09-2-2791 US importer questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 09-2-2791; Expiration Date: 6/30/2011
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. IMPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
CERTAIN MAGNESIA CARBON BRICKS FROM CHINA AND MEXICO

This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than August 12, 2009.
See page 4 of the Instruction Booklet for filing instructions.
The information called for in this questionnaire is for use by the United States International Trade Commission in
connection with its antidumping and countervailing duty investigations concerning certain magnesia carbon bricks (MCB)
in China and Mexico (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-468 and 731-TA-1166-1167 (Preliminary)). The information requested in the
questionnaire is requested under the authority of the Tariff Act of 1930, title VII. This report is mandatory and failure
to reply as directed can result in a subpoena or other order to compel the submission of records or information in your
possession (19 U.S.C. § 1333(a)).

Name of firm
Address
State

City

Zip Code

World Wide Web address
Has your firm imported certain magnesia carbon bricks (as defined in the instruction booklet) from any country at
any time since January 1, 2006?

NO

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

YES

(Read the instruction booklet carefully, complete all parts of the questionnaire, and return the entire
questionnaire to the Commission so as to be received by the date indicated above)

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 these investigations in any other import-injury investigations conducted
by the Commission on the same or similar merchandise.
I acknowledge that information submitted in this questionnaire response and throughout these investigations may be used by the
Commission, its employees, and contract personnel who are acting in the capacity of Commission employees, for developing or
maintaining the records of these investigations or related proceedings for which this information is submitted, or in internal audits
and investigations relating to the programs and operations of the Commission pursuant to 5 U.S.C. Appendix 3. I understand that
all contract personnel will sign non-disclosure agreements.

Name of Authorized Official

Title of Authorized Official

Date

Signature

Phone: (
Fax ( )

E-mail address

)

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Certain Magnesia Carbon Bricks

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PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
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, searching existing data sources, gathering the data needed,
and completing and reviewing the questionnaire. Send comments regarding the accuracy of this burden
estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing the
burden, to the Office of Investigations, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street, SW,
Washington, DC 20436.
I-1a.

Please report below the actual number of hours required and the cost to your firm of preparing the
reply to this questionnaire and completing the form.
hours

dollars

I-1b.

We are interested in any comments you may have for improving this questionnaire in general or
the clarity of specific questions. Please attach such comments to your response or send them to
the above address.

I-2.

Provide the name and address of establishment(s) covered by this questionnaire (see page 3 of the
instruction booklet for reporting guidelines). If your firm is publicly traded, please specify the
stock exchange and trading symbol.

I-3.

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

Firm name

Yes--List the following information

Address

Extent of
ownership

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PART I.--GENERAL INFORMATION--Continued
I-4.

Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, which are engaged in
importing MCB from China and/or Mexico into the United States or which are engaged in
exporting MCB from China and/or Mexico to the United States?
No

Yes--List the following information

Firm name

I-5.

I-7.

Affiliation

Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, which are engaged in the
production of MCB?
Firm name

I-6.

Address

Address

Affiliation

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

Takes title to the imported product(s)

Consignee of the imported products(s)

Customs broker or freight forwarder.

If your firm is an importer of record of MCB 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

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PART I.--GENERAL INFORMATION--Continued
I-8.

I-9.

Please indicate whether your firm enters MCB into, or withdraws such merchandise from, foreign
trade zones or bonded warehouses.
Foreign trade zones

No

Yes

Bonded warehouses

No

Yes

Please indicate whether your firm imports MCB under the TIB (temporary importation under
bond) program.
No

I-10.

Yes

To your knowledge, have the products subject to these investigations been the subject of any
other import relief investigations in the United States or in any other countries?
No

Yes–Please specify.

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PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Elizabeth Haines (202-2053200, [email protected]). Supply all data requested on a calendar-year basis.
II-1.

Who should be contacted regarding the requested trade and related information?
Company contact:
Name and title
(
)
Phone number

II-2.

Has your firm experienced any plant openings, relocations, expansions, acquisitions,
consolidations, closures, or prolonged shutdowns because of strikes or equipment failure; or any
other change in the character of your operations or organization relating to the importation of
MCB since January 1, 2006?
No

II-3.

Yes--Supply details as to the time, nature, and significance of such changes.

Has your firm imported or arranged for the importation of MCB from China and/or Mexico for
delivery after June 30, 2009?
No

II-4.

E-mail address

Yes–Indicate when such orders are to be delivered and the quantities
involved.

If your firm also produces MCB in the United States, please indicate your reasons for importing
this product. If your reasons differ by source, please elaborate.

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PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-5.

IMPORTS FROM SUBJECT SOURCES.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s
shipments and inventories of MCB imported from China by your firm during the specified
periods. (See definitions in the instruction booklet.)

China
Quantity (in short tons), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2006

2007

January-June
2008

2008

2009

Beginning-of-period inventories (quantity)
Imports:1
Quantity of imports
Value of imports
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity of commercial shipments
Value of commercial shipments
Internal consumption/company transfers:
Quantity of internal consumption/transfers
Value2 of internal consumption/transfers
Export shipments:3
Quantity of export shipments
Value of export shipments
End-of-period inventories4 (quantity)
Channels of distribution:
U.S. shipments to distributors (quantity)
U.S. shipments to end users (quantity)
1

Please identify the foreign producers, if known:

2
Sales to related firms (including internal consumption) must be valued at fair market value. In the event that you use a
different basis for valuing these sales within your company, please specify that basis (e.g., cost, cost plus, etc.) and provide
value data using that basis for each of the periods noted above:

3

Identify your principal export markets:
Reconciliation of data.--Please note that the quantities reported above should reconcile as follows: beginning-of-period
inventories, plus imports, less total shipments, equals end-of-period inventories. Do the data reported reconcile?
4

Yes

No--Please explain:

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PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-6

IMPORTS FROM SUBJECT SOURCES.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s
shipments and inventories of MCB imported from Mexico by your firm during the specified
periods. (See definitions in the instruction booklet.)

Mexico
Quantity (in short tons), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2006

2007

January-June
2008

2008

2009

Beginning-of-period inventories (quantity)
Imports:1
Quantity of imports
Value of imports
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity of commercial shipments
Value of commercial shipments
Internal consumption/company transfers:
Quantity of internal consumption/transfers
Value2 of internal consumption/transfers
Export shipments:3
Quantity of export shipments
Value of export shipments
End-of-period inventories4 (quantity)
Channels of distribution:
U.S. shipments to distributors (quantity)
U.S. shipments to end users (quantity)
1

Please identify the foreign producers, if known:

2
Sales to related firms (including internal consumption) must be valued at fair market value. In the event that you use a
different basis for valuing these sales within your company, please specify that basis (e.g., cost, cost plus, etc.) and provide
value data using that basis for each of the periods noted above:

3

Identify your principal export markets:
Reconciliation of data.--Please note that the quantities reported above should reconcile as follows: beginning-of-period
inventories, plus imports, less total shipments, equals end-of-period inventories. Do the data reported reconcile?
4

Yes

No--Please explain:

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Certain Magnesia Carbon Bricks

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PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-7.

IMPORTS FROM NONSUBJECT SOURCES.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s
shipments and inventories of MCB imported from all other sources combined by your firm
during the specified periods. (See definitions in the instruction booklet.)

ALL OTHER SOURCES COMBINED
Quantity (in short tons), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2006

2007

January-June
2008

2008

2009

Beginning-of-period inventories (quantity)
Imports:1
Quantity of imports
Value of imports
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity of commercial shipments
Value of commercial shipments
Internal consumption/company transfers:
Quantity of internal consumption/transfers
Value2 of internal consumption/transfers
Export shipments:3
Quantity of export shipments
Value of export shipments
End-of-period inventories4 (quantity)
Channels of distribution:
U.S. shipments to distributors (quantity)
U.S. shipments to end users (quantity)
1

Please identify the sources and foreign producers, if known:

2
Sales to related firms (including internal consumption) must be valued at fair market value. In the event that you use a
different basis for valuing these sales within your company, please specify that basis (e.g., cost, cost plus, etc.) and provide
value data using that basis for 2004, 2005, and 2006 below:

3

Identify your principal export markets:
Reconciliation of data.--Please note that the quantities reported above should reconcile as follows: beginning-of-period
inventories, plus imports, less total shipments, equals end-of-period inventories. Do the data reported reconcile?
4

Yes

No--Please explain:

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Certain Magnesia Carbon Bricks

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from James Fetzer (202-708-5403,
[email protected])
III-1.

Who should be contacted regarding the requested pricing and related information?
Company contact:
Name and title
(
)
Phone number

E-mail address

PRICE DATA
This section requests quarterly quantity and value data, f.o.b. your U.S. point of shipment, for your
commercial shipments to unrelated U.S. customers during January 2006–June 2009 of the following
products produced by your firm.
Product 1.—Resin Bonded, Magnesia-Carbon Brick for electric arc furnaces with a carbon
content of 13 percent, fused grain and antioxidant additions that correspond to Resco’s
brand Nuline 10-99, with the following dimensions: 13½ x 6 x 3 No. 1 key.
Product 2.-- Resin Bonded, Magnesia-Carbon Brick for ladles with a carbon content of 10
percent, fused grain and antioxidant additions that correspond to Resco’s brand Maxline 10
DFZ with the following dimensions: SU 6 x 60 x 100 mm.
Product 3.— Resin Bonded, Magnesia-Carbon Brick for ladles with a carbon content of 10
percent, fused grain and antioxidant additions that correspond to Resco’s brand Maxline 10
AFX, with the following dimensions: 7 x (6-5½) x 3 inch mini key.
Please note that total dollar values should be f.o.b., U.S. point of shipment and should not include
U.S.-inland transportation costs. Total dollar values should reflect the final net amount paid to you
(i.e., should be net of all deductions for discounts or rebates). See instruction booklet.

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-2a. Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from China and sold by
your firm.

China
(Quantity in tons, value in dollars)
Product 1
Product 2
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value

Product 3
Quantity
Value

2006
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2007
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2008
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2009
January-March
April-June
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 U.S. point of shipment.
2
Pricing product definitions are provided on the first page of Part III.
Note.--If your product does not exactly meet the product specifications but is competitive with the specified product,
provide a description of your product:
Product 1:
Product 2:
Product 3:

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-2b. Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from Mexico and sold by
your firm.

Mexico
(Quantity in tons, value in dollars)
Product 1
Product 2
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value

Product 3
Quantity
Value

2006
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2007
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2008
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2009
January-March
April-June
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 U.S. point of shipment.
2
Pricing product definitions are provided on the first page of Part III.
Note.--If your product does not exactly meet the product specifications but is competitive with the specified product,
provide a description of your product:
Product 1:
Product 2:
Product 3:

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-2c. Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from Brazil and sold by
your firm.

Brazil
(Quantity in tons, value in dollars)
Product 1
Product 2
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value

Product 3
Quantity
Value

2006
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2007
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2008
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2009
January-March
April-June
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 U.S. point of shipment.
2
Pricing product definitions are provided on the first page of Part III.
Note.--If your product does not exactly meet the product specifications but is competitive with the specified product,
provide a description of your product:
Product 1:
Product 2:
Product 3:

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-3. Please describe how your firm determines the prices that it charges for sales of MCB (transaction
by transaction negotiation, contracts for multiple shipments, set price lists, etc.). If your firm
issues price lists, please include a copy of a recent price list with your submission. If your price
list is large, please submit sample pages.

III-4.

Please describe your firm’s discount policy (quantity discounts, annual total volume discounts,
etc.).

III-5.

What are your firm’s typical sales terms for MCB imported from China and Mexico (e.g., 2/10
net 30 days)?
. On what basis are your prices of such product usually quoted
(e.g., f.o.b. warehouse, or delivered)?
.

III-6.

Approximately what share of your firm’s sales of its MCB imported from China and Mexico in
2006 were on a (1) long-term contract basis (multiple deliveries for more than 12 months), (2)
short-term contract basis (multiple deliveries up to 12 months), and (3) spot sales basis (for a
single delivery)?
Type of sale

Share of sales (percent)

Long-term contracts
Short-term contracts
Spot sales
III-7.

If you sell on a long-term contract basis, please answer the following questions with respect to
provisions of a typical long-term contract.
(a)

What is the average duration of a contract?

(b)

Can prices be renegotiated during the contract period?

(c)

Does the contract fix quantity, price, or both?

(d)

Does the contract have a meet or release provision?

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-8.

III-9.

If you sell on a short-term contract basis, please answer the following questions with respect to
provisions of a typical short-term contract.
(a)

What is the average duration of a contract?

(b)

Can prices be renegotiated during the contract period?

(c)

Does the contract fix quantity, price, or both?

(d)

Does the contract have a meet or release provision?

What is the average lead time between a customer’s order and the date of delivery for your firm’s
sales of MCB?

Source

Share of sales,
2006

Lead time

From inventory
Produced to order
Total

III-10. (a)

100 %

What is the approximate percentage of the total delivered cost of MCB that is accounted
for by U.S. inland transportation costs?
percent.

(b)

Who generally arranges the transportation to your customers’ locations? (check one)
Your firm
or purchaser

(c)

What proportion of your sales occur within 100 miles of your storage or production
facility?
percent. Within 101 to 1,000 miles?
percent. Over 1,000 miles?
percent.

III-11. What is the geographic market area in the United States served by your firm’s MCB? (check all
that apply)
Northeast

Mid-Atlantic

Midwest

Southeast

Southwest

Rocky Mountains

West Coast

Northwest

National

Other (describe:

)

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-12. Describe the end uses of the MCB that you import from China and Mexico. For each end-use
product, what percentage of the total cost is accounted for by MCB?
End use

III-13. (a)

Share of total cost (percent)

Can other products be substituted for MCB?
No

Yes--Please list these substitute products in order of importance.

(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(b)

For each possible substitute product, please give examples of applications and end uses
for which they are substitutes.

(c)

Have changes in the prices of these products affected the price for MCB?
No

Yes--To what degree do changes in their prices affect the price for
MCB? Does this effect have a time lag? If so, how long is the time lag
for each substitute product? Does this vary by type of MCB or final end
use?

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-14. How has the demand within the United States (and outside the United States if known) for MCB
changed since January 1, 2006? What principal factors affect changes in demand?
Increase

No Change

Decrease

III-15. Have there been any significant changes in the product range or marketing of MCB since January
1, 2006?
No

Yes-- Please describe.

III-16. Does your firm sell MCB over the internet?
No

Yes-- Please describe, noting the estimated percentage of your firm’s total
sales of MCB in 2006 accounted for by internet sales.

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-17. Is MCB produced in the United States and in other countries interchangeable (i.e., can they
physically be used in the same applications)? Please indicate below, using “A” to indicate that
the products from a specified country-pair are always interchangeable, “F” to indicate that the
products are frequently interchangeable, “S” to indicate that the products are sometimes
interchangeable, “N” to indicate that the products are never interchangeable, and “0” to indicate
no familiarity with products from a specified country-pair.1
Country-pair

China

Mexico

Brazil

Other countries

United States
China
Mexico
Brazil
1

For any country-pair producing MCB which is sometimes or never interchangeable, please explain the
factors that limit or preclude interchangeable use:

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-18. Are differences other than price (i.e., quality, availability, transportation network, product range,
technical support, etc.) between MCB produced in the United States and in other countries a
significant factor in your firm’s sales of the products? Please indicate below, using “A” to
indicate that such differences are always significant, “F” to indicate that such differences are
frequently significant, “S” to indicate that such differences are sometimes significant, “N” to
indicate that such differences are never significant, and “0” to indicate no familiarity with
products from a specified country-pair.1
Country-pair

China

Mexico

Brazil

Other countries

United States
China
Mexico
Brazil
1

For any country-pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant factor in
your firm’s sales of MCB, identify the country-pair and report the advantages or disadvantages imparted
by such factors:

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-19. Please identify below the names and addresses of your firm’s 10 largest customers for MCB
during 2006-2008. Please also provide the name and telephone number of a contact person and
the share of the quantity of your firm’s total shipments of MCB from China and Mexico that each
of these customers accounted for in 2008.

No.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Customer’s name

Street address (not P.O.
box), city, state, and zip
code

Contact person

Area
code and
telephone
number

Share of
2008
sales
(%)