19-3-4127 U.S. purchasers' questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 19-3-4127; Expiration Date : 6/30/2020
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
SMALL DIAMETER GRAPHITE ELECTRODES FROM CHINA
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by November 8, 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 review of the antidumping duty order concerning small diameter graphite electrodes from China
(inv. No. 731-TA-1143 (Second Review)). The information requested in the questionnaire is requested under the
authority of the Tariff Act of 1930, title VII. This report is mandatory and failure to reply as directed can result in a
subpoena or other order to compel the submission of records or information in your possession (19 U.S.C. § 1333(a)).
Further information on this questionnaire can be obtained from John Benedetto (202-205-3270,
john.benedetto@usitc.gov).

Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm purchased small diameter graphite electrodes (as defined on the next page) from any source (domestic
or foreign) at any time since January 1, 2014?

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

Name of Authorized Official

Signature

Title of Authorized Official

Phone

Date

Email address

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Small diameter graphite electrodes (Second Review)

Page 2

PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.--On February 26, 2009, the Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) issued an
antidumping duty order on imports of small diameter graphite electrodes from China. On May 1, 2019,
the Commission instituted a review pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. §
1675(c)) (the Act) to determine whether revocation of the order 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 order will remain in place. If
either the Commission or Commerce makes a negative determination, Commerce will revoke the order.
Questionnaires and other information pertinent to this proceeding are available at
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2019/small_diameter_graphite_electrodes_china/second
_review_full.htm.
Small diameter graphite electrodes covered by this review are: (A)II small diameter graphite electrodes
of any length, whether or not finished, of a kind used in furnaces, with a nominal or actual diameter of
400 millimeters (16 inches) or less, and whether or not attached to a graphite pin joining system or any
other type of joining system or hardware. The merchandise covered by the order also includes graphite
pin joining systems for small diameter graphite electrodes, of any length, whether or not finished, of a
kind used in furnaces, and whether or not the graphite pin joining system is attached to, sold with, or
sold separately from, the small diameter graphite electrodes. Small diameter graphite electrodes and
graphite pin joining systems for small diameter graphite electrodes are most commonly used in primary
melting, ladle metallurgy, and specialty furnace applications in industries including foundries, smelters,
and steel refining operations. Small diameter graphite electrodes and graphite pin joining systems for
small diameter graphite electrodes that are subject to the order are currently classified under the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) 8545.11.0010, 3801.10, and 8545.11.0020. The
HTS statistical reporting numbers are provided for convenience and customs purposes, but written
description of the scope is dispositive.
Reporting of information.--If information is not readily available from your records in exactly the form
requested, furnish carefully prepared estimates. If your firm is completing more than one questionnaire
in connection with this proceeding (i.e., a producer, importer, and/or purchaser questionnaire), you
need not respond to duplicated questions in the questionnaires.
Confidentiality.--The commercial and financial data furnished in response to this questionnaire that
reveal the individual operations of your firm will be treated as confidential by the Commission to the
extent that such data are not otherwise available to the public and will not be disclosed except as may
be required by law (see 19 U.S.C. § 1677f). Such confidential information will not be published in a
manner that will reveal the individual operations of your firm; however, general characterizations of
numerical business proprietary information (such as discussion of trends) will be treated as confidential
business information only at the request of the submitter for good cause shown.
Verification.--The information submitted in this questionnaire is subject to audit and verification by the
Commission. To facilitate possible verification of data, please keep all of your files, worksheets, and
supporting documents used in the preparation of the questionnaire response. Please also retain a copy
of the final document that you submit.
Release of information.--The information provided by your firm in response to this questionnaire, as
well as any other business proprietary information submitted by your firm to the Commission in
connection with this proceeding, may become subject to, and released under, the administrative

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Small diameter graphite electrodes (Second Review)

Page 3

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.
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
(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.
Purchaser.--Any firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or subsidiary, in purchasing
small diameter graphite electrodes from another firm that produces, imports, or otherwise distributes
small diameter graphite electrodes.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Small diameter graphite electrodes (Second Review)
I-1a.

Page 4

Establishments covered.--Provide the name and address of establishment(s) covered by this
questionnaire, if different from that listed on the cover page. Firms operating more than one
establishment should combine the data for all establishments into a single response.
“Establishment”--Each facility of a firm involved in the purchase of small diameter graphite
electrodes, including auxiliary facilities operated in conjunction with (whether or not physically
separate from) such facilities.

I-2b.

Stock symbol information.-- If your firm or parent firm is publicly traded, please specify the
stock exchange and trading symbol:
.

I-2c.

External counsel.-- If your firm or parent firm is represented by external counsel in relation to
this proceeding, please specify the name of the law firm and the lead attorney(s).
Law firm:
.
Lead attorney(s):

I-2d.

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

I-3.

.

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 import small diameter graphite electrodes into the United States or that export
small diameter graphite electrodes to the United States?
No
Firm name

Yes--List the following information.
Country

Affiliation

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Small diameter graphite electrodes (Second Review)
I-4.

Related producers.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, that
produce small diameter graphite electrodes?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name and country

I-5.

Page 5

Country

Affiliation

Business plan.--Does your company or any related firm have a business plan or any internal
documents that describe, discuss, or analyze expected market conditions for small diameter
graphite electrodes?

No

Yes

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

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

Purchases.—
(a)

Please estimate your firm’s total U.S. purchases of small diameter graphite electrodes in
2018. (Do not include imports for which your firm was the importer of record; such
imports should be reported in your U.S. importer’s questionnaire.)
Quantity (metric tons)

(b)

Estimate the percentage of the quantity of your firm’s purchases of small diameter
graphite electrodes in 2018 that were produced in each of the specified countries.
Small diameter graphite electrodes
produced in:

Share of quantity of 2018 purchases

United States

%

China

%

All other countries:1

%

Sources unknown

%

Total (should sum to 100.0%)
1

Please identify these countries:

0.0

%

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Small diameter graphite electrodes (Second Review)
II-2.

Page 7

Changes in purchasing patterns.--Please indicate how the shares of your firm’s purchases of
small diameter graphite electrodes from different sources have changed since January 1, 2014.
Source of Did not
purchases purchase Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated

Explanation for trend

United
States
China
All other
countries
Sources
unknown
II-3.

Country knowledge.--Please indicate the countries of origin with which your firm has
experience or information in the small diameter graphite electrodes market.
United
States

II-4.

China

Other
countries

Other countries (specify)

Supplier identification.--Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers for small diameter graphite
electrodes since January 1, 2014. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s total
purchases of small diameter graphite electrodes that each of these suppliers accounted for in
2018.

No.

Supplier’s name

City and state

Share of quantity of
2018 purchases

1

%

2

%

3

%

4

%

5

%

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

Firm type.--Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of small diameter
graphite electrodes (check all that apply)?
End user (iron
foundry)

End user
(steel mill)

Distributor

Other

Describe other

If your firm is a distributor of small diameter graphite electrodes, please answer questions III-2 and III3.
III-2.

Competition for sales.--Do you compete for sales to your customers with the manufacturers or
importers from which you purchase small diameter graphite electrodes?
No

III-3.

Yes

If yes, please describe.

Types of customers.--What are the major types of consumers to which you sell small diameter
graphite electrodes?

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If your firm is an end user of small diameter graphite electrodes, please answer questions III-4 and III5.
III-4.

End uses.—Have there been any changes in the end uses of small diameter graphite electrodes
since January 1, 2014? Do you anticipate any future changes?
Changes in end uses

No

Yes

Explain

Changes since
January 1, 2014
Anticipated changes
III-5.

Demand for end-use products.-(a)

Has the demand for your firm’s final products incorporating small diameter graphite
electrodes changed since January 1, 2014?
Increased

(b)

Decreased

Fluctuated

Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for small diameter graphite electrodes?
No

III-6.

No change

Yes

Explain

Substitutes.— Have there been any changes in the number or types of products that can be
substituted for small diameter graphite electrodes since January 1, 2014? Do you anticipate any
future changes?
Changes in substitutes No Yes
Changes since January
1, 2014
Anticipated changes

Explain

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Small diameter graphite electrodes (Second Review)
III-7.

Page 10

Demand trends.--Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United
States (if known) for small diameter graphite electrodes has changed since January 1, 2014, and
how you anticipate demand will change in the future. Explain any trends and describe the
principal factors that have affected, and that you anticipate will affect, these changes in
demand.

Overall
increase

Market

No
change

Overall
decrease

Fluctuate
with no
clear trend

Explanation and factors

Demand since January 1, 2014
Within the
United
States
Outside
the United
States
Anticipated future demand
Within the
United
States
Outside
the United
States
III-8.

Market studies.--Please provide as a separate attachment to this request any studies, surveys,
etc. that you are aware of that quantify and/or otherwise discuss small diameter graphite
electrodes supply (including production capacity and capacity utilization) and demand in (1) the
United States, (2) each of the other major producing/consuming countries, including China, and
(3) the world as a whole. Of particular interest is such data from 2014 to the present and
forecasts for the future.

III-9.

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

Yes

If yes, identify the countries and explain.

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III-10. Importance of purchasing domestic product.--Please fill out the table below, estimating the
percentage of your firm’s total 2018 purchases of small diameter graphite electrodes that
required small diameter graphite electrodes produced in the United States.

Purchases that did not require domestic product
Purchases that were required by law or regulation to be domestic
product (e.g., government purchases under “Buy American” provisions)
Purchases that were not required by law or regulation, but were
required by your customers to be domestic product
Purchases that were required to be domestic product for other reasons
(explain:
)
Total (should sum to 100.0%)

Estimated percentage of
your firm’s total 2018
purchases of small
diameter graphite
electrodes
%
%
%
%
0.0 %

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

Please describe.

No

Skip to question III-12.

Yes-Business cycles (e.g.
seasonal business)
Yes-Other distinctive
conditions of competition
(b) If yes, have there been any changes in the business cycles or conditions of competition for
small diameter graphite electrodes since January 1, 2014?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

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III-12. Decisions based on producer and country-of-origin.--How often does your firm, and if you
know, do your customers, make purchasing decisions involving small diameter graphite
electrodes based on its producer or country of origin?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

If at least sometimes, explain.

Decision based on producer
Your firm
Your
customers
Decision based on country of origin
Your firm
Your
customers
III-13. Availability of supply.--Has the availability of small diameter graphite electrodes in the U.S.
market changed since January 1, 2014? Do you anticipate any future changes?
Availability in the U.S.
market

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

Changes since January 1, 2014:
U.S.-produced product
Imports from China
Imports from all other
countries
Anticipated changes:
U.S.-produced product
Imports from China
Imports from all other
countries
III-14. Availability of specific product types.--Are certain grades/types/sizes of small diameter graphite
electrodes only available from certain country sources?
No

Yes

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

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III-15. Supply constraints.--Has any firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply your firm with
small diameter graphite electrodes since January 1, 2014 (examples include placing customers
on allocation or “controlled order entry,” declining to accept new customers or renew existing
customers, delivering less than the quantity promised, being unable to meet timely shipment
commitments, etc.)?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

III-16. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

How frequently do you make purchases of small diameter graphite electrodes (check
one)?
Daily

(b)

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Annually

Other

If other, specify

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

Yes

If yes, explain.

III-17. Raw material prices.—
(a)

Is your firm familiar with the prices for raw materials used in the production of small
diameter graphite electrodes?
No

Yes – please answer (b)

(b) Has information on raw material prices affected your firm’s negotiations or contracts to
purchase small diameter graphite electrodes since 2014?
No

Yes Explain

III-18. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers do you generally contact before making a
purchase? Between
and
firms.

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III-19. Supplier negotiations.--Do your firm’s purchases of small diameter graphite electrodes usually
involve negotiations between supplier and purchaser?

No

Yes

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

III-20. Change in suppliers.--Has your firm changed suppliers since January 1, 2014?

No

Yes

If yes, please list the supplier(s), whether the firm was added or dropped,
and the reasons for the change.

III-21. New suppliers.-(a)

Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have entered the
market since January 1, 2014?
No

(b)

Yes

If yes, please identify the firms.

Do you expect new small diameter graphite electrodes suppliers to enter the U.S.
market?
No

Yes

If yes, please explain.

III-22. Supplier qualification.--Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified
to sell small diameter graphite electrodes to your firm?
If yes, provide the following information.
 The number of days to qualify a new supplier.
 A general description of the certification or qualification process. Also, a brief
description of the factors that you consider when qualifying a new supplier (e.g., quality
of product, reliability of supplier, etc.).

No

Yes

Number
of days Process and factors

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III-23. Failure to certify.--Since January 1, 2014, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their
attempts to certify or qualify their small diameter graphite electrodes with your firm or have any
producers lost their approved status?

No

If yes, please identify these firms, the countries where they are located, and
the reasons why they failed the certification/qualification.

Yes

III-24. Major purchasing factors.--Please list, in order of their importance, the three major factors your
firm considers in deciding from whom to purchase small diameter graphite electrodes (examples
include availability, extension of credit, contracts, price, quality, range of supplier’s product line,
traditional supplier, etc.).
1.
2.
3.
Please list any other factors that are very important in your purchase decisions:
III-25. Purchasing factors.--Please rate the importance of the following factors in your firm’s
purchasing decisions for small diameter graphite electrodes.

Factor
Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Payment terms
Price
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs

Very
important

Somewhat
important

Not
important

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III-26. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of small diameter graphite electrodes?

III-27. Minimum quality.--How often does small diameter graphite electrodes from the following
countries meet minimum quality specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?

Source

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or
never

Don’t
know

United States
China
Other:
III-28. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the small diameter
graphite electrodes that is offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

III-29. Price leaders.--A price leader is defined as (1) one or more firms that initiate a price change,
either upward or downward, that is followed by other firms, or (2) one or more firms that have a
significant impact on prices. A price leader is not necessarily the lowest-priced supplier.
Please list the names of any firms you considered price leaders in the small diameter graphite
electrodes market since January 1, 2014.
Firm(s)

Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership

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III-30. Changes in U.S. industry.-(a)

Please identify and discuss any improvements/changes in the U.S. small diameter
graphite electrodes industry since January 1, 2014 and explain the factors, including the
order under review, that were responsible for each improvement/change.

(b)

Please discuss any improvements/changes that you anticipate in the future in the U.S.
small diameter graphite electrodes industry. Identify the time period and causes for
these improvements/changes.

III-31a. Effect of order.--Describe the significance of the existing antidumping duty order covering
imports of small diameter graphite electrodes from China in terms of its effect on your firm’s
operations. You may wish to compare your firm’s operations before and after the imposition of
the order.

III-31b. Likely impact of revocation.--Would your firm anticipate any changes in the character of its
operations or organization if the antidumping duty order on small diameter graphite electrodes
from China were to be revoked?

No

Yes

If yes, supply details as to the time, nature, and significance of
such changes.

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III-32. Impact of the section 232 investigation.-- Did the imposition of tariffs on imported steel products
under section 232 have an impact on the small diameter graphic electrodes market in the United
States?
Yes— Please indicate the impact in the
table below.

Item
Overall demand for
small diameter
graphite electrodes in
the U.S. market
Prices for small
diameter graphite
electrodes in the U.S.
market

No

Don’t know

Explain, noting how the imposition
Fluctuate of tariffs under section 232 affected
with no
each factor of the small diameter
No
clear
graphic electrodes market in the
Increase change Decrease
trend
United States.

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III-33. Impact of section 301 tariffs.--Did the imposition of tariffs on Chinese-origin products under to
section 301 have an impact on the small diameter graphic electrodes market in the United
States?
Yes— Please indicate the
impact in the table below.

Factor
Supply of U.S.produced small
diameter graphic
electrodes
Supply of small
diameter graphic
electrodes imported
from China
Supply of small
diameter graphic
electrodes imported
from other countries
Prices for small
diameter graphic
electrodes
Overall U.S. demand
for small diameter
graphic electrodes
Raw material costs for
small diameter graphic
electrodes

No

Overall
No
Overall
increase change decrease

Don’t know

Explain, noting how the imposition
of tariffs under section 301 affected
Fluctuate each factor of the small diameter
with no
graphic electrodes market in the
clear
United States.
trend

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PART IV.--PRODUCT COMPARISIONS
IV-1.

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

China

Other countries

United States
China
For any country-pair producing small diameter graphite electrodes which is sometimes or
never interchangeable, please identify the country-pair and explain the factors that limit or
preclude interchangeable use:

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IV-2.

Page 21

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

China

Other countries

United States
China
For any country-pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant
factor in your firm’s purchases of small diameter graphite electrodes, identify the countrypair and report the advantages or disadvantages imparted by such factors:

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Small diameter graphite electrodes (Second Review)
IV-3.

Page 22

Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how small diameter
graphite electrodes produced in each country you identified in your response to question II-3
compares with small diameter graphite electrodes produced in each of the other countries you
identified.

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

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Payment terms
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
1

A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has lower
prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
United States
Product from
compared to
China compared to
product from
product from
all other countries all other countries

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
China

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Small diameter graphite electrodes (Second Review)
IV-4.

Page 23

Change in price.-(a)

Since January 1, 2014, has there been a change in the price of small diameter graphite
electrodes?
Source

Yes (also respond to
question Part (b))

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

United States
China
(b)

If your firm responded “yes” to any of the above countries, please describe how the
price of U.S.-produced small diameter graphite electrodes has changed relative to the
price of imported small diameter graphite electrodes from China.

Country

Prices changed by
the same percent

Price of U.S.-produced
Price of U.S.-produced
small diameter graphite
small diameter graphite
electrodes is now relatively electrodes is now relatively
higher
lower

China
PART V.—ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
V-1.

Other explanations.--If your firm would like to further explain a response to any question that
for which a narrative response box was not provided, please note the question number and the
explanation in the space provided below.

Contains Business Proprietary Information
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Small diameter graphite electrodes (Second Review)
V-2.

Page 24

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

Dollars

The questions in this questionnaire have been reviewed with market participants to ensure that
issues of concern are adequately addressed and that data requests are sufficient, meaningful,
and as limited as possible. Public reporting burden for this questionnaire is estimated to average
40 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering data, and
completing and reviewing the questionnaire.
We welcome comments regarding the accuracy of this burden estimate, suggestions for
reducing the burden, and any suggestions for improving this questionnaire. Please attach such
comments to your response or send to the Office of Investigations, USITC, 500 E St. SW,
Washington, DC 20436.

Contains Business Proprietary Information
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Small diameter graphite electrodes (Second Review)

Page 25

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

Pin: ELECT

• E-mail.—E-mail the MS Word questionnaire to john.benedetto@usitc.gov; include a scanned copy of
the signed certification page (page 1). Submitters are strongly encouraged to encrypt nonpublic
documents that are electronically transmitted to the Commission to protect your sensitive information
from unauthorized disclosure. The USITC secure drop-box system and the Electronic Document
Information System (EDIS) use Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 140-2 cryptographic
algorithms to encrypt data in transit. Submitting your nonpublic documents by a means that does not
use these encryption algorithms (such as by email) may subject your firm’s nonpublic information to
unauthorized disclosure during transmission. If you choose a non-encrypted method of electronic
transmission, the Commission warns you that the risk of such possible unauthorized disclosure is
assumed by you and not by the Commission.
If your firm does not purchase this product, please fill out page 1, print, sign, and submit a scanned
copy to the Commission.
Parties to this proceeding.—If your firm is a party to this proceeding, it is required to serve a copy of the
completed questionnaire on parties to the proceeding that are subject to administrative protective
order (see 19 CFR § 207.7). A list of such parties may be obtained from the Commission’s Secretary (202205-1803). A certificate of service must accompany the completed questionnaire you submit (see 19 CFR
§ 207.7). Service of the questionnaire must be made in paper form.