Download:
pdf |
pdfOMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 18-3-3898; Expiration Date: 6/30/2020
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)
U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
FORGED STEEL FITTINGS FROM CHINA, ITALY, AND TAIWAN
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by June 28, 2018
See last page for filing instructions.
The information called for in this questionnaire is for use by the United States International Trade Commission in
connection with its countervailing duty and antidumping investigations concerning forged steel fittings from China, Italy,
and Taiwan (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-589 and 731-TA-1394-1396 (Final)). 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)). Further information on this questionnaire can be obtained from Jeffrey Clark (202-2053318, jeffrey.clark@usitc.gov).
Name of firm
Address
City
State
Zip Code
Website
Has your firm purchased forged steel fittings (as defined on next page) from any source (domestic or foreign) at
any time since January 1, 2015?
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 U.S. International Trade Commission Drop Box by clicking on the
following link: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/. (PIN: FSF)
CERTIFICATION
I certify that the information herein supplied in response to this questionnaire is complete and correct to the best of my
knowledge and belief and understand that the information submitted is subject to audit and verification by the Commission. By
submitting this certification I also grant consent for the Commission, and its employees and contract personnel, to use the
information provided in this questionnaire and throughout this proceeding in any other import-injury proceedings conducted by
the Commission on the same or similar merchandise.
I, the undersigned, acknowledge that information submitted in response to this request for information and throughout this
proceeding or other proceedings may be disclosed to and used: (i) by the Commission, its employees and Offices, and contract
personnel (a) for developing or maintaining the records of this or a related proceeding, or (b) in internal investigations, audits,
reviews, and evaluations relating to the programs, personnel, and operations of the Commission including under 5 U.S.C.
Appendix 3; or (ii) by U.S. government employees and contract personnel, solely for cybersecurity purposes. I understand that all
contract personnel will sign appropriate nondisclosure agreements.
Name of Authorized Official
Title of Authorized Official
Date
Phone:
Signature
Email address
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
Page 2
PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.--This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on October 5, 2017, by
Bonney Forge Corporation, Mount Union, PA; and United Steel Workers, Pittsburgh, PA. Countervailing
and/or antidumping duties may be assessed on the subject imports as a result of these proceedings if
the Commission makes an affirmative determination of injury, threat, or material retardation, and if the
U.S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) makes an affirmative determination of subsidization
and/or dumping. Questionnaires and other information pertinent to this proceeding are available at
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2018/forged_steel_fittings_china_italy_and_taiwan/final.
htm
Forged steel fittings covered by these investigations are carbon and alloy forged steel fittings, whether
unfinished (commonly known as blanks or rough forgings) or finished. Such fittings are made in a variety
of shapes including, but not limited to, elbows, tees, crosses, laterals, couplings, reducers, caps, plugs,
bushings, unions and outlets. Forged steel fittings are covered regardless of end finish, whether
threaded, socket-weld or other end connections.
While these fittings are generally manufactured to specifications ASME B16.11, MSS SP-79, and MSS SP83, MSS SP-97, ASTM A105, ASTM A350, and ASTM A182, the scope is not limited to fittings made to
these specifications.
The term forged is an industry term used to describe a class of products included in applicable
standards, and does not reference an exclusive manufacturing process. Forged steel fittings are not
manufactured from casting. Pursuant to the applicable specifications, subject fittings may also be
machined from bar stock or machined from seamless pipe and tube.
All types of fittings are included in the scope regardless of nominal pipe size (which may or may not be
expressed in inches of nominal pipe size), pressure rating (usually, but not necessarily expressed in
pounds of pressure/PSI, e.g., 2,000 or 2M; 3,000 or 3M; 6,000 or 6M; 9,000 or 9M), wall thickness, and
whether or not heat treated.
Excluded from this scope are all fittings entirely made of stainless steel. Also excluded are flanges, butt
weld fittings, butt weld outlets, nipples, and all fittings that have a maximum pressure rating of 300
pounds of pressure/PSI or less.
Further excluded are fittings certified or made to the following standards, so long as the fittings are
not also manufactured to the in-scope specifications of ASME B16.11, MSS SP-79, MSS SP-83, MSS SP-97,
ASTM A105, ASTM A350, and ASTM A182:
• American Petroleum Institute (API) API 5CT, API 5L, or API 11B;
• Society of Automotive Engineering (SAE) SAE J476, SAE J514, SAE J516, SAE J517, SAE J518, SAE J1026,
SAE J1231, SAE J1453, SAE J1926, SAE J2044 or SAE AS 35411;
• Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL) certified electrical conduit fittings;
• ASTM A153, A536, A576, or A865;
• Casing Conductor Connectors 16-42 inches in diameter made to proprietary specifications;
• Military Specification (MIL) MIL-C-4109F and MIL-F-3541; or
• International Organization for Standardization (ISO) ISO6150-B.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
Page 3
To be excluded from the scope, products must have the appropriate standard or pressure markings
and/or accompanied by documentation showing product compliance to the applicable standard or
pressure (e.g., marked as meeting “API 5CT”) and/or a mill certification report.
Subject carbon and alloy forged steel fittings are currently imported under statistical reporting numbers
7307.99.5045, 7307.99.5060, 7307.99.1000, and 7307.99.3000 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States (HTSUS). They may also be imported under HTSUS statistical reporting numbers
7307.92.3010, 7307.92.3030, 7307.92.9000, or 7326.19.0010. The HTSUS provisions are for convenience
and customs purposes; the written description of the scope is dispositive.
Certain excluded fittings are carbon and alloy (excluding stainless) forged steel fittings that are excluded
from the definition of forged steel fittings above based on being certified to the following standards, and
not also being dual certified to ASME B16.11, MSS SP-79, MSS SP-83, MSS SP-97, ASTM A105, ASTM
A350, or ASTM A182 standards. The excluded fittings are those with the following certifications:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
American Petroleum Institute (API) API 5CT, API 5L, or API 11B;
Society of Automotive Engineering (SAE) SAE J476, SAE J514, SAE J516, SAE J517, SAE J518, SAE
J1026, SAE J1231, SAE J1453, SAE J1926, J2044 or SAE AS 35411;
Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL) certified electrical conduit fittings;
ASTM A153, A536, A576, or A865;
Casing Conductor Connectors 16-42 inches in diameter made to proprietary specifications;
Military Specification (MIL) MIL-C-4109F and MIL-F-3541; or
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) ISO6150-B.
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.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
Page 4
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.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
I-1.
Page 5
Establishments covered.--Provide the name and address of your U.S. 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 forged steel fittings,
including auxiliary facilities operated in conjunction with (whether or not physically separate
from) such facilities.
I-2.
Ownership.--Is your firm owned, in whole or in part, by any other firm?
No
Firm name
I-3.
Address
Extent of ownership
(percent)
Related importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or
foreign, which import forged steel fittings into the United States or which export forged steel
fittings to the United States?
No
Firm name
I-4.
Yes--List the following information.
Yes--List the following information.
Country
Affiliation
Related producers.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, which
produce forged steel fittings?
No
Firm name
Yes--List the following information.
Country
Affiliation
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
Page 6
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
Purchases and imports of forged steel fittings.--Report separately your firm’s domestic
purchases and imports of forged steel fittings. Note do not include data on purchases and/or
imports of certain excluded fittings.
II-1.
“Purchase” – Purchase from a U.S. entity such as a U.S. producer, a U.S. importer, or other U.S.
firm.
“Import” – Purchase directly from a foreign supplier and your firm is the importer of record.
2015
2016
Item
2017
Quantity (in pounds)
Purchases of forged steel fittings
produced in-United States
China
Italy
Taiwan
All other countries1
Sources unknown
Total purchases
0
0
0
0
0
0
Imports of forged steel fittings from-China
Italy
Taiwan
All other countries1
Total imports
1
Please identify these countries:
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
II-2.
Page 7
Changes in purchasing patterns.--Please indicate how the shares of your firm’s purchases of
forged steel fittings from different sources have changed since January 1, 2015.
Source of purchases
Did not
purchase Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated
Explanation for trend
United States
China
Italy
Taiwan
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 forged steel fittings market.
United
States
II-4.
China
Italy
Taiwan
Other
countries
Other countries (specify)
Supplier identification.--Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers for forged steel fittings
since January 1, 2015. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s total purchases of
forged steel fittings that each of these suppliers accounted for in 2017.
No.
Supplier’s name
City and state
Share of quantity of
2017 purchases
1
%
2
%
3
%
4
%
5
%
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
Page 8
PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES
III-1.
Firm type.--Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of forged steel
fittings (check all that apply)?
End user
(oil & gas
sector)
End user
(other
sector)
Distributor
Other
Describe other
If your firm is a distributor of forged steel fittings, please answer questions III-2 and III-3.
III-2.
Competition for sales.--Does your firm compete for sales to customers with the manufacturers
or importers from which your firm purchases forged steel fittings?
No
III-3.
Yes
If yes, please describe.
Types of customers.--What are the major types of consumers to which your firm sells forged
steel fittings?
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
Page 9
If your firm is an end user of forged steel fittings, please answer questions III-4 and III-5.
III-4.
End uses.--List the top 3 products your firm makes using forged steel fittings and estimate the
percent of your total production cost that is accounted for by forged steel fittings and by other
inputs (such as labor, energy, and other raw materials).
Share of total cost in each of the product(s) your
firm produces accounted for by
Product(s) your firm
produces
III-5.
Forged steel fittings
Total
(should
sum to
100.0%
across)
Other inputs
% +
%
=
0.0 %
% +
%
=
0.0 %
% +
%
=
0.0 %
Demand for end use products.-(a)
Has the demand for your firm’s final products incorporating forged steel fittings
changed since January 1, 2015?
Increased
(b)
No change
Decreased
Fluctuated
Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for forged steel fittings?
No
Yes
Explain
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
III-6.
Page 10
Substitutes.--Can other products be substituted for forged steel fittings?
No
Yes--Please fill out the table.
End use in which this
substitute is used
Substitute
Have changes in the price of this substitute
affected the price for forged steel fittings?
No Yes
Explanation
1.
2.
3.
III-7.
Demand trends.--Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United
States (if known) for forged steel fittings has changed since January 1, 2015. Explain any trends
and describe the principal factors that have affected these changes in demand.
January 1, 2015-December 31, 2016
Overall
increase
Market
No change
Overall
decrease
Since January 1, 2017
Overall
increase
No change
Overall
decrease
Within the United States
for the Oil and Gas
Sector
Within the United States
for all other sectors1
Outside the United States
for the Oil and Gas
Sector
Outside the United States
for all other sectors1
Explanation and factors:
1
III-8.
Please describe the "other" sectors:
Country preferences.--Do you or your customers ever specifically order forged steel fittings
from one country in particular over other possible sources of supply?
No
Yes
If yes, identify the countries and explain.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
III-9.
Page 11
Importance of purchasing domestic product.--Please fill out the table below, estimating the
percentage of your firm’s total 2018 purchases of forged steel fittings that required forged steel
fittings 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 forged steel
fittings
%
%
%
%
0.0 %
III-10. Conditions of competition.-(a)
Is the forged steel fittings market subject to business cycles (other than general
economy-wide conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to forged
steel fittings?
Check all that apply.
Please describe.
No
Skip to question III-11.
Yes-Business cycles (e.g.
seasonal business)
Yes-Other distinctive
conditions of competition
(b)
Have there been any changes in the business cycles or conditions of competition for
forged steel fittings since January 1, 2015?
No
Yes
If yes, describe.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
Page 12
III-11. Decisions based on producer and country-of-origin.--How often does your firm, and if known,
do your customers, make purchasing decisions involving forged steel fittings 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-12. Availability of supply.--Has the availability of forged steel fittings in the U.S. market changed
since January 1, 2015?
Availability in the U.S.
Please explain, noting the countries and reasons for the
market
No Yes changes.
U.S.-produced product
Subject imports
Nonsubject imports
III-13. Supply constraints.--Has any firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply your firm with
forged steel fittings since January 1, 2015 (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-14. Availability of specific product types.--Are certain grades/types/sizes of forged steel fittings
only available from certain country sources?
No
Yes
If yes, please identify the countries and the grade/type/size.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
Page 13
III-15. Purchasing frequency.-(a)
How frequently does your firm make purchases of forged steel fittings (check one)?
Daily
(b)
Weekly
Monthly
Quarterly
Annually
Other
If other, specify
Has this purchasing frequency changed since January 1, 2015?
No
Yes
If yes, please describe.
III-16. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers does your firm generally contact before
making a purchase? Between
and
firms
III-17. Supplier negotiations.--Do your firm’s purchases of forged steel fittings usually involve
negotiations between supplier and purchaser?
No
Yes
If yes, explain the factors your firm generally negotiates and note
whether your firm quotes competing prices during negotiations.
III-18. Change in suppliers.--Has your firm changed suppliers since January 1, 2015?
No
Yes
If yes, please list the supplier(s), whether the firm was added or
dropped, and the reasons for the change.
III-19. New suppliers.--Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have
entered the market since January 1, 2015?
No
Yes
If yes, please identify the firms.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
Page 14
III-20. Supplier qualification.--Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified
to sell forged steel fittings 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
III-21. Failure to certify.--Since January 1, 2015, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their
attempts to certify or qualify their forged steel fittings with your firm or have any producers lost
their approved status?
No
Yes
If yes, please identify these firms, the countries where they are located,
and the reasons why they failed the certification/qualification.
III-22. Major purchasing factors.--Please list, in order of their importance, the main factors your firm
considers in deciding from whom to purchase forged steel fittings (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:
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
Page 15
III-23. Purchasing factors.--Please rate the importance of the following factors in your firm’s
purchasing decisions for forged steel fittings.
Factor
Very
important
Somewhat
important
Not
important
Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs
III-24. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of forged steel fittings?
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
Page 16
III-25. Minimum quality.--How often does forged steel fittings 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
Italy
Taiwan
Nonsubject countries
Other:
III-26. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the forged steel
fittings that is offered at the lowest price?
Always
Usually
Sometimes
Never
III-27. 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 forged steel fittings
market since January 1, 2015.
Firm(s)
Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
Page 17
III-28. Purchasing subject imports rather than domestic products.—
(a)
Since January 2015, did your firm purchase imports of forged steel fittings from China,
Italy, and Taiwan instead of U.S.-produced forged steel fittings? Respond for each
subject country.
Source
Yes
(also respond to parts (b) and (c))
No
(If “No” for all countries, skip to next
question)
China
Italy
Taiwan
(b)
If you responded “Yes” to part (a), was the imported product priced lower than the
domestic product?
Source
Yes
No
China
Italy
Taiwan
(c)
Source
China
Italy
Taiwan
If you responded “Yes” to part (a), was price a primary reason for purchasing subject
imports rather than domestic product?
Yes
If Yes, estimate the quantity
of imports purchased instead
of domestic product since
January 2015
(in short tons)
No
If No, please indicate the reason your
firm purchased imports instead of
domestic product. Please identify the
country(ies) in your explanation if it
differs by source.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
Page 18
III-29. U.S. producers and import competition.—
(a)
Since January 1, 2015, in connection with a sale or offer to sell forged steel fittings to
your firm, did U.S. producers reduce their prices of domestically produced forged steel
fittings in order to compete with lower-priced imports of forged steel fittings from the
subject countries? Respond for each subject country.
Source
Yes (also respond to
question part (b))
No (If “No” for all countries,
skip to next question)
Don’t know
China
Italy
Taiwan
(b)
If your firm responded “yes” to any of the above countries, please provide an estimate
of the reduction in U.S. producers’ prices, and any additional explanations, such as
timing (e.g., months/years), frequency of price reductions, or other market/competitive
factors.
Source
Estimated
reduction in U.S.
prices
(percent)
China
%
Italy
%
Taiwan
%
Additional explanation, including such information as
timing (e.g., months/years), frequency of price
reductions, or other market/competitive factors. Please
identify the country(ies) in your explanation if it differs
by source.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
Page 19
PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS
IV-1.
Interchangeability.--Is forged steel fittings produced in the United States and in other countries
interchangeable (i.e., can they physically be used in the same applications)?
Please indicate A, F, S, N, or 0 in the table below:
A = the products from a specified country-pair are always interchangeable
F = the products are frequently interchangeable
S = the products are sometimes interchangeable
N = the products are never interchangeable
0 = no familiarity with products from a specified country-pair
Country-pair
China
Italy
Taiwan
Other countries
United States
China
Italy
Taiwan
For any country-pair producing forged steel fittings which is sometimes or never
interchangeable, please identify the country-pair and explain the factors that limit or preclude
interchangeable use:
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
IV-2.
Page 20
Factors other than price.--Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between forged steel fittings
produced in the United States and in other countries a significant factor in your firm’s 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
Italy
Taiwan
Other countries
United States
China
Italy
Taiwan
For any country-pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant
factor in your firm’s purchases of forged steel fittings, identify the country-pair and report the
advantages or disadvantages imparted by such factors:
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
IV-3.
Page 21
Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how forged steel fittings
produced in each country you identified in your response to the first question in Part IV
compares with forged steel fittings 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.
Inferior
Comparable
Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Taiwan
Superior
Inferior
Comparable
Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Italy
Superior
Inferior
Comparable
Factor
Superior
Product from
United States
compared to
product from
China
Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
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.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
IV-3.
Page 22
Continued.
If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Inferior
Comparable
Product from
Product from
China compared to Italy compared to
product from
product from
Taiwan
Taiwan
Superior
Inferior
Comparable
Factor
Superior
Product from
China
compared to
product from
Italy
Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
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.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
IV-3.
Page 23
Continued.
If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.
Inferior
Comparable
Product from
China compared to product
from
Nonsubject countries
Superior
Inferior
Comparable
Factor
Superior
Product from
United States
compared to product from
Nonsubject countries
Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
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.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
IV-3.
Page 24
Continued.
If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.
Inferior
Comparable
Product from
Taiwan compared to product
from
Nonsubject countries
Superior
Inferior
Comparable
Factor
Superior
Product from
Italy
compared to product from
Nonsubject countries
Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
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.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
Page 25
PART V.—ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
V-1.
Other explanations.--If your firm would like to further explain a response to any question that
did not provide a narrative response box, please note the question number and the explanation
in the space provided below.
V-2.
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
25 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.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Forged Steel Fittings
Page 26
HOW TO FILE YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSE
This questionnaire is available as a “fillable” form in MS Word format on the
Commission’s website
at: https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2018/forged_steel_fittings_china_ital
y_and_taiwan/final.htm
Please do not attempt to modify the format or permissions of the questionnaire
document. Please submit the completed questionnaire using one of the methods noted
below. If your firm is unable to complete the MS Word questionnaire or cannot use one
of the electronic methods of submission, please contact the Commission for further
instructions.
• Upload via Secure Drop Box.—Upload the MS Word questionnaire along with a scanned copy of the
signed certification page (page 1) through the Commission’s secure upload facility:
Web address: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/
Pin: FSF
• E-mail.—E-mail the MS Word questionnaire to NAME@usitc.gov; include a scanned copy of the signed
certification page (page 1). Submitters are strongly encouraged to encrypt nonpublic documents that are
electronically transmitted to the Commission to protect your sensitive information from unauthorized
disclosure. The USITC secure drop-box system and the Electronic Document Information System (EDIS)
use Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 140-2 cryptographic algorithms to encrypt data in
transit. Submitting your nonpublic documents by a means that does not use these encryption algorithms
(such as by email) may subject your firm’s nonpublic information to unauthorized disclosure during
transmission. If you choose a non-encrypted method of electronic transmission, the Commission warns
you that the risk of such possible unauthorized disclosure is assumed by you and not by the Commission.
If your firm 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 your firm submits (see
19 CFR § 207.7). Service of the questionnaire must be made in paper form.
| File Type | application/pdf |
| File Title | US purchaser questionnaire |
| Subject | Title 7 investigations |
| Author | Gurevich, Tamara |
| File Modified | 2018-05-21 |
| File Created | 2018-05-21 |