19-3-4143 U.S. purchasers' questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 19-3-4143; Expiration Date: 6/30/2020
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
CERAMIC TILE FROM CHINA
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by January 24, 2020
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 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)). Further information on this questionnaire can be obtained from Cindy Cohen (202-205-3230,
cindy.cohen@usitc.gov).
Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm purchased or imported for own use or retail sale ceramic tile (as defined on next page) from any
source (domestic or foreign) 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 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

Signature

Phone

Email address

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ 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/2019/ceramic_tile_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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile

Page 3

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.
Purchaser.--Any firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or subsidiary, in purchasing
ceramic tile from another firm that produces, imports, or otherwise distributes ceramic tile.
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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile

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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile
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 ceramic tile, 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 ceramic tile into the United States or which export ceramic tile 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 ceramic tile?
No
Firm name

Yes--List the following information.
Country

Affiliation

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile

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.— Report separately your firm’s domestic purchases and imports of
ceramic tile.

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.
2016

2017

Item

JanuarySeptember 2019

2018

Quantity (in thousands of square feet)

Purchases of ceramic tile produced in—
United States
China
All other countries1
Sources unknown2
Total purchases

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Imports of ceramic tile from—
China
All other countries1
Total imports3

Please identify these countries:
Please indicate the firm(s) from which you purchased this merchandise:
3
If your firm imported ceramic tile at any time since January 1, 2016, please also complete and return a U.S.
importers' questionnaire in this proceeding.
1
2

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile
II-2.

Page 7

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

Source of
purchases

Did not
purchase Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated

Explanation for trend

United States
China
All other countries1
Sources unknown
1

Please identify these countries:
II-3.

Country knowledge.-- Please indicate the countries of origin with which your firm has
experience or information in the ceramic tile market.
United
States

II-4.

China

Other
countries

Other countries (specify)

Supplier identification.--Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers for ceramic tile since
January 1, 2016. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s total purchases of ceramic
tile that each of these suppliers accounted for in 2018.

No.

Supplier’s name

City and state

Share of quantity of
2018 purchases

1

%

2

%

3

%

4

%

5

%

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile

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 ceramic tile (check
all that apply)?

Distributor1
1

III-2.

Other
retailer

Contractor/
builder

Other
end
user

Describe other

Distributor includes floor covering wholesalers.

Competition for sales.--Does your firm compete for sales to customers with the manufacturers
or importers from which your firm purchases ceramic tile?
No

III-3.

Big
box/
home
center
retailer

Yes

If yes, please describe.

Types of customers.--What are the major types of consumers to which your firm sells ceramic
tile?

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile
III-4.

Page 9

End uses.-- For the end uses for which your firm purchases 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

III-5.

Ceramic tile

Other inputs

Total
(should sum to
100.0% across)

Installed flooring

%

%

0.0 %

Installed wall covering

%

%

0.0 %

%

%

0.0 %

Demand for end-use products.-(a)

Has the demand for your firm’s final products incorporating ceramic tile changed since
January 1, 2016?
Increased

(b)

No change

Decreased

Fluctuated

Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for ceramic tile?
No

Yes

Explain

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile
III-6.

Page 10

Substitutes.—
(a)

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

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

(b)

Yes--Please fill out the table.

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

Explanation

Has your firm increased its purchases of LVT in
place of ceramic tile since January 1, 2016?
No Yes

Please explain and quantify the extent
of changes in your purchases.

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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile
III-7.

Page 11

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
change

Fluctuate
Overall
with no
decrease clear trend

Explanation and factors

Within the United States
Outside the United States
III-8.

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

III-9.

Yes

If yes, identify the countries and explain.

Importance of purchasing domestic product.--Please fill out the table below, estimating the
percentage of your firm’s total 2018 purchases of ceramic tile that required ceramic tile
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 ceramic tile
%
%
%
%
0.0 %

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile

Page 12

III-10. Porcelain versus non-porcelain ceramic tile.-(a) Please estimate the percentage of your firm’s total 2018 purchases of ceramic tile that were
porcelain and non-porcelain product.
Percentage of your firm’s
total 2018 purchases of
ceramic tile
Porcelain ceramic tile
%
Non-porcelain ceramic tile
%
Total (should sum to 100.0%)
0.0 %
(b) If your firm has purchased porcelain ceramic tiles since January 2016, please indicate the
attributes of porcelain ceramic tile that are most important to your firm.
1.
2.
3.
Please list any other factors that are very important in your purchase decision of porcelain
ceramic tile:
(c) How frequently are porcelain ceramic tile interchangeable with non-porcelain ceramic tile
(i.e., can they physically be used in the same applications)?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or
never

Explanation

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile

Page 13

III-11. 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-12.

Yes-Business cycles (e.g.
seasonal business, conditions in
residential and commercial
construction)
Yes-Other distinctive conditions
of competition
(b)

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.

III-12. Decisions based on producer and country-of-origin.--How often does your firm, and if known, do
your customers, make purchasing decisions involving ceramic tile based on its producer or country
of origin?
Item

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile

Page 14

III-13. Availability of supply.--Has the availability of ceramic tile in the U.S. market changed since
January 1, 2016?
Availability in the U.S.
Please explain, noting the countries and reasons for the
market
No Yes changes.
U.S.-produced
product
Imports from China
Imports from all other
sources
III-14. Supply constraints.--Has any firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply your firm with
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-15. Availability of specific product types.—
(a) Are certain types/sizes/styles/designs of ceramic tile only available from certain country
sources?
No

Yes

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

(b) Are there certain types/sizes/styles/designs of ceramic tile that are not readily available
from U.S. producers?
No

Yes

If yes, please explain and identify the type/size.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile

Page 15

III-16. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

How frequently does your firm make purchases of ceramic tile (check one)?
Daily

(b)

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Annually

Other

If other, specify

Has this purchasing frequency changed since January 1, 2016?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

III-17. Raw material prices and energy costs.—
(a)

Is your firm familiar with the prices for raw materials or the costs of energy used in the
production of ceramic tile?
No

(b)

Yes –answer (b) and (c)

Has information on raw material prices affected your firm’s negotiations or contracts to
purchase ceramic tile since 2016?
No

Yes Explain

(c) Has information on energy costs affected your firm’s negotiations or contracts to purchase
ceramic tile since 2016?
No

Yes Explain

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile

Page 16

III-18. 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

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

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
III-19. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers does your firm generally contact before
making a purchase? Between
and
firms

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile

Page 17

III-20. Supplier negotiations.--Do your firm’s purchases of ceramic tile 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-21. Change in suppliers.--Has your firm changed suppliers since January 1, 2016?

No

Yes

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

III-22. New suppliers.--Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have
entered the market since January 1, 2016?
No

Yes

If yes, please identify the firms.

III-23. Supplier qualification.--Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified
to sell ceramic tile 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 and 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-24. Failure to certify.--Since January 1, 2016, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their
attempts to certify or qualify their ceramic tile 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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile

Page 18

III-25. Major purchasing factors.--Please list, in order of their importance, the main factors your firm
considers in deciding from whom to purchase ceramic tile (examples include availability,
extension of credit, contracts, price, quality, range of supplier’s product line, traditional supplier,
etc.).
1.
2.
3.
Please list any other factors that are very important in your purchase decisions:
III-26. Purchasing factors.--Please rate the importance of the following factors in your firm’s
purchasing decisions for ceramic tile.

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

Very
important

Somewhat
important

Not
important

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile

Page 19

III-27. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of ceramic tile?

III-28. Minimum quality.--How often does ceramic tile from the following countries meet minimum
quality specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?
Source

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or
never

Don’t
know

United States
China
Other sources
III-29. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the ceramic tile
that is offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

III-30. 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 ceramic tile market since
January 1, 2016.
Firm(s)

Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile

Page 20

III-31. Purchasing subject imports rather than domestic products.—
(a)

Since January 1, 2016, did your firm import and/or purchase imports of ceramic tile
from China instead of purchasing U.S.-produced ceramic tile?
Source

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

No
(If “No”, skip to next question)

China
(b)

If you responded “Yes” to part (a), was the imported product priced lower than the
domestic product?
Source

Yes

No

China
(c)

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

Source

Yes

If Yes, estimate the quantity
of imports purchased and/or
imported instead of domestic
product since January 1, 2016
(in thousands of square feet)

No

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

China
III-32. U.S. producers and import competition.—
(a)

Since January 1, 2016, in connection with a sale or offer to sell ceramic tile to your firm,
did U.S. producers reduce their prices of domestically produced ceramic tile in order to
compete with lower-priced imports of ceramic tile from China?
Source

Yes (also respond to
question part (b))

No (If “No,” skip to next
question)

Don’t know

China
(b)

If your firm responded “yes” above, 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
China

Estimated
reduction in U.S.
prices
(percent)
%

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile

Page 21

PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS
IV-1.

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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile
IV-2.

Page 22

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 purchases of the
products?
Please indicate A, F, S, N, or 0 in the table below:
A = such differences are always significant
F = such differences are frequently significant
S = such differences are sometimes significant
N = such differences are never significant
0 = no familiarity with products from a specified country-pair
Country-pair

China

Other countries

United States
China
For any country-pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant
factor in your firm’s purchases of 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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile
IV-3.

Page 23

Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how ceramic tile
produced in each country you identified in your response to the first question in Part IV
compares with ceramic tile 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
China compared to
product from
all other countries1

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
United States
compared to product
from
all other countries

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
United States
compared to product
from
China

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Design and style
Discounts offered
Durability
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Payment terms
Porcelain quality
Price2
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry
standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs2
If your answers would vary depending on which other country you are comparing, please explain:
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.
1
2

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile

Page 24

PART V.—ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
V-1.

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

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 – Ceramic Tile

Page 25

HOW TO FILE YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSE
This questionnaire is available as a “fillable” form in MS Word format on the
Commission’s website at:
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/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 cindy.cohen@usitc.gov; include a scanned copy of the
signed certification page (page 1). Submitters are strongly encouraged to encrypt nonpublic documents
that are electronically transmitted to the Commission to protect your sensitive information from
unauthorized disclosure. The USITC secure drop-box system and the Electronic Document Information
System (EDIS) use Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 140-2 cryptographic algorithms to
encrypt data in transit. Submitting your nonpublic documents by a means that does not use these
encryption algorithms (such as by email) may subject your firm’s nonpublic information to unauthorized
disclosure during transmission. If you choose a non-encrypted method of electronic transmission, the
Commission warns you that the risk of such possible unauthorized disclosure is assumed by you and not
by the Commission.
If your firm 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.