19-2-4142 U.S. importers' questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 19-2-4142; Expiration Date: 6/30/2020
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. IMPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
CERAMIC TILE FROM CHINA
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by January
See last page for filing instructions.

24, 2020

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 ceramic tile products (“ceramic tile”)
from China (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-621 and 731-TA-1447 (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)).

Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm imported ceramic tile (as defined on next page) from any country at any time since January 1,
2016?

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: CLAY)
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 - Ceramic Tile (Final)

Page 2

PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.--This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on April 10, 2019, by the
Coalition for Fair Trade in Ceramic Tile. 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/701731/2019/ceramic_tile_products_china/final.htm
Ceramic tile products (“ceramic tile”) covered by these investigations (“subject merchandise”) is

ceramic flooring tile, wall tile, paving tile, hearth tile, porcelain tile, mosaic tile, flags, finishing
tile, and the like (hereinafter ceramic tile). Ceramic tiles are articles containing a mixture of
minerals including clay (generally hydrous silicates of alumina or magnesium) that are fired so
the raw materials are fused to produce a finished good that is less than 3.2 cm in actual
thickness. All ceramic tile is subject to the scope regardless of end use, surface area, and
weight, regardless of whether the tile is glazed or unglazed, regardless of the water absorption
coefficient by weight, regardless of the extent of vitrification, and regardless of whether or not
the tile is on a backing. Subject merchandise includes ceramic tile with decorative features that
may in spots exceed 3.2 cm in thickness and includes ceramic tile “slabs” or “panels” (tiles that
are larger than 1 meter2 (11 ft.2)).
Subject merchandise includes ceramic tile that undergoes minor processing in a third
country prior to importation into the United States. Similarly, subject merchandise includes
ceramic tile produced that undergoes minor processing after importation into the United
States. Such minor processing includes, but is not limited to, one or more of the following:
Beveling, cutting, trimming, staining, painting, polishing, finishing, additional firing, or any other
processing that would otherwise not remove the merchandise from the scope of the
investigation if performed in the country of manufacture of the in-scope product.
Subject merchandise is provided for in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United
States (HTSUS) under the following subheadings of heading 6907: 6907.21.1005, 6907.21.1011,
6907.21.1051, 6907.21.2000, 6907.21.3000, 6907.21.4000, 6907.21.9011, 6907.21.9051,
6907.22.1005, 6907.22.1011, 6907.22.1051, 6907.22.2000, 6907.22.3000, 6907.22.4000,
6907.22.9011, 6907.22.9051, 6907.23.1005, 6907.23.1011, 6907.23.1051, 6907.23.2000,
6907.23.3000, 6907.23.4000, 6907.23.9011, 6907.23.9051, 6907.30.1005, 6907.30.1011,
6907.30.1051, 6907.30.2000, 6907.30.3000, 6907.30.4000, 6907.30.9011, 6907.30.9051,
6907.40.1005, 6907.40.1011, 6907.40.1051, 6907.40.2000, 6907.40.3000, 6907.40.4000,
6907.40.9011, and 6907.40.9051. Subject merchandise may also be provided for under
subheadings of headings 6914 and 6905: 6914.10.8000, 6914.90.8000, 6905.10.0000, and
6905.90.0050. The HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes
only. The written description of the scope of this investigation is dispositive.
Porcelain ceramic tile--Impervious ceramic tile with a water absorption coefficient not exceeding 0.5
percent by weight, as measured by the ASTM C373 test method, regardless of clay composition, surface
texture, or whether unglazed or glazed.

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Floor ceramic tile--Ceramic tile, regardless of clay composition, surface texture, or whether glazed or
unglazed, being specifically designed for durability and slip resistance, suitable for covering interior floor
surfaces and for exterior walkways. Floor ceramic tile is classified under Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI)
rating categories of PEI Class II (interior residential and commercial wall, and residential bathroom floor
applications) through PEI Class V (all residential floors and commercial floors). Any tile meeting this
questionnaire’s definitions of both floor ceramic tile and wall ceramic tile should be classified as floor
ceramic tile.
Wall ceramic tile--Ceramic tile, regardless of clay composition, surface texture, or whether glazed or
unglazed, being specifically designed for covering vertical surfaces, not otherwise required to meet the
slip-resistance requirements for floor ceramic tile. Wall ceramic tile is classified under Porcelain Enamel
Institute (PEI) rating category PEI Class I (residential and commercial wall applications only). Any tile
meeting this questionnaire’s definitions of both floor ceramic tile and wall ceramic tile should be
classified as floor ceramic tile.
Mosaic ceramic tile--Porcelain or non-porcelain ceramic tile pieces; produced by either pressing or
extruding; with a facial surface area not larger than twelve square inches; and prearranged, either with
or without pieces of non-ceramic materials (stone, glass, metal, etc.), to form a decorative pattern on a
mesh backing as either sheets or strips.
Finishing ceramic tile—These include bordering, capping, skirting, freeze, angle, corner, or other fitting
tile pieces employed as complementary elements for finishing off the facing, paving, etc., with or
without rounded edges, being non flat or three-dimensional, which give them the character of finishing
pieces; that would be the case, in particular, for bordering, skirting, frieze, corner pieces, decorative
inserts and other ceramic accessories. In these cases, the pieces need to match with the other basic
tiles, so their proper surface usually has the same shade of finish as the normal tiles. They are generally
sold by piece or by linear meter.
Importer.--Any person or firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or subsidiary, in
importing ceramic tile (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.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ceramic Tile (Final)

Page 4

Release of information.--The information provided by your firm in response to this questionnaire, as
well as any other business proprietary information submitted by your firm to the Commission in
connection with this proceeding, may become subject to, and released under, the administrative
protective order provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. § 1677f) and section 207.7 of the
Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR § 207.7). This means that certain lawyers and
other authorized individuals may temporarily be given access to the information for use in connection
with this proceeding or other import-injury proceedings conducted by the Commission on the same or
similar merchandise; those individuals would be subject to severe penalties if the information were
divulged to unauthorized individuals.
Valid number error messages.--If you are completing this form in a country that uses periods (“.”) to
delineate multiples of 1000 (e.g., one million would appear as $1.000.000 rather than $1,000,000), you
may be unable to enter in numbers greater than 999 in numeric form fields. The solution to this data
entry issue is to temporarily change your operating system’s number formatting to be consistent with
the U.S. number formatting system while you complete this form. Detailed instructions on how to
resolve this issue is provided at the end of this questionnaire and is available upon request from
Christopher W. Robinson (202-205-2542, chris.robinson@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
(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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ceramic Tile (Final)
I-1.

Page 5

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-2a.

Establishments covered.--Provide the name and address of establishment(s) covered by this
questionnaire.
“Establishment”--Each facility of a firm involved in the importation ofceramic tile, 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):

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ceramic Tile (Final)
I-3.

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

Firm name

I-4.

Yes--List the following information

Country

Extent of
ownership
(percent)

Related importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or
foreign, that are engaged in importing ceramic tile from China into the United States or that are
engaged in exporting ceramic tile from China to the United States?
No
Firm name

I-5.

Page 6

Yes--List the following information.
Country

Affiliation

Related producers.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, that are
engaged in the production of ceramic tile?
No
Firm name

Yes--List the following information.
Country

Affiliation

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ceramic Tile (Final)
I-6.

Importing operations.--Please indicate the nature of your firm’s importing operations on
ceramic tile. More than one answer may be applicable.
Importer of record

I-7.

Page 7

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 ceramic tile 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
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ceramic Tile (Final)
I-8.

Page 8

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

No

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

I-10.

Yes

Nature of operations.--Please identify the nature of your firm’s operations.
Big box/home
center

Distributor

1

If yes, Yes–Please specify.

Please specify:

.

Other retailer

Contractor/
builder

Other end user
(specify)1

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ceramic Tile (Final)

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PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained Christopher W. Robinson (202205-2542, chris.robinson@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 ceramic tile 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
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ceramic Tile (Final)
II-3a.

Page 10

Arranged imports.--Has your firm imported or arranged for the importation of ceramic tile for
delivery after September 30, 2019?
“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

Oct-Dec 2019

Jan-Mar 2020

Apr-Jun 2020

Jul-Sept 2020

Quantity (in thousands of square feet)
China
Brazil
Mexico
Italy
Spain
All other sources
II-3b.

Imports in the 12 month period preceding the petition.--Has your firm imported ceramic tile
from any source between April 1, 2018 and March 31, 2019? (i.e., the last nine months in 2018
and first three months in 2019 combined)
No

Yes

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

Quantity (in thousands of square feet)
Source

April 2018 through March 2019

China
Nonsubject sources
II-4.

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

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ceramic Tile (Final)

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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.
“Internal consumption (including for your 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
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ceramic Tile (Final)
II-5a.

Page 12

U.S. imports from China.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and inventories
of ceramic tile imported from China by your firm during the specified periods.

China
Quantity (in thousands of square feet), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2016

2017

January-September
2018

2018

2019

Beginning-of-period inventories
(quantity) (A)
Imports:1
Quantity (B)
Value (C)
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity (D)
Value (E)
Internal consumption
(including for your own firm’s
retail sales):2
Quantity (F)
Value2 (G)
Transfers to related firms:2
Quantity (H)
Value2 (I)
Export shipments:3
Quantity (J)
Value (K)
End-of-period inventories
(quantity) (L)
Please identify the foreign producers, if known:
.
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.
3
Identify your firm’s principal export markets:
.
1
2

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ceramic Tile (Final)
II-5a.

Page 13

U.S. imports from China.–Continued

RECONCILIATION OF SHIPMENTS, IMPORTS, AND INVENTORIES.--Generally, the data reported for the
end-of-period inventories (i.e., line L) should be equal to the beginning-of-period inventories (i.e., line
A), plus imports (i.e., line B), less total shipments (i.e., lines D, F, H, and J). 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
A + B – D – F – H – J -L = should equal
zero ("0") or provide an explanation.1

2016

2017
0

January-September
2018

0

2018
0

2019
0

0

Explanation if the calculated fields above are returning values other than zero (i.e., “0”) but are nonetheless
accurate (e.g. breakage/shrinkage; product samples; or obsolete inventory):
.
1

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ceramic Tile (Final)
II-5b.

Page 14

Channels of distribution: China.--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 China by
channel of distribution.

China
Calendar years
Item

2016

2017

January-September
2018

2018

2019

Quantity (in thousands of square feet)
Channels of distribution:
U.S. shipments:
To Distributors1
Quantity (M)
Value (N)
To Big box/home center retailers
Quantity (O)
Value (P)
To Other retailers
Quantity (Q)
Value (R)
To Contractors/builders
Quantity (S)
Value (T)
To Other end users
Quantity (U)
Value (V)
1

This category includes floor covering wholesalers.

RECONCILIATION OF CHANNELS.--Please ensure that the quantities and values reported for channels of
distribution (i.e., lines M through V) in each time period equal the quantities and values reported for U.S.
shipments (i.e., lines D through I) 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

2016

2017

January-September
2018

2018

2019

Quantity: M + O + Q + S + U – D - F –
H = zero ("0"), if not revise.

0

0

0

0

0

Value: N + P + R + T + V – E - G – I =
zero ("0"), if not revise.

0

0

0

0

0

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ceramic Tile (Final)
II-5c.

Page 15

U.S. shipments by water permeability: China.--Report your firm’s U.S. shipments (i.e. inclusive of
commercial U.S. shipments, internal consumption, and transfers to related firms) of ceramic tile
imported from China by water permeability in the specified periods. See definitions on page 2.
Quantity (in thousands of square feet) and value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2016

2017

January-September
2018

2018

2019

U.S. shipments.—
Porcelain ceramic tile
Quantity (W)
Value (X)
Non-porcelain ceramic tile
Quantity (Y)
Value (Z)
RECONCILIATION OF U.S. SHIPMENTS.--Please ensure that the quantities and values reported for U.S. shipments
(i.e., lines W through Z) in each time period equal the quantity and value reported for U.S. shipments (i.e., lines
D through I) in each time period in question II-5a. 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

2016

2017

January-September
2018

2018

2019

Quantity: W + Y – D – F – H = zero
("0"), if not revise.

0

0

0

0

0

Value: X + Z – E – G - I = zero ("0"), if
not revise.

0

0

0

0

0

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ceramic Tile (Final)
II-5d.

Page 16

U.S. shipments by type of product (Floor/Wall/Mosaic/Other): China.--Report your firm’s U.S.
shipments (i.e. inclusive of commercial U.S. shipments, internal consumption, and transfers to related
firms) of ceramic tile imported from China by the specified product type in the specified periods. See
definition on page 2.
Quantity (in thousands of square feet) and value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2016

2017

January-September
2018

2018

2019

U.S. shipments.—
Non-mosaic
Floor ceramic tile
Quantity (AA)
Value (AB)
Wall ceramic tile
Quantity (AC)
Value (AD)
Other ceramic tile
Quantity (AE)
Value (AF)
Mosaic
Floor ceramic tile
Quantity (AG)
Value (AH)
Wall ceramic tile
Quantity (AI)
Value (AJ)
Other ceramic tile
Quantity (AK)
Value (AL)
RECONCILIATION OF U.S. SHIPMENTS.--Please ensure that the quantities and values reported for U.S. shipments
(i.e., lines AA through AL) in each time period equal the quantity and value reported for U.S. shipments (i.e.,
lines D through I) in each time period in question II-5a. 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

2016

2017

January-September
2018

2018

2019

Quantity: AA + AC + AE + AG + AI + AK
– D – F – H = zero ("0"), if not revise.

0

0

0

0

0

Value: AB + AD + AF + AH +AJ + AL – E
– G – I = zero ("0"), if not revise.

0

0

0

0

0

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ceramic Tile (Final)
II-6a.

Page 17

Imports from all other sources.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and
inventories of ceramic tile imported from nonsubject sources (i.e., all import sources except China) by
your firm during the specified periods.

Nonsubject sources
Quantity (in thousands of square feet), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2016

2017

January-September
2018

2018

2019

Beginning-of-period inventories
(quantity) (A)
Imports:1 2
Quantity (B)

0

0

0

0

0

Value (C)

0

0

0

0

0

U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity (D)
Value (E)
Internal consumption
(including for your own firm’s
retail sales):3
Quantity (F)
Valu32 (G)
Transfers to related firms:3
Quantity (H)
Value3 (I)
Export shipments:4
Quantity (J)
Value (K)
End-of-period inventories
(quantity) (L)
Please identify the foreign producers, if known:
.
Data entered for imports from nonsubject sources will populate here once reported in question II-6e.
3
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.
4
Identify your firm’s principal export markets:
.
1
2

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ceramic Tile (Final)
II-6a.

Page 18

Imports from nonsubject sources.–Continued

RECONCILIATION OF SHIPMENTS, IMPORTS, AND INVENTORIES.--Generally, the data reported for the
end-of-period inventories (i.e., line L) should be equal to the beginning-of-period inventories (i.e., line
A), plus imports (i.e., line B), less total shipments (i.e., lines D, F, H, and J). 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
A + B – D – F – H – J -L = should equal
zero ("0") or provide an explanation.1

2016

2017
0

January-September
2018

0

2018
0

2019
0

0

Explanation if the calculated fields above are returning values other than zero (i.e., “0”) but are nonetheless
accurate (e.g. breakage/shrinkage; product samples; or obsolete inventory):
.
1

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ceramic Tile (Final)
II-6b.

Page 19

Channels of distribution: nonsubject sources.--Report your firm’s U.S. shipments (i.e. inclusive
of commercial U.S. shipments, internal consumption, and transfers to related firms) from
nonsubject sources (i.e., all import sources except China) by channel of distribution.

Nonsubject sources
Calendar years
Item

2016

2017

January-September
2018

2018

2019

Quantity (in thousands of square feet)
Channels of distribution:
U.S. shipments:
To Distributors1
Quantity (M)
Value (N)
To Big box/home center
retailers Quantity (O)
Value (P)
To Other retailers
Quantity (Q)
Value (R)
To Contractors/builders
Quantity (S)
Value (T)
To Other end users
Quantity (U)
Value (V)
1

This category includes floor covering wholesalers.

RECONCILIATION OF CHANNELS.--Please ensure that the quantities and values reported for channels of
distribution (i.e., lines M through V) in each time period equal the quantities and values reported for U.S.
shipments (i.e., lines D through I) 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

2016

2017

January-September
2018

2018

2019

Quantity: M + O + Q + S + U – D - F –
H –= zero ("0"), if not revise.

0

0

0

0

0

Value: N + P + R + T + V – E – G – I =
zero ("0"), if not revise.

0

0

0

0

0

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ceramic Tile (Final)
II-6c.

Page 20

U.S. shipments by water permeability: nonsubject sources.--Report your firm’s U.S. shipments (i.e.
inclusive of commercial U.S. shipments, internal consumption, and transfers to related firms) of
ceramic tile imported from nonsubject sources (i.e., all import sources except China) by the specified
product type in the specified periods. See definitions on page 2.

Nonsubject sources
Quantity (in thousands of square feet) and value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2016

2017

January-September
2018

2018

2019

U.S. shipments.—
Porcelain ceramic tile
Quantity (W)
Value (X)
Non-porcelain ceramic tile
Quantity (Y)
Value (Z)
RECONCILIATION OF U.S. SHIPMENTS.--Please ensure that the quantities and values reported for U.S. shipments
(i.e., lines W through Z) in each time period equal the quantity and value reported for U.S. shipments (i.e., lines
D through I) in each time period in question II-5a. 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

2016

2017

January-September
2018

2018

2019

Quantity: W + Y – D – F - H = zero
("0"), if not revise.

0

0

0

0

0

Value: X + Z – E – G – I = zero ("0"), if
not revise.

0

0

0

0

0

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ceramic Tile (Final)
II-6d.

Page 21

U.S. shipments by type of product (Floor/Wall/Mosaic/Other): nonsubject sources.--Report your
firm’s U.S. shipments (i.e. inclusive of commercial U.S. shipments, internal consumption, and transfers
to related firms) of ceramic tile imported from nonsubject sources (i.e., all import sources except
China) by the specified product type in the specified periods. See definition on page 2.

Nonsubject sources
Quantity (in thousands of square feet) and value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2016

2017

January-September
2018

2018

2019

U.S. shipments.—
Non-mosaic
Floor ceramic tile
Quantity (AA)
Value (AB)
Wall ceramic tile
Quantity (AC)
Value (AD)
Other ceramic tile
Quantity (AE)
Value (AF)
Mosaic
Floor ceramic tile
Quantity (AG)
Value (AH)
Wall ceramic tile
Quantity (AI)
Value (AJ)
Other ceramic tile
Quantity (AK)
Value (AL)
RECONCILIATION OF U.S. SHIPMENTS.--Please ensure that the quantities and values reported for U.S. shipments
(i.e., lines AA through AL) in each time period equal the quantity and value reported for U.S. shipments (i.e.,
lines D through I) in each time period in question II-6a. 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

2016

2017

January-September
2018

2018

2019

Quantity: AA + AC + AE + AG + AI + AK
– D – F - H = zero ("0"), if not revise.

0

0

0

0

0

Value: AB + AD + AF + AH + AJ + AL –
E – G – I = zero ("0"), if not revise.

0

0

0

0

0

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ceramic Tile (Final)
II-6e.

Page 22

U.S. imports of nonsubject ceramic tile by source.— Please report your firm’s U.S. imports of
ceramic tile imported from nonsubject sources (i.e., all import sources except China) by source in the
specified periods. See definitions on page 2

Nonsubject sources
Quantity (in thousands of square feet) and value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2016

U.S. imports.—
Brazil
Quantity (AM)
Value (AN)
Italy
Quantity (AO)
Value (AP)
Mexico
Quantity (AQ)
Value (AR)
Spain
Quantity (AS)
Value (AT)
All other sources1
Quantity (AU)
Value (AV)
Identify all other sources:

1

.

2017

January-September
2018

2018

2019

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ceramic Tile (Final)

Page 23

II-7.

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-8.

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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ceramic Tile (Final)

Page 24

PART III.--PRICING AND MARKET FACTORS
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Cindy Cohen (202-205-3230,
Cindy.Cohen@usitc.gov).
III-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 III.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone

PRICE DATA
III-2.

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 China, Brazil, and/or Mexico:
Product 1.--Porcelain tile, rectangular, 6”–8” in width by 24”–36” in length (excluding mosaic
ceramic tile and finishing ceramic tile)
Product 2.--Porcelain tile, square or rectangular, 12”–24” in width by 12”–24” in length
(excluding mosaic ceramic tile and finishing ceramic tile)
Product 3.--Non-porcelain ceramic tile, square or rectangular, 12”–24” in width by 12”–24” in
length (excluding mosaic ceramic tile and finishing ceramic tile)
Product 4.--Non-porcelain ceramic tile, square or rectangular, 3”–6” in width by 6”–12” in length
(excluding mosaic ceramic tile and finishing ceramic tile)
Product 5.--Mosaic ceramic tile, 12” by 12” square or interlocking, on a mesh sheet

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).
During January 2016-September 2019, did your firm import from China, Brazil, and/or Mexico
and sell to unrelated U.S. customers (do not include retail level sales) 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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ceramic Tile (Final)

Page 25

III-2a. Price data.--Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from China
and sold by your firm. Do not include retail level sales.

China (pricing data)
Report data in square feet (not 1,000s) and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
Product 1
sold to home center retailers
Quantity
Value

Product 2
sold to distributors
Quantity
Value

Product 3
sold to home center retailers
Quantity
Value

Period of shipment
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
2019:
January-March
April-June
July-September
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
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ceramic Tile (Final)

Page 26

III-2a. Price data.--Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from China
and sold by your firm. Do not include retail level sales.

China (pricing data)
Report data in square feet (not 1,000s) and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
Product 4 sold to other retailers
Product 5 sold to home center retailers
Period of shipment
Quantity
Value
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
2019:
January-March
April-June
July-September
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 IV.
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:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ceramic Tile (Final)

Page 27

III-2b. Price data.--Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from Brazil
and sold by your firm. Do not include retail level sales.

Brazil (pricing data)
Report data in square feet (not 1,000s) and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
Product 1
sold to home center retailers
Quantity
Value

Product 2
sold to distributors
Quantity
Value

Product 3
sold to home center retailers
Quantity
Value

Period of shipment
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
2019:
January-March
April-June
July-September
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
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ceramic Tile (Final)

Page 28

III-2b. Price data.--Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from Brazil
and sold by your firm. Do not include retail level sales.

Brazil (pricing data)
Report data in square feet (not 1,000s) and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
Product 4 sold to other retailers
Product 5 sold to home center retailers
Period of shipment
Quantity
Value
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
2019:
January-March
April-June
July-September
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 IV.
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:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ceramic Tile (Final)
III-2c.

Page 29

Price data.--Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from Mexico
and sold by your firm. Do not include retail level sales.

Mexico (pricing data)
Report data in square feet (not 1,000s) and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
Product 1
sold to home center retailers
Quantity
Value

Product 2
sold to distributors
Quantity
Value

Product 3
sold to home center retailers
Quantity
Value

Period of shipment
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
2019:
January-March
April-June
July-September
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
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ceramic Tile (Final)
III-2c.

Page 30

Price data.--Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from Mexico
and sold by your firm. Do not include retail level sales.

Mexico (pricing data)
Report data in square feet (not 1,000s) and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
Product 4 sold to other retailers
Product 5 sold to home center retailers
Period of shipment
Quantity
Value
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
2019:
January-March
April-June
July-September
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 IV.
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:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ceramic Tile (Final)

Page 31

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

√ if Yes

In square feet (not 1,000s of square feet)?
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?
Exclusive of mosaic tile and finshing tile for products 1-4?
III-2e. 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.
PURCHASE COST DATA
III-3.

This question requests quarterly quantity and value data from home center retailers for the
following products your firm imported from China:
Product 1.--Porcelain tile, rectangular, 6”–8” in width by 24”–36” in length (excluding mosaic
ceramic tile and finishing ceramic tile)
Product 3.--Non-porcelain ceramic tile, square or rectangular, 12”–24” in width by 12”–24” in
length (excluding mosaic ceramic tile and finishing ceramic tile)
Product 5.--Mosaic ceramic tile, 12” by 12” square or interlocking, on a mesh sheet
Imports for retail sale.--Did your firm import any of the above listed products from China for
sales in your firm’s home center retail locations since January 1, 2016?
Yes.--Please complete the following table as appropriate.
No.--Skip to question III-4.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ceramic Tile (Final)

Page 32

III-3a. Imports for retail sale.--Report below the import purchase cost data1 for pricing products2
imported from China for retail sale by your own firm.
Please note that values should be landed, duty-paid and should not include U.S.-inland transportation
costs. Values should reflect the final net amount paid by your firm (i.e., should be net of all returns,
discounts, allowances, and rebates).

China (purchase cost data)
Report data in square feet (not 1,000s) and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
Product 1
Landed, dutypaid (LDP)
Quantity
value1

Product 3

Product 5
Landed, dutypaid (LDP)
value1
Quantity

Period of shipment
Quantity
Quantity
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
2019:
January-March
April-June
July-September
1 LDP value (i.e., landed duty-paid 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). See “Import values” definition in Part II (Trade and Related Information – Definitions).
2 Pricing product definitions are provided on the previous page.
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 import purchase cost
data.
Product 1:
Product 3:
Product 5:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ceramic Tile (Final)

Page 33

If your firm reported import purchase costs on the previous page, please answer III-3b and III-c.
III-3b. Inland transportation costs for your firm’s imports for retail sale.--What is the approximate
percentage of the total cost of the ceramic tile that you imported from China that is accounted
for by U.S. inland transportation costs from the port of importation to your retail stores?
Country

Percent

China
III-3c.

%

Additional costs for your firm’s imports of ceramic tile for your firm’s retail sale.-(i)

Please identify the factors (other than U.S. inland transportation costs or costs already
included in landed duty paid values) that added to your cost of importing directly since
January 1, 2016. Estimate the ratio of these additional costs compared to the landed dutypaid value, and explain the specific costs associated with each category.

Factors
Logistical or supply chain management
costs (not already included in LDP value)

Estimated ratio of
additional costs to
landed duty paid
value (percent)
%

Warehousing/inventory carrying costs
(not already included in LDP value)

%

Insurance costs (not already included in
LDP value)

%

Other, please identify (

%

(ii)

Explanation of specific costs

)

To which source(s) does your firm compare costs in determining your additional
transaction costs to directly import?
U.S.
importers

U.S.
producers

Both

Neither

(iii)

Briefly identify the benefits of directly importing ceramic tile instead of purchasing
ceramic tile from a U.S. importer or from a U.S. producer.

(iv)

Please provide the estimated margin saved by having directly imported ceramic tile
instead of purchasing from a U.S. importer.
percent of landed duty-paid value.

(v)

Explain any variation in the margin saved since January 1, 2016.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ceramic Tile (Final)
III-4.

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

III-5.

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 ceramic tile from China usually
quoted (check one)?
Delivered

III-7.

Set
price
lists

Discount policy.--Please indicate and describe your firm’s discount policies (check all that apply).

Quantity
discounts

III-6.

Page 34

F.o.b.

If f.o.b., specify point

Contract versus spot.--Approximately what share of your firm’s sales of ceramic tile imported
from China in 2018 was on a (1) short-term contract basis, (2) annual contract basis, (3) longterm 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

%

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ceramic Tile (Final)
III-8.

Page 35

Contract provisions.— Please fill out the table regarding your firm’s typical sales contracts for
ceramic tile imported from China (or check “not applicable” if your firm does not sell on a shortterm, 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-9.

Lead times.--What is your firm’s share of sales of ceramic tile imported from China 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 ceramic tile?

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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III-10. Shipping information.—
(a)

What is the approximate percentage of the cost of ceramic tile imported from China
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 ceramic tile imported from China, from where is it shipped?
Point of importation
Storage facility (check one)

(d)

Indicate the approximate percentage of your firm’s sales of ceramic tile imported from
China 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

Share

Within 100 miles

%

101 to 1,000 miles

%

Over 1,000 miles

%

Total (should sum to 100.0%)

0.0

%

III-11. Geographical shipments.--In which U.S. geographic market area(s) has your firm sold ceramic
tile 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.

China

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III-12. End uses.-- For the end uses for which your firm imports ceramic tile, what percentage of the
total cost is accounted for by ceramic tile and other inputs?
Share of total cost of end use product
accounted for by
End-use

Ceramic tile

Other inputs

Total
(should sum to
100.0% across)

Installed flooring

%

%

0.0 %

Installed wall covering

%

%

0.0 %

%

%

0.0 %

III-13. Substitutes.—
(a)

Is luxury vinyl tile (“LVT”) considered as a substitute for ceramic tile in the same end
uses?
No

Yes--Please fill out the table.

End use(s) in which LVT is
used as a substitute for
ceramic tile

(b)

Have changes in the price of LVT affected the price for ceramic tile?
No

Yes

Explanation

Can products other than LVT be substituted for ceramic tile?
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 ceramic tile?
No Yes

Explanation

1.
2.
3.
(c) Do other non-ceramic products compete for sales with ceramic tile?

No

Yes

If yes, please list the products and the applications in which they
compete with ceramic tile, and describe any changes in the level of
competition since January 1, 2016.

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III-14. Demand trends.--Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United
States (if known) for ceramic tile 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 U.S.
Outside the U.S.
III-15. Product changes.--Have there been any significant changes in the product range, product mix or
marketing of ceramic tile since January 1, 2016?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

III-16. Conditions of competition.—
(a) Is the ceramic tile market subject to business cycles and/or other conditions of competition
distinctive to ceramic tile?
Check all that apply.

Please describe.

No

Skip to question III-17.

Yes-Business cycles (e.g.
seasonal business, conditions in
residential and commercial
construction)
Yes-Other distinctive conditions
of competition
(b) If yes, have there been any changes in the business cycles or conditions of competition for
ceramic tile since January 1, 2016?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

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III-17. Supply constraints.--Has your firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply ceramic tile 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-18. Raw materials and energy costs.—

(a) How have ceramic tile raw material prices changed since January 1, 2016?
Fluctuate
Explain, noting how raw material price changes
Overall
No
Overall
with no have affected your firm’s selling prices for ceramic
increase change decrease clear trend
tile.

(b) How have ceramic tile energy costs prices changed since January 1, 2016?
Fluctuate
Overall
No
Overall
with no
Explain, noting how energy cost changes have
increase change decrease clear trend affected your firm’s selling prices for ceramic tile.

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III-19. Impact of the section 301 investigation.-(a) Did the imposition of tariffs on Chinese-origin products under section 301 have an impact on
the ceramic tile market in the United States?
Yes—
Please indicate the impact in
the table below.

(b)

No

Don’t know

If you answered yes to part (a) above, please indicate the impact of the implementation
of tariffs in the section 301 investigation on the following factors.

Factor
Supply of U.S.produced ceramic tile
Supply of ceramic tile
imported from China
Supply of ceramic tile
imported from other
countries
Prices for ceramic tile
Overall U.S. demand
for ceramic tile
Raw material costs for
ceramic tile

Overall
No
Overall
increase change decrease

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

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III-20. Interchangeability.--Is ceramic tile 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 ceramic tile which is sometimes or never interchangeable,
please identify the country-pair and explain the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable
use. If your answer for other countries varies by other country, please explain.

III-21. Factors other than price.--Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between ceramic tile 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

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 ceramic tile, identify the country-pair and report the
advantages or disadvantages imparted by such factors. If your answer for other countries
varies by other country, please explain.

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III-22. Customer identification.--List the names and contact information for your firm’s 10 largest U.S.
customers for ceramic tile since January 1, 2016. Indicate the share of the quantity of your firm’s
total shipments of ceramic tile that each of these customers accounted for in 2018.
Customer’s name

City

State

Share of 2018 sales
(%)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

III-23. 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.

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Correcting Valid number error messages.--If you are completing a Commission

questionnaire in a country that uses periods (“.”) to delineate multiples of 1000 (e.g., one million would
appear as $1.000.000 instead of as $1,000,000), you may be unable to enter in numbers greater than
999 in numeric form fields. This issues stem from your computer number formatting setting (e.g., not
the MS Word document itself, but the computer from which you are opening up the document). In the
United States commas (,) delineate multiples of 1000 and periods (.) delineate fractions less than one.
Many EU countries use the reverse where multiples of 1000 are delineated with periods (.) and
fractions less than one are delineated with commas (,). The US International Trade Commission’s
questionnaires are set-up in the United States with the U.S. number formatting. When this formatting
interacts with a computer set to EU number formatting, we believe this may cause this issue.
The solution to this data entry issue is to temporarily change your operating system’s number
formatting to be consistent with the U.S. number formatting system while you complete the
questionnaire.
To temporarily change your computer’s number settings to U.S. settings, please do the following (for
Microsoft Windows Operating system):
•
•
•
•
•

START
Control Panel
Region and Language (under Clock, Language, and Region category)
Format tab
Change the Format from your existing one (e.g. “Italian (Italy)”) to “English (United States)” (see
screen shots below)

When you do this the number “twelve million dollars and thirty five cents” would change from
$12.000.000,35 (Italy format) to $12,000,000.35 (U.S. format), and then there will be no conflict with
the questionnaire. When you finish reporting the data then you can close the questionnaire and switch
back to Italy settings.

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HOW TO FILE YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSE
This questionnaire is available as a “fillable” form in MS Word format on the
Commission’s website at:
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/2019/ceramic_tile_china/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: CLAY

• E-mail.—E-mail the MS Word questionnaire to chris.robinson@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.