Changes in purchasing patterns.--Please indicate how the shares of your firm’s purchases of
acetone from different sources have changed since January 1, 2016.
Source of
purchases

Did not
purchase

Decreased Increased

Constant

Fluctuated

Explanation for trend

United States

Belgium

Korea

Saudi Arabia

Singapore

South Africa

Spain

All other
countries
Sources
unknown

3. Major purchasing factors.--Please list, in order of their importance, the main factors your firm
considers in deciding from whom to purchase acetone.
1.
2.
3.
Please list any other factors that are very important in your purchase decisions:

Business Proprietary
Lost Sales and Lost Revenue Survey- Acetone (Preliminary)

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4. Purchasing subject imports rather than domestic products.—
(a)

Since January 2016, did your firm import and/or purchase imports of acetone from
subject countries instead of purchasing U.S.-produced acetone? Respond for each
subject country.

Source

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

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

Belgium
Korea
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
South Africa
Spain
(b)

If you responded “Yes” to part (a), was the imported product priced lower than the
domestic product?
Source
Belgium
Korea
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
South Africa
Spain

Yes

No

Business Proprietary
Lost Sales and Lost Revenue Survey- Acetone (Preliminary)
(c)

Page 7

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

Source

Yes

If Yes, estimate the
quantity of imports
purchased and/or imported
instead of domestic product
since January 2016
(in short tons)

No

If No, please indicate the
reason your firm
imported and/or
purchased imports
instead of domestic
product

Belgium
Korea
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
South Africa
Spain
5.

U.S. producers and import competition.-(a)

Since January 1, 2016, in connection with a sale or offer to sell acetone to your firm, did
U.S. producers reduce their prices of domestically produced acetone in order to
compete with lower-priced imports of acetone from the subject countries? Respond for
each subject country.
Source
Belgium
Korea
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
South Africa
Spain

Yes (also respond to
question part (b))

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

Don’t know

Business Proprietary
Lost Sales and Lost Revenue Survey- Acetone (Preliminary)
(b)

Page 8

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

Source

Estimated
reduction in
U.S. prices
(percent)

Belgium

%

Korea

%

Saudi Arabia

%

Singapore

%

South Africa

%

Spain

%

Additional explanation, including such information as
timing (e.g., months/years), frequency of price
reductions, or other market/competitive factors

6. Method of purchase--Please provide a general description of your firm’s method(s) of purchase for
acetone (e.g., individual purchase, contract, bids, Internet purchases, etc.).

7. Other explanations--Please provide any additional comments in this box.

Business Proprietary
Lost Sales and Lost Revenue Survey- Acetone (Preliminary)

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

Dollars

The questions in this survey 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 survey is estimated to average 4 hours per response,
including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering data, and completing and reviewing the
survey.
We welcome comments regarding the accuracy of this burden estimate, suggestions for reducing
the burden, and any suggestions for improving this survey. Please attach such comments to your
response or send to the Office of Investigations, USITC, 500 E St. SW, Washington, DC 20436.

HOW TO FILE YOUR SURVEY RESPONSE
Please do not attempt to modify the format or permissions of the survey document.
Please submit the completed survey using one of the methods noted below. If your firm
is unable to complete the MS Word survey 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 survey along with a scanned copy of the signed
certification page (page 1) through the Commission’s secure upload facility:
o
o
o

Web address: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/
Enter Investigation: Select “Acetone” in the drop down menu
Pin: ACET

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