19-2-4054 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--QSP2 (P)

Quartz surface products from India and Turkey (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-624-625 and 731-TA-1450-1451 (Preliminary)).

OMB: 3117-0016

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OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 19-2-4054; Expiration Date: 6/30/2020
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U.S. IMPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
QUARTZ SURFACE PRODUCTS FROM INDIA AND TURKEY
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by May 22, 2019
See last page for filing instructions.
The information called for in this questionnaire is for use by the United States International Trade Commission in
connection with its countervailing duty and antidumping investigations concerning quartz surface products from India
and Turkey (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-624-625 and 731-TA-1450-1451 (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 quartz (as defined on next page) from any country at any time since January 1, 2016?

(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: SURF)
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

Signature

Title of Authorized Official

Phone

Date

Email address

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)

Page 2

PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.--This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on May 8, 2019, by Cambria
Company LLC, Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Countervailing and 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 dumping. Questionnaires and other information
pertinent to this proceeding are available at
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2019/quartz_surface_products_india_and_turkey/prelimi
nary.htm
Quartz surface products covered by these investigations consist of slabs and other surfaces created
from a mixture of materials that includes predominately silica (e.g., quartz, quartz powder, cristobalite,
glass powder) as well as a resin binder (e.g., an unsaturated polyester). The incorporation of other
materials, including, but not limited to, pigments, cement, or other additives does not remove the
merchandise from the scope of these investigations. However, the scope of these investigations only
includes products where the silica content is greater than any other single material, by actual weight.
Quartz surface products are typically sold as rectangular slabs with a total surface area of approximately
45 to 60 square feet and a nominal thickness of one, two, or three centimeters. However, the scope of
these investigations includes surface products of all other sizes, thicknesses, and shapes. In addition to
slabs, the scope of these investigations includes, but is not limited to, other surfaces such as
countertops, backsplashes, vanity tops, bar tops, work tops, tabletops, flooring, wall facing, shower
surrounds, fire place surrounds, mantels, and tiles. Certain quartz surface products are covered by these
investigations whether polished or unpolished, cut or uncut, fabricated or not fabricated, cured or
uncured, edged or not edged, finished or unfinished, thermoformed or not thermoformed, packaged or
unpackaged, and regardless of the type of surface finish.
In addition, quartz surface products are covered by these investigations whether or not they are
imported attached to, or in conjunction with, non-subject merchandise such as sinks, sink bowls,
vanities, cabinets, and furniture. If quartz surface products are imported attached to, or in conjunction
with, such non-subject merchandise, only the quartz surface product is covered by the scope.
Subject merchandise includes material matching the above description that has been finished,
packaged, or otherwise fabricated in a third country, including by cutting, polishing, curing, edging,
thermoforming, attaching to, or packaging with another product, or any other finishing, packaging, or
fabrication that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of these investigations if
performed in the country of manufacture of the quartz surface products.
The scope of these investigations do not cover quarried stone surface products, such as granite, marble,
soapstone, or quartzite. Specifically excluded from the scope of these investigations are crushed glass
surface products. Crushed glass surface products must meet each of the following criteria to qualify for
this exclusion: (1) the crushed glass content is greater than any other single material, by actual weight;
(2) there are pieces of crushed glass visible across the surface of the product; (3) at least some of the
individual pieces of crushed glass that are visible across the surface are larger than 1 centimeter wide as
measured at their widest cross-section (“Glass Pieces”); and (4) the distance between any single Glass
Piece and the closest separate Glass Piece does not exceed three inches.

Business Proprietary Information
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)

Page 3

The products subject to the scope are currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States (HTSUS) under the following subheading: 6810.99.0010. Subject merchandise may also
enter under subheadings 6810.11.0010, 6810.11.0070, 6810.19.1200, 6810.19.1400, 6810.19.5000,
6810.91.0000, 6810.99.0080, 6815.99.4070, 2506.10.0010, 2506.10.0050, 2506.20.0010, 2506.20.0080,
and 7016.90.10. 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 quartz surface products (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.
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 Julie
Duffy (202-708-2579, julie.duffy@usitc.gov).
D-GRIDS tool.--The Commission has a tool that firms can use to move data from their own MS Excel
compilation files into self-contained data tables within this MS Word questionnaire, thereby reducing
the amount of cell-by-cell data entry that would be required to complete this form. This tool is a macroenabled MS Excel file available for download from the Commission's generic questionnaires webpage

Business Proprietary Information
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)

Page 4

(https://www.usitc.gov/trade_remedy/question.htm) called the "D-GRIDs tool." Use of this tool to help
your firm complete this questionnaire is optional. Firms opting to use the D-GRIDs tool to populate their
data into this questionnaire will need the D-GRIDs specification sheet PDF file specific to this proceeding
(available on the case page which is linked under the "Background" above) which includes the necessary
references relating to this questionnaire, as well as the macro-enable MS Excel D-GRIDs tool itself from
the generic questionnaires page. More detailed instructions on how to use the D-GRIDs tool are
available within the D-GRIDs tool itself.
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.
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 involved in the importation of quartz surface products ,
including auxiliary facilities operated in conjunction with (whether or not physically separate
from) such facilities.

Business Proprietary Information
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
I-3.

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

Firm name

I-4.

Page 5

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 quartz surface products from India and Turkey into the
United States or that are engaged in exporting quartz surface products from India and Turkey to
the United States?
No
Firm name

Yes--List the following information.
Country

Affiliation

Business Proprietary Information
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
I-5.

Related producers.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, that are
engaged in the production of quartz surface products?
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 quartz
surface products. More than one answer may be applicable.
Importer of record

I-7.

Page 6

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 quartz surface products 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

Business Proprietary Information
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
I-8.

Page 7

FTZ, TIB, or bonded warehouses.--Please indicate whether your firm enters quartz surface
products into, or withdraws such merchandise from, foreign trade zones or bonded warehouses.
Also indicate whether your firm imports quartz surface products 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 designated 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

If yes, Yes–Please specify.

Business Proprietary Information
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)

Page 8

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Julie Duffy (202-708-2579,
julie.duffy@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

II-2.

Changes in operations.--Please indicate whether your firm has experienced any of the following
changes in relation to the importation of quartz surface products since January 1, 2016.
(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)

Business Proprietary Information
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
II-3a.

Page 9

Arranged imports.--Has your firm imported or arranged for the importation of quartz surface
products for delivery after December 31, 2018?
“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

If yes, fill out the table below.

Period
Source

Jan-Mar 2019

Apr-Jun 2019

Jul-Sept 2019

Quantity (in square feet)
India
Turkey
All other sources

Oct-Dec 2019

Business Proprietary Information
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
II-3b.

Page 10

Imports in the 12 month period preceding the petition.--Has your firm imported quartz surface
products from any source between May 1, 2018 and April 30, 2019? (i.e., the last eight months
in 2018 and first four months in 2019 combined)
No

Yes

If yes, report the quantity of such import below by source.

May 2018 through April 2019
Source

Quantity (in square feet)

U.S. imports from India:
Under HTS statistical reporting number 6810.99.0010
All other statistical reporting numbers1
U.S. imports from Turkey:
Under HTS statistical reporting number 6810.99.0010
All other statistical reporting numbers1
U.S. imports from all other sources:
Under HTS statistical reporting number 6810.99.0010
All other statistical reporting numbers1
Please indicate the statistical reporting number(s) under which your firm classified these imports of
quartz surface products surface products for Custom’s purposes:
.
1

II-4.

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

Business Proprietary Information
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)

Page 11

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).
“Commercial U.S. 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. Commercial U.S. shipments should not
include sales made through own firm's retail establishments.
“Internal consumption / including for own firm’s retail sales”--Product consumed internally by
your firm, which includes merchandise that your firm transferred to your own firm’s retail
locations. Such transactions are valued at fair market value (i.e., not the total value of final
downstream processed merchandise (in the case of internal consumption), nor the retail sale
value (in the case of your firm owning and operating its own retail locations); rather these
transactions should be recorded at the fair market wholesale value of the merchandise used for
further processing or for retail level sale).
“Transfers to related firms”--Shipments made to related firms. Such transactions are valued at
fair market value.
“Related firm”--A firm that your firm solely or jointly owned, managed, or otherwise controlled;
a firm that solely or jointly owned, managed, or otherwise controlled your firm; and/or a firm
that was solely or jointly owned, managed, or otherwise controlled by a firm that also solely or
jointly owned, managed, or otherwise controlled your firm.
“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.

Business Proprietary Information
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
II-5a.

Page 12

U.S. imports from India.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and inventories
of quartz surface products imported from India by your firm during the specified periods.

India
Quantity (in square feet), value (in dollars)
Calendar years
Item

2016

2017

2018

Beginning-of-period inventories (quantity)
(A)
Imports:1
Under HTS statistical reporting number
6810.99.0010:
Quantity (B)
Value (C)
All other statistical reporting numbers:2 3
Quantity (D)
Value (E)
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity (F)
Value (G)
Internal consumption / including for
own firm’s retail sales:3
Quantity (H)
Value2 (I)
Transfers to related firms:4
Quantity (J)
Value2 (K)
Export shipments:5
Quantity (L)
Value (M)
End-of-period inventories (quantity) (N)
Please identify the foreign producers, if known:
.
Please indicate the statistical reporting number(s) under which your firm classified these imports of quartz surface
products surface products for Custom’s purposes:
.
3
Please describe the type(s) of quartz surface products surface products imported under these statistical reporting
numbers:
.
4
Internal consumption and transfers to related firms must be valued at fair market value. If your firm uses a different
basis for valuing these transactions in your records, please specify that basis (e.g., cost, cost plus, etc.):
. However,
the data provided above in this table should be based on fair market value.
5
Identify your firm’s principal export markets:
.
1
2

Business Proprietary Information
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
II-5a.

Page 13

U.S. imports from India.–Continued

RECONCILIATION OF SHIPMENTS, IMPORTS, AND INVENTORIES.--Generally, the data reported for the
end-of-period inventories (i.e., line N) should be equal to the beginning-of-period inventories (i.e., line
A), plus imports (i.e., lines B and D), less total shipments (i.e., lines F, H, J, and L). 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

2016

2017

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

2018

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

II-5b.

Channels of distribution: India.--Report your firm’s U.S. shipments (i.e., inclusive of commercial
U.S. shipments, internal consumption, and transfers to related firms) of imports from India by
channel of distribution in the specified periods.

India
Calendar years
Item

2016

2017

2018

Quantity (in square feet)
Channels of distribution:
U.S. shipments:
To distributors (O)
To fabricators and retailers (P)
To contractors and builders (Q)
To other end users1 (R)
1

Please describe other end users:

RECONCILIATION OF CHANNELS.--Please ensure that the quantities reported for channels of distribution
(i.e., lines O, P, Q and R) in each time period equal the quantity reported for U.S. shipments (i.e., lines F,
H, J) 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
O + P + Q + R – F – H – J = zero ("0"), if
not revise.

2016

2017
0

2018
0

Business Proprietary Information
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
II-5c.

Page 14

Quartz attributes: India.–Report your firm’s U.S. shipments in 2018 (i.e., inclusive of
commercial U.S. shipments, internal consumption, and transfers to related firms) of quartz
surface products surface products imported from India by specified attribute.

India
Quantity (in square feet), value (in dollars)
Thickness
Item

1 cm

2 cm

3 cm

Quartz attributes:
U.S. shipments in 2018:
Designed to look like granite
Quantity (S)
Value (T)
Designed to look like marble
Quantity (U)
Value (V)
Designed with uniform composite
White:
Quantity (W)
Value (X)
Neutral and light colors:
Quantity (Y)
Value (Z)
Dark colors and black:
Quantity (AA)
Value (AB)
Crushed glass surface products not
expressly excluded from the scope1
Quantity (AC)
Value (AD)
Other products2
Quantity (AE)
Value (AF)
U.S. shipments
Quantity (AG)

Value (AH)

These are products defined as part of quartz surface products (on page 2) produced with crush glass or glass
powder, but which do qualify as excluded crush glass surface products based on the scope's four exclusion
categories:
2
Please describe other designs:
.
1

Business Proprietary Information
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
II-5c.

Page 15

Quartz attributes: India.--Continued

RECONCILIATION OF 2018 US SHIPMENTS BY ATTRIBUTES.--Please ensure that the total quantities and
values reported by attribute (i.e., lines S through AF) equal the quantity and value reported for U.S.
shipments (i.e., lines F though K) in 2018. 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.
Reconciliation

2018

Quantity: S + U + W + Y + AA + AC + AE– F – H
– J = zero ("0"), if not revise.

Value: T + V + X + Z + AB + AD + AF – G – I – K
= zero ("0"), if not revise.

Business Proprietary Information
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
II-5d.

Page 16

U.S. shipments by product type: India.–Report quantity and value your firm’s U.S. shipments
(i.e., inclusive of commercial U.S. shipments, internal consumption, and transfers to related
firms) of imports from India by product type in the specified periods.
“U.S. shipments shipped in slab form”--are defined as quartz surface products that have not
been fabricated or finished in any way (i.e. cutting to a specific size, edging, attaching to another
product, or any other fabrication or finishing, etc.) slabs require further fabrication to be ready
for installation.
“U.S. shipments shipped in fabricated form”--are defined as quartz products that have been
fabricated or finished to any degree ((i.e. cutting to a specific size, edging, attaching to another
product, or any other fabrication or finishing, etc.). Fabs may be ready for installation or may
require some additional fabrication prior to installation.

India
Calendar years
Item

2016

2017

2018

Quantity (in square feet); value (in dollars)
U.S. shipments shipped in slab form:
Quantity (AI)
Value (AJ)
U.S. shipments shipped in fabricated form:
Quantity (AK)
Value (AL)
RECONCILIATION OF U.S. SHIPMENTS.--Please ensure that the quantities and values reported for US
shipments by product type here (i.e., lines AI through AL) in each time period equal the quantities and
values reported for U.S. shipments (i.e., lines F through K) 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 year
Item

2016

2017

2018

Quantity: AI + AK - F - H - J = zero
("0"), if not revise.

Value: AJ + AL - G - I - K = zero ("0"),
if not revise.

Business Proprietary Information
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
II-6a.

Page 17

U.S. imports from Turkey.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and
inventories of quartz surface products imported from Turkey by your firm during the specified
periods.

Turkey
Quantity (in square feet), value (in dollars)
Calendar years
Item

2016

2017

2018

Beginning-of-period inventories (quantity) (A)
Imports:1
Under HTS statistical reporting number 6810.99.0010:
Quantity (B)
Value (C)
All other statistical reporting numbers:2 3
Quantity (D)
Value (E)
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity (F)
Value (G)
Internal consumption:3
Quantity (H)
Value2 (I)
Transfers to related firms:4
Quantity (J)
Value2 (K)
Export shipments:5
Quantity (L)
Value (M)
End-of-period inventories (quantity) (N)
Please identify the foreign producers, if known:
.
Please indicate the statistical reporting number(s) under which your firm classified these imports of quartz surface
products for Custom’s purposes:
.
3
Please describe the type(s) of quartz surface products surface products imported under these statistical reporting
numbers:
.
4
Internal consumption and transfers to related firms must be valued at fair market value. If your firm uses a different
basis for valuing these transactions in your records, please specify that basis (e.g., cost, cost plus, etc.):
. However,
the data provided above in this table should be based on fair market value.
5
Identify your firm’s principal export markets:
.
1
2

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
II-6a.

Page 18

U.S. imports from Turkey.–Continued

RECONCILIATION OF SHIPMENTS, IMPORTS, AND INVENTORIES.--Generally, the data reported for the
end-of-period inventories (i.e., line N) should be equal to the beginning-of-period inventories (i.e., line
A), plus imports (i.e., lines B and D), less total shipments (i.e., lines F, H, J and L). 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

2016

2017

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

2018

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

II-6b.
.

Channels of distribution: Turkey.--Report your firm’s U.S. shipments (i.e., inclusive of
commercial U.S. shipments, internal consumption, and transfers to related firms) of imports
from Turkey by channel of distribution in the specified periods.

Turkey
Calendar years
Item

2016

2017

2018

Quantity (in square feet)
Channels of distribution:
U.S. shipments:
To distributors (O)
To fabricators and retailers (P)
To contractors and builders (Q)
To other end users1 (R)
1

Please describe other end users:

2016

2017
0

2018
0

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
II-6c.

Page 19

Quartz attributes: Turkey.–Report your firm’s U.S. shipments in 2018 (i.e., inclusive of
commercial U.S. shipments, internal consumption, and transfers to related firms) of quartz
surface products surface products imported from Turkey by specified attribute.

Turkey
Quantity (in square feet), value (in dollars)
Thickness
Item

1 cm

2 cm

3 cm

Value (AH)

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
II-6c.

Page 20

Quartz attributes: Turkey.--Continued

2018

Quantity: S + U + W + Y + AA + AC + AE – F – H
– J = zero ("0"), if not revise.

Value: T + V + X + Z + AB + AD + AF – G – I – K
= zero ("0"), if not revise.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
II-6d.

Page 21

U.S. shipments by product: Turkey.–Report quantity and value your firm’s U.S. shipments (i.e.,
inclusive of commercial U.S. shipments, internal consumption, and transfers to related firms) of
imports from Turkey by product type in the specified periods.
“U.S. shipments shipped in slab form”--are defined as quartz surface products that have not
been fabricated or finished in any way (i.e. cutting to a specific size, edging, attaching to another
product, or any other fabrication or finishing, etc.) slabs require further fabrication to be ready
for installation.
“U.S. shipments shipped in fabricated form”--are defined as quartz products that have been
fabricated or finished to any degree ((i.e. cutting to a specific size, edging, attaching to another
product, or any other fabrication or finishing, etc.). Fabs may be ready for installation or may
require some additional fabrication prior to installation.

Turkey
Calendar years
Item

2016

2017

2018

2016

2017

2018

Quantity: AI + AK - F - H - J = zero
("0"), if not revise.

Value: AJ + AL - G - I - K = zero ("0"),
if not revise.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
II-7a.

Page 22

Imports from all other sources.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and
inventories of quartz surface products imported from all other sources by your firm during the
specified periods.

All other sources

(list sources:

)
Quantity (in square feet), value (in dollars)
Calendar years
Item

2016

2017

2018

Beginning-of-period inventories (quantity) (A)
Imports:1
Under HTS statistical reporting number 6810.99.0010:
Quantity (B)
Value (C)
All other statistical reporting numbers:2 3
Quantity (D)
Value (E)
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity (F)
Value (G)
Internal consumption:3
Quantity (H)
Value2 (I)
Transfers to related firms:4
Quantity (J)
Value2 (K)
Export shipments:5
Quantity (L)
Value (M)
End-of-period inventories (quantity) (N)
Please identify the foreign producers, if known:
.
Please indicate the statistical reporting number(s) under which your firm classified these imports of quartz surface
products surface products for Custom’s purposes:
.
3
Please describe the type(s) of quartz surface products surface products imported under these statistical reporting
numbers:
.
4
Internal consumption and transfers to related firms must be valued at fair market value. If your firm uses a different
basis for valuing these transactions in your records, please specify that basis (e.g., cost, cost plus, etc.):
. However,
the data provided above in this table should be based on fair market value.
5
Identify your firm’s principal export markets:
.
1
2

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
II-7a.

Page 23

Imports from all other sources.–Continued

RECONCILIATION OF SHIPMENTS, IMPORTS, AND INVENTORIES.--Generally, the data reported for the
end-of-period inventories (i.e., line N) should be equal to the beginning-of-period inventories (i.e., line
A), plus imports (i.e., lines B and D), less total shipments (i.e., lines D, F, H, J and L). 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

2016

2017

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

2018

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

II-7b.

Channels of distribution: All other sources.--Report your firm’s U.S. shipments (i.e., inclusive of
commercial U.S. shipments, internal consumption, and transfers to related firms) of imports
from all other sources by channel of distribution in the specified periods.

All other sources
Calendar years
Item

2016

2017

2018

Quantity (in square feet)
Channels of distribution:
U.S. shipments:
To distributors (O)
To fabricators and retailers (P)
To contractors and builders (Q)
To other end users1 (R)
1

Please describe other end users:

RECONCILIATION OF CHANNELS.--Please ensure that the quantities reported for channels of distribution
(i.e., lines O, P, Q, and R) in each time period equal the quantity reported for U.S. shipments (i.e., lines F,
H, J) 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
O + P + Q + R – F – H – J = zero ("0"), if
not revise.

2016

2017
0

2018
0

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
II-7c.

Page 24

Quartz attributes: All other sources.–Report your firm’s U.S. shipments in 2018 (i.e., inclusive of
commercial U.S. shipments, internal consumption, and transfers to related firms) of quartz
surface products surface products imported from all other sources by specified attribute.

All other sources
Quantity (in square feet), value (in dollars)
Thickness
Item

1 cm

2 cm

3 cm

Value (AH)

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
II-7c.

Page 25

Quartz attributes: All other sources.–Continued

2018

Quantity: S + U + W + Y + AA + AC + AE – F – H
– J = zero ("0"), if not revise.

Value: T + V + X + Z + AB + AD + AF – G – I – K
= zero ("0"), if not revise.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
II-7d.

Page 26

U.S. shipments by product: All other Sources.–Report quantity and value your firm’s U.S.
shipments (i.e., inclusive of commercial U.S. shipments, internal consumption, and transfers to
related firms) of imports from all other sources by product type in the specified periods.
“U.S. shipments shipped in slab form”--are defined as quartz surface products that have not
been fabricated or finished in any way (i.e. cutting to a specific size, edging, attaching to another
product, or any other fabrication or finishing, etc.) slabs require further fabrication to be ready
for installation.
“U.S. shipments shipped in fabricated form”--are defined as quartz products that have been
fabricated or finished to any degree ((i.e. cutting to a specific size, edging, attaching to another
product, or any other fabrication or finishing, etc.). Fabs may be ready for installation or may
require some additional fabrication prior to installation.

All other sources
Calendar years
Item

2016

2017

2018

2016

2017

2018

Quantity: AI + AK - F - H - J = zero ("0"),
if not revise.

Value: AJ + AL - G - I - K = zero ("0"), if
not revise.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
II-8a.

Page 27

Fabrication only operations.--Since January 1, 2016, has your firm imported quartz surface
products included in the scope listed on page 2 on which your firm conducted further
fabrication operations domestically in the United States before end use or re-sale of the goods
and the goods still matched the definition of quartz surface products at the time of end use or
re-sale?

Yes

If yes—Please describe the nature and extent of the following items in
relation to your firm’s fabrication operations in the United States.
Capital investments
Technical expertise
Value added
Employment
Quantity, type and source
of parts
Costs and activities

II-8b.

Fabrication only operations' complexity and importance.--On a scale of 1 to 5, please provide
your firm's opinion as to the complexity, intensity, and importance of fabrication only
operations conducted in the United States. 1 being minimally complex, intense, and important.
5 being extremely complex, intense, and important.

1:
Minimally complex,
intense, and
important

Please describe the reason for your rating.

5:
Extremely complex,
intense, and
important

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)

Page 28

II-9.

Transfers to related firms.--If your firm reported transfers to related firms in any of the data
tables in part II, please identify the firm(s) and indicate the nature of the relationship between
your firm and the related firms (e.g., joint venture, wholly owned subsidiary) and whether the
transfers were priced at market value or by a non-market formula.

II-10.

Other explanations.--If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question in Part II
for which a narrative response 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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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)

Page 29

PART III.--PRICING AND MARKET FACTORS
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Aimee Larsen (202-2053179, aimee.larsen@usitc.gov).
III-1.

PRICE DATA
III-2.

Price data.--This question requests quarterly quantity and value data for your firm’s commercial
shipments to unrelated U.S. customers since January 1, 2016 of the following products your firm
imported from India and Turkey:
Product 1.--Plain white quartz surface products in slab form, with a nominal thickness of 2 cm,
no veining or movement, and with minimal to no visible particulates, specks, chips,
or crystals that are sold to firms other than distributors.
Product 2.--Plain white quartz surface products in slab form, with a nominal thickness of 3 cm,
no veining or movement, and with minimal to no visible particulates, specks, chips,
or crystals that are sold to firms other than distributors.
Product 3.--White quartz surface products with a “marble look” in slab form, a nominal
thickness of 2 cm, with veining or movement, and with minimal to no visible
particulates, specks, chips, or crystals that are sold to firms other than distributors.
Product 4.--White quartz surface products with a “marble look” in slab form, a nominal
thickness of 3 cm, with veining or movement, and with minimal to no visible
particulates, specks, chips, or crystals that are sold to firms other than distributors.
Product 5.--Neutral colored quartz surface products with a “natural stone look” in slab form, a
nominal thickness of 2 cm, with movement and visible particulates, specks, chips, or
crystals that are sold to firms other than distributors.
Product 6.--Neutral colored quartz surface products with a “natural stone look” in slab form, a
nominal thickness of 3 cm, with movement and visible particulates, specks, chips, or
crystals that are sold to firms other than distributors.

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).

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)

Page 30

III-2a. Price data.--Continued
During January 2016-December 2018, did your firm import from India and Turkey 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.
III-2a. Price data.--Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from India
and sold by your firm. Do not include data for slabs that your firm internally consumed, further
fabricated prior to sale, or any sales that also involved total turnkey installation services.

India

Report data in square feet and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
(Quantity in square feet, value in dollars)
Product 1
Product 2
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value

Product 3
Period of shipment
Quantity
Value
2016:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2017:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2018:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
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:

Business Proprietary Information
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
III-2a. Price data.--Continued.

Page 31

India

Report data in square feet and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
(Quantity in square feet, value in dollars)
Product 4
Product 5
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value

Product 6

Period of shipment
Quantity
Value
2016:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2017:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2018:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
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 4
Product 5:
Product 6:

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)

Page 32

III-2b. Price data.--Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from Turkey
and sold by your firm. Do not include data for slabs that your firm internally consumed, further
fabricated prior to sale, or any sales that also involved total turnkey installation services.

Turkey
Report data in square feet and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
(Quantity in square feet, value in dollars)
Product 1
Product 2
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value

Business Proprietary Information
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
III-2b. Price data.--Continued.

Page 33

Turkey

Report data in square feet and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
(Quantity in square feet, value in dollars)
Product 4
Product 5
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value

Product 6

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
III-2c.

Page 34

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

√ if Yes

In actual dollars (not $1,000)?
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 part II in each year?
III-2d. 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 Information
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
III-3.

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

III-4.

Contracts

Annual
total
volume
discounts

Other

If other, describe

No
discount
policy

Other

Describe

Pricing terms.--On what basis are your firm’s prices of imported quartz from India and Turkey
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 35

F.o.b.

If f.o.b., specify point

Contract versus spot.--Approximately what share of your firm’s sales of quartz surface products
imported from India and Turkey in 2018 was on a (1) short-term contract basis, (2) annual
contract basis, (3) long-term contract basis, and (4) spot sales basis?

Item
Share of 2018
sales

Type of sale
Long-term
Annual
contracts
contracts
(multiple
(multiple
deliveries for
deliveries for 12
more than 12
months)
months)

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

Total
(should
sum to
100.0%)

Spot sales
(for a single
delivery)
%

0.0

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
III-7.

Page 36

Contract provisions.--Please fill out the table regarding your firm’s typical sales contracts for
quartz surface products imported from India and Turkey (or check “not applicable” if your firm
does not sell on a short-term, annual and/or long-term contract basis).
Short-term contracts
(multiple deliveries
for less than 12
months)

Typical sales
contract provisions

Item

Average contract
duration

No. of
days

Price renegotiation
(during contract
period)

Yes

Fixed quantity
and/or price

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-8.

Lead times.--What is your firm’s share of sales of quartz surface products imported from India
and Turkey 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 quartz surface products?

Source

Lead time
(Average number
Share of 2018 sales
of days)

From your firm’s U.S. inventory

From foreign manufacturers’ inventory

Produced to order

Total (should sum to 100.0%)

0.0 %

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
III-9.

Page 37

Shipping information.—
(a)

What is the approximate percentage of the cost of quartz surface products imported
from India and Turkey 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 quartz surface products imported from India and Turkey, from
where is it shipped?
Point of importation
Storage facility (check one)

(d)

Indicate the approximate percentage of your firm’s sales of quartz surface products
imported from India and Turkey 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 quartz
surface products imported from subject countries since January 1, 2016 (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.

India

Turkey

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)

Page 38

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

Quartz surface
products

Total
(should sum to
100.0% across)

Other inputs

0.0 %

III-12. Substitutes.—
(a)

Specific substitutes.--Are these specific products considered as substitutes for quartz
surface products in the same end use(s)?

Specific substitutes

Are these
considered
Have changes in the price of this
substitutes in the
substitute affected the price for quartz
End use(s) in which
market?
surface products?
this substitute is
No
Yes
used
No
Yes
Explanation

Marble
Granite
Quartzite
(b)

Other substitutes.--Can other products not already listed in part "a" of this question be
substituted for quartz surface products?
No

Other substitutes
1.
2.
3.
5.

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 quartz surface products?
No Yes

Explanation

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)

Page 39

III-13. Demand trends.--Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United
States (if known) for quartz surface products has changed since January 1, 2016. Explain any
trends and describe the principal factors that have affected these changes in demand.
Overall
increase

Market

No
Overall Fluctuate with
change decrease no clear trend

Explanation and factors

Within the United States
Outside the United States
III-14. Product changes.--Have there been any significant changes in the product range, product mix or
marketing of quartz surface products since January 1, 2016?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

III-15. Conditions of competition.—
(a) Is the quartz surface products market subject to business cycles (other than general
economy-wide conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to quartz
surface products?
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
quartz surface products since January 1, 2016?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)

Page 40

III-16. Supply constraints.--Has your firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply quartz surface
products since January 1, 2016 (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 quartz surface products raw material prices changed since January 1,
2016?
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 quartz
surface products.

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

India

Turkey

Other countries

United States
India
Turkey
For any country-pair producing quartz surface products that is sometimes or never
interchangeable, identify the country-pair and explain the factors that limit or preclude
interchangeable use:
.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)

Page 41

III-19. Factors other than price.--Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between quartz surface products
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

India

Turkey

Other countries

United States
India
Turkey
For any country-pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant factor
in your firm’s sales of quartz surface products , identify the country-pair and report the advantages
or disadvantages imparted by such factors:
.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)

Page 42

III-20. Customer identification.--List the names and contact information for your firm’s 10 largest U.S.
customers for quartz surface products since January 1, 2016. Indicate the share of the quantity
of your firm’s total shipments of quartz surface products that each of these customers
accounted for in 2018.

Customer’s name

Contact person

Telephone

City

State

Share
of
2018
sales
(%)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

III-21. Other explanations.--If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question in Part III
for which a narrative response 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.

Business Proprietary Information
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)

Page 43

PART IV.--ALTERNATIVE PRODUCT INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Julie Duffy (202-708-2579,
julie.duffy@usitc.gov).
IV-1.

Comparability of types of quartz surface products.--For each of the following indicate whether
listed products are: fully comparable or the same, i.e., have no differentiation between them;
mostly comparable or similar; somewhat comparable or similar; never or not-at-all comparable
or similar; or no familiarity with products.
F: fully comparable or the same, i.e., have no differentiation between them;
M: mostly comparable or similar;
S: somewhat comparable or similar;
N: never or not-at-all comparable or similar; or
0: no familiarity with products.
Crushed glass quartz surface products.--These are products defined as part of quartz
surface products (on page 2) produced with crush glass or glass powder, but which do
qualify as excluded crush glass surface products based on the scope's four exclusion
categories.
(a) Physical Characteristics and End Uses.--The differences and similarities in the physical
characteristics and end uses.

Product-pair

Comparison

Please provide a narrative discussion for the
comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
physical characteristics and uses:

In-scope crushed glass quartz
surface products vs in-scope all
other quartz surface products
(b) Interchangeability.--The ability to substitute the products in the same application.

Product-pair
In-scope crushed glass quartz
surface products vs in-scope all
other quartz surface products

Comparison

Please provide a narrative discussion for the
comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
interchangeability:

Business Proprietary Information
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
IV-1.

Page 44

Comparability of types of quartz surface products.--Continued
F: fully comparable or the same, i.e., have no differentiation between them;
M: mostly comparable or similar;
S: somewhat comparable or similar;
N: never or not-at-all comparable or similar; or
0: no familiarity with products.
(c) Manufacturing facilities, production processes, and production employees.--Whether
manufactured in the same facilities, from the same inputs, on the same machinery and
equipment, and using the same employees.

Product-pair

Comparison

Please provide a narrative discussion for the
comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
manufacturing facilities, production processes, and
production employees:

In-scope crushed glass quartz
surface products vs in-scope all
other quartz surface products

(d) Channels of distribution.--Channels of distribution/market situation through which the
products are sold (i.e., sold direct to end users, through wholesaler/distributors, etc.).

Product-pair
In-scope crushed glass quartz
surface products vs in-scope all
other quartz surface products

Comparison

Please provide a narrative discussion for the
comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
channels of distribution:

Business Proprietary Information
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
IV-1.

Page 45

Comparability of types of quartz glass surface products.--Continued
F: fully comparable or the same, i.e., have no differentiation between them;
M: mostly comparable or similar;
S: somewhat comparable or similar;
N: never or not-at-all comparable or similar; or
0: no familiarity with products.
(e) Customer and producer perceptions.--Perceptions as to the differences and/or
similarities in the market (e.g., sales/marketing practices).

Product-pair

Comparison

Please provide a narrative discussion for the
comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
customer and product perceptions:

In-scope crushed glass quartz
surface products vs in-scope all
other quartz surface products
(f) Price.--Whether prices are comparable or differ between the products.

Product-pair
In-scope crushed glass quartz
surface products vs in-scope all
other quartz surface products

Comparison

Please provide a narrative discussion for the
comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
price:

Business Proprietary Information
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)

Page 46

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 Information
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)

Page 47

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/701731/2019/quartz_surface_products_india_an
d_turkey/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: SURF

• E-mail.—E-mail the MS Word questionnaire to julie.duffy@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	US importer questionnaire
Subject	Title 7 investigations
Author	Duffy, Julie
File Modified	2019-05-10
File Created	2019-05-10