20-4-4188 Foreign producers' / exporters' questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 20-4-4188; Expiration Date: 6/30/2020
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

FOREIGN PRODUCERS’/EXPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
CORROSION INHIBITORS FROM CHINA
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by February 19, 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 and antidumping duty investigations concerning corrosion inhibitors from
China (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-638 and 731-TA-1473 (Preliminary)). The information requested in the questionnaire is
requested under the authority of the Tariff Act of 1930, title VII.

Name of firm
Address
Website
Has your firm produced or exported corrosion inhibitors from China (as defined on next page) at any time since
January 1, 2017?

NO

(Sign the certification below and promptly return only this page of the questionnaire to the Commission)

YES

(Complete all parts of the questionnaire, and return the entire questionnaire to the Commission)

Return questionnaire via the Commission Drop Box by clicking on the following link:
https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/. (PIN: CORR)
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

Title of Authorized Official

Date

Signature

Phone

Email address

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Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Corrosion Inhibitors (Preliminary)

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PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background. --This proceeding was instituted in response to petitions filed on February 5, 2020, by
Wincom Incorporated, Blue Ash, Ohio. 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/701731/2020/corrosion_inhibitors_china/preliminary.htm.
Corrosion inhibitors covered by these investigations is tolyltriazole (“TTA”) and benzotriazole (“BTA”).
This includes tolyltriazole and benzotriazole of all grades and forms, including their sodium salt forms.
Tolyltriazole is technically known as Tolyltriazole IUPAC 4,5 methyl benzotriazole. It can also be
identified as methyl benzotriazole, tolutriazole, TTA, and TTZ.
Benzotriazole is technically known as IUPAC 1,2,3-Benzotriazole. It can also be identified as 1,2,3Benzotriazole, 1,2-Aminozophenylene, 1H-Benzotriazole, and BTA.
All forms of tolyltriazole and benzotriazole, including but not limited to flakes, granules, pellets, prills,
needles, powder, or liquids, are included within the scope of these petitions.
The scope includes tolyltriazole/sodium tolyltriazole and benzotriazole/sodium benzotriazole that are
combined or mixed with other products. For such combined products, only the tolyltriazole/sodium
tolyltriazole and benzotriazole/sodium benzotriazole component is covered by the scope of these
investigations. Tolyltriazole and sodium tolyltriazole that have been combined with other products is
included within the scope, regardless of whether the combining occurs in third countries.
Tolyltriazole, sodium tolyltriazole, benzotriazole and sodium benzotriazole that is otherwise subject to
these investigations is not excluded when commingled with tolyltriazole, sodium tolyltriazole,
benzotriazole, or sodium benzotriazole from sources not subject to these investigations. Only the
subject merchandise component of such commingled products is covered by the scope of these
investigations.
Tolyltriazole has the Chemical Abstracts Service (“CAS”) registry number 299385-43-1. Tolyltriazole is
classified under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (“HTSUS”) 2933.99.82.20.
Sodium Tolyltriazole has the CAS registry number 64665-57-2 and is classified under HTSUS
2933.99.82.90.
Benzotriazole has the CAS registry number #95-14-7 and is classified under HTSUS 2933.99.82.10.
Sodium Benzotriazole has the CAS registry number 15217-42-2. Sodium Benzotriazole is classified under
HTSUS 2933.99.82.90.
Although the HTSUS subheadings and CAS registry numbers are provided for convenience and customs
purposes, the written description of the scope of these investigations is dispositive.

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Corrosion inhibitors are currently imported under statistical reporting numbers 2933.99.8210 of the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). They may also be imported under HTSUS
statistical reporting numbers 2933.99.8220 and 2933.99.8290. In their solid form, tolyltriazole and
benzotriazole are imported under HTS numbers 2933.99.8210 and 2933.99.8220, respectively. The
liquid forms of tolyltriazole and benzotriazole are imported under the “other” HTS category, i.e. HTS
2933.99.8290. The HTSUS provisions are for convenience and customs purposes; the written description
of the scope is dispositive.
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,
purchaser and/or foreign producer questionnaire), you need not respond to duplicated questions.
Confidentiality.--The commercial and financial data furnished in response to this questionnaire that
reveal the individual operations of your firm will be treated as confidential by the Commission to the
extent that such data are not otherwise available to the public and will not be disclosed except as may
be required by law (see 19 U.S.C. §1677f). Such confidential information will not be published in a
manner that will reveal the individual operations of your firm; however, general characterizations of
numerical business proprietary information (such as discussion of trends) will be treated as confidential
business information only at the request of the submitter for good cause shown.
Verification.--The information submitted in this questionnaire is subject to audit and verification by the
Commission. To facilitate possible verification of data, please keep all files, worksheets, and supporting
documents used in the preparation of the questionnaire response. Please also retain a copy of the final
document that you submit.
Release of information.--The information provided by your firm in response to this questionnaire, as
well as any other business proprietary information submitted by your firm to the Commission in
connection with this proceeding, may become subject to, and released under, the administrative
protective order provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. § 1677f) and section 207.7 of the
Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR § 207.7). This means that certain lawyers and
other authorized individuals may temporarily be given access to the information for use in connection
with this proceeding or other import-injury proceedings conducted by the Commission on the same or
similar merchandise; those individuals would be subject to severe penalties if the information were
divulged to unauthorized individuals.
Valid number error messages.--If you are completing this form in a country that uses periods (“.”) to
delineate multiples of 1000 (e.g., one million would appear as $1.000.000 rather than $1,000,000), you
may be unable to enter in numbers greater than 999 in numeric form fields. The solution to this data
entry issue is to temporarily change your operating system’s number formatting to be consistent with
the U.S. number formatting system while you complete this form. Detailed instructions on how to
resolve this issue is provided at the end of this questionnaire and is available upon request from
Lawrence Jones (202-205-3358, lawrence.jones@usitc.gov).

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Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Corrosion Inhibitors (Preliminary)
I-1.

Page 4

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
20 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering data, and
completing and reviewing the questionnaire.
We welcome comments regarding the accuracy of this burden estimate, suggestions for
reducing the burden, and any suggestions for improving this questionnaire. Please attach such
comments to your response or send to the Office of Investigations, USITC, 500 E St. SW,
Washington, DC 20436.
I-2.

Establishments covered.--Provide the name and address of establishment(s) covered by this
questionnaire.
“Establishment”--Each facility of a firm in China involved in the production or export of
corrosion inhibitors, including auxiliary facilities operated in conjunction with (whether or not
physically separate from) such facilities. Firms operating more than one establishment in China
should combine the data for all establishments into a single report.

I-3.

Related producers.--Does your firm or any related firm produce, have the capability to produce,
or have any plans to produce corrosion inhibitors in the United States or other countries?

No

I-4.

Yes

If yes, please name the firm(s) and country below and, if U.S. producer(s),
ensure that they complete the Commission’s producer questionnaire.

Related U.S. importers.--Does your firm or any related firm import or have any plans to import
corrosion inhibitors into the United States?

No

Yes

If yes, please name the firm(s) below and ensure that they complete the
Commission’s importer questionnaire.

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I-5.

Stock symbol information.-- If your firm or any of the entities reported in questions I-2 through
I-4 are publicly traded in the United States, please specify the stock exchange and trading
symbol (including American Depository Receipts, if applicable):
.

I-6.

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

I-7.

U.S. importers.--Please provide the names, contacts, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses
of the FIVE largest U.S. importers of your firm’s corrosion inhibitors in 2019.

Importer’s name
1
2
3
4
5

Contact person

Email

Telephone

Share of your
firm’s 2019 U.S.
exports (%)

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Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Corrosion Inhibitors (Preliminary)

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PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Lawrence Jones (202-2053358, Lawrence.jones@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-2a.

Changes in operations.--Please indicate whether your firm has experienced any of the following
changes in relation to the production of corrosion inhibitors since January 1, 2017.
(check as many as appropriate)
plant openings
plant closings
relocations
expansions
acquisitions
consolidations
prolonged shutdowns or
production curtailments
revised labor agreements
other (e.g., technology)

(If checked, please describe; leave blank if not applicable)

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Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Corrosion Inhibitors (Preliminary)
II-2b.

Anticipated changes in operations.--Does your firm anticipate any changes in the character of
its operations or organization (as noted above) relating to the production of corrosion inhibitors
in the future?

No

II-3a.

Page 7

Yes

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

Production using same machinery.--Please report your firm’s production of products using the
same equipment, machinery, or employees as used to produce corrosion inhibitors, and the
combined production capacity on this shared equipment, machinery, or employees in the
periods indicated.
“Overall production capacity” or “capacity” –The level of production that your
establishment(s) could reasonably have expected to attain during the specified periods for all
products manufactured in that establishment using the same manufacturing equipment.
Assume normal operating conditions (i.e., using equipment and machinery in place and ready to
operate; normal operating levels (hours per week/weeks per year) and time for downtime,
maintenance, repair, and cleanup).
Note.--If your firm does not produce any out-of-scope merchandise on the same machinery and
equipment as scope merchandise then the "overall production capacity" numbers reported in
this question should be exactly equal to the "average production capacity" numbers reported in
question II-8. If, however, your firm does produce out-of-scope merchandise using the same
machinery and equipment as scope merchandise, then the "average production capacity"
reported in question II-8 should exclude the portion of "overall production capacity" that was
used to produce this out-of-scope merchandise.
“Production” --All production in your establishment(s) in China, including production consumed
internally within your firm.

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Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Corrosion Inhibitors (Preliminary)
II-3a.

Page 8

Production using same machinery.--Continued.
Quantity (in pounds, dry weight)
Calendar years
Item

Overall production capacity

2017

Production of:
Corrosion inhibitors 2
Other products

2018

2019

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

3

Total production using same machinery or
workers
1

Data reported for capacity (first line) should be greater than data reported for total production (last
line).
2
Data entered for production of corrosion inhibitors will populate here once reported in question II8.
3
Please identify these products:
.
II-3b.

Operating parameters.--The production capacity reported in II-3a is based on the following
operating paramaters:
Hours per week

Weeks per year

II-3c.

Capacity calculation.--Please describe the methodology used to calculate overall production
capacity reported in II-4a, and explain any changes in reported capacity.

II-3d.

Production constraints.--Please describe the constraint(s) that set the limit(s) on your firm’s
production capacity.

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Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Corrosion Inhibitors (Preliminary)
II-4.

Page 9

Product shifting.—
(a).

Is your firm able to switch production (capacity) between corrosion inhibitors and other
products using the same equipment and/or labor?

No

(b).

Yes

If yes—(i.e., have produced other products or are able to produce other
products) Please identify other actual or potential products.

Please describe the factors that affect your firm’s ability to shift production capacity
between products (e.g., time, cost, relative price change, etc.), and the degree to which
these factors enhance or constrain such shifts.

II-5.

Share of sales.--What percentage of your firm’s total sales in its most recent fiscal year was
represented by sales of corrosion inhibitors?
percent.

II-6a.

Firm's estimated share of production in China.--Please estimate the percentage of total production
of corrosion inhibitors in the country specified on the certification page accounted for by your firm’s
production in 2019.
percent.

II-6b.

Firm's estimated share of country's exports.--Please estimate the percentage of total exports to
the United States of corrosion inhibitors from the country specified on the certification page
accounted for by your firm’s exports in 2019.
percent.

II-7.

Third country trade actions.--Is the corrosion inhibitors exported by your firm subject to
antidumping/countervailing duty/safeguard findings, remedies, or proceedings?

No

Yes

If yes--List the products(s), countries affected, and the date of such
findings/remedies/proceedings.

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Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Corrosion Inhibitors (Preliminary)
II-8.

Page 10

Trade data.--Report your firm’s production capacity, production, shipments, and inventories
related to the production of corrosion inhibitors in your establishment(s) in China during the
specified periods. Do not include resales of corrosion inhibitors that your firm did not produce in
this question; those data to the degree they are exported to the United States should only be
reported in question II-9.
“Average production capacity” or “capacity” –The level of production that your
establishment(s) could reasonably have expected to attain during the specified periods for all
products manufactured in that establishment using the same manufacturing equipment.
Assume normal operating conditions (i.e., using equipment and machinery in place and ready to
operate; normal operating levels (hours per week/weeks per year) and time for downtime,
maintenance, repair, and cleanup; and a typical or representative product mix).
“Production” --All production in your establishment(s) in China, including production consumed
internally within your firm.
“Shipments”--Shipments of products produced in your establishment(s) in #China. Quantities
reported should be net of returns.
“Home market commercial shipments”--Shipments, other than internal consumption and
transfers to related firms, within China.
“Home market internal consumption/transfers to related firms”--Shipments made to
related firms in China, including product consumed internally by your firm.
“Export shipments”--Shipments to destinations outside of the country indicacted on page 1
(China), 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.

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Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Corrosion Inhibitors (Preliminary)
II-8.

Page 11

Trade data.--Continued.
Quantity (in pounds, dry weight)
Projections1

Actual experience
Calendar year
Item

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2

Average production capacity (A)
Beginning-of-period inventories (B)
Production (C)
Home market shipments:
Internal consumption/ transfers (D)
Commercial shipments (E)
Exports to the United States (F)
Exports to all other markets3 (G)
Total exports (H)
(should equal F+G)

0

0

0

0

0

Total shipments (I)
(should equal D+E+F+G)

0

0

0

0

0

End-of-period inventories (J)
1

Please explain the basis for your firm’s projections.
.
The production capacity reported is based on operating
hours per week,
weeks per
year. Please describe the methodology used to calculate production capacity, and explain any changes
in reported capacity.
.
3
Identify principal other export markets.
.
2

RECONCILIATION OF SHIPMENTS, PRODUCTION, AND INVENTORY.--Generally, the data reported for the
end-of-period inventories (i.e., line J) should be equal to the beginning-of-period inventories (i.e., line B),
plus production (i.e., line C), less total shipments (i.e., lines D, E, F, and G). 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.

Item

2017

Actual experience

Projections

Calendar year

Calendar year

2018

2019

2020

2021

B + C – D – E – F –G – J = should equal zero
("0") or provide an explanation.1
0
0
0
0
1
Explanation if the calculated fields above are returning values other than zero (i.e., “0”) but are
nonetheless accurate:
.

0

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Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Corrosion Inhibitors (Preliminary)
II-9.

Page 12

Exports to the United States not produced by your firm.--Report your firm’s exports to the
United States of corrosion inhibitors that was produced in China but not by your firm during the
specified periods. Note these data should not be included in question II-8.
Quantity (in pounds, dry weight)
Actual experience

Projections

Calendar year
Item

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

Exports of corrosion
inhibitors to the United
States not produced by your
firm1
1

List the producer(s).

II-10.

.

Other explanations.--If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question in Part II
for which a narrative 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 U.S. 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 USITC foreign producer questionnaire form. 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/701731/2020/corrosion_inhibitors_china/preliminary.htm
Please do not attempt to modify the format or permissions of the questionnaire
document. Please submit the completed questionnaire using one of the methods noted
below. If your firm is unable to complete the MS Word questionnaire or cannot use one
of the electronic methods of submission, please contact the Commission for further
instructions.

• Upload via Secure Drop Box.—Upload the MS Word questionnaire along with a scanned copy of the
signed certification page (page 1) through the Commission’s secure upload facility:
Web address: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/

Pin: CORR

• E-mail.—E-mail your questionnaire to lawrence.jones@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 produce or export 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, you are 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.