10-2-2845 US importer questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 10-2-2845 Expiration Date: 6/30/2011
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. IMPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
WIRE DECKING FROM CHINA

This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than March 17, 2010
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 wire decking from China (inv. Nos.
701-TA-466 and 731-TA-1162 (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 possession (19 U.S.C. § 1333(a)).

Name of firm
Address
State

City

Zip Code

World Wide Web address
Has your firm imported wire decking (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 –Wire Decking from China

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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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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire –Wire Decking from China

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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 wire decking from China into the United States or which are engaged in exporting wire
decking from China 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 wire decking?
Firm name

I-6.

Address

Address

Affiliation

Please indicate the nature of your firm’s importing operations on wire decking. 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 wire decking 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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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire –Wire Decking from China

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

I-9.

Please indicate whether your firm enters wire decking 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 wire decking 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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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire –Wire Decking from China

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PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Chris Cassise (202-708-5408,
[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
wire decking since January 1, 2006?
No

II-3.

E-mail address

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

Has your firm imported or arranged for the importation of wire decking from China for delivery
after December 31, 2009?
No

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

Quantity (1,000 pounds):

II-4.

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

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire –Wire Decking from China

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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 wire decking imported from China by your firm during the specified
periods. (See definitions in the instruction booklet.)
Please note that the quantity is requested in thousands of pounds (1,000 pounds), not units
as is requested in section III of this questionnaire.

CHINA
Quantity (in 1,000 pounds), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2006

2007

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)
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

II-6.

No--Please explain:

Channels of distribution. Please report the share of your U.S. commercial shipments that your
firm sold through each of the following channels of distribution for the years indicated.
Channels of distribution
Share of total U.S. commercial shipments (percent)
2006
Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
Distributors
End users

2007

2008

2009

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire –Wire Decking from China

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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 wire decking imported from all other sources combined by your
firm during the specified periods. (See definitions in the instruction booklet.)
Please note that the quantity is requested in thousands of pounds (1,000 pounds), not units
as is requested in section III of this questionnaire.

ALL OTHER SOURCES COMBINED
(Imports from countries other than China)

Country(ies) of origin_______________________________
Quantity (in 1,000 pounds), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2006

2007

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)
1

Please identify the sources and foreign producers:

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

II-8.

No--Please explain:

Channels of distribution. Please report the share of your U.S. commercial shipments that your
firm sold through each of the following channels of distribution for the years indicated.
Channels of distribution
Share of total U.S. commercial shipments (percent)
2006
Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
Distributors
End users

2007

2008

2009

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire –Wire Decking from China

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Ioana Mic (202-205-3196,
[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 price and quantity data, f.o.b. your U.S. point of shipment, for your
commercial shipments to unrelated U.S. customers during January 2006–December 2009 of the following
products you imported from China and from your largest nonsubject source of wire decking:
Product 1.—Wire decking, 42”(depth) x 46”(width), flanged channel, 3 channels, 4 to 6
gauge wire, 2” to 2.5” by 4” to 4.5” grid spacing, coated with zinc or zinc oxide
Product 2.—Wire decking, 42”(depth) x 46”(width), flanged channel, 3 channels, 4 to 6
gauge wire, 2” to 2.5” by 4” to 4.5” grid spacing, uncoated or coated with a substance other
than zinc or zinc oxide
Product 3.—Wire decking, 42”(depth) x 46”(width), step channel, 3 channels, 4 to 6 gauge
wire, 2” to 2.5” by 4” to 4.5” grid spacing, coated with zinc or zinc oxide
Product 4.—Wire decking, 42”(depth) x 46”(width), step channel, 3 channels, 4 to 6 gauge
wire, 2” to 2.5” by 4” to 4.5” grid spacing, uncoated or coated with a substance other than
zinc or zinc oxide
Product 5.—Wire decking, 48”(depth) x 46”(width), flanged channel, 3 channels, 4 to 6
gauge wire, 2” to 2.5” by 4” to 4.5” grid spacing, coated with zinc or zinc oxide
Product 6.—Wire decking, 48”(depth) x 46”(width), flanged channel, 3 channels, 4 to 6
gauge wire, 2” to 2.5” by 4” to 4.5” grid spacing, uncoated or coated with a substance other
than zinc or zinc oxide

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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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire –Wire Decking from China

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-2a. Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products1 imported from China and sold by
your firm.
Period of shipment

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

Product 3
Quantity
Value

Product 4
Quantity
Value

Product 6
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
July-September
October-December
Period of shipment

Product 5
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
July-September
October-December
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. 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:
Product 4:
Product 5:
Product 6:

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire –Wire Decking from China

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-2b. Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products1 imported from your largest country
source other than China and sold by your firm.

Other (please identify country):
Period of shipment

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

Product 3
Quantity
Value

Product 4
Quantity
Value

Product 6
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
July-September
October-December
Period of shipment

Product 5
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
July-September
October-December
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. 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:
Product 4:
Product 5:
Product 6:

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire –Wire Decking from China

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-3.

Price setting.-- How does your firm determine the prices that it charges for sales of wire decking
(check all that apply)? 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 only submit some sample pages.
Transaction by transaction

Contracts

Set price lists

Internet sales
Other--Please describe:

III-4.

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

Annual total volume discounts

No discount policy

Other--Please describe:

III-5.

Pricing terms.-(a) What are your firm’s typical sales terms for wire decking imported from China (e.g., 2/10 net
30 days)?
.
(b) On what basis are your prices of wire decking imported from China usually quoted? (check
F.o.b.--Please specify point:
Delivered
one)

III-6.

Contract versus spot.--Approximately what share of your firm’s sales of its wire decking
imported from China in 2009 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
Total:

100%

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire –Wire Decking from China

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-7.

III-8.

III-9.

Long-term contact provisions.--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?

Yes

No

Quantity

Price
Yes

Both
No

Short-term contact provisions.--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?

Yes

No

Quantity

Price
Yes

Both
No

Lead times.--What is your share of sales both from inventory and produced to order and what is
the average lead time between a customer’s order and the date of delivery for your firm’s sales of
wire decking?

Source

Share of sales,
2009

Lead time

From inventory
Produced to order
Total

100 %

III-10. Shipping information.—
(a)

What is the approximate percentage of the total delivered cost of wire decking 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.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire –Wire Decking from China

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-11. Geographical shipments--What is the geographic market area in the United States served by
your firm’s shipments of wire decking imported from any source? (check all that apply)
Geographic area

√ if applicable

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, VI, among others.

III-12. End uses-- Describe the end uses of the wire decking that you import from China. For each enduse product, what percentage of the total cost is accounted for by wire decking?
End use

Share of total cost (percent)

Note.—The shares of total cost should NOT add to 100 percent.

III-13. Substitutes.--Please list in order of importance any products that may be substituted for wire
decking. For each possible substitute product, please describe the degree of substitutability and
indicate whether changes in the price of the substitute affect the price for wire decking, and to
what degree, and the length of any time lag of such an effect.

Substitute

Application

Have changes in the prices of this
substitute affected the price for wire
decking?

1.

No

Yes--Please explain.

2.

No

Yes--Please explain.

3.

No

Yes--Please explain.

4.

No

Yes--Please explain.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire –Wire Decking from China

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-14. Demand trends.—
(a)

How has the demand within the United States for wire decking changed since January 1,
2006? What principal factors affect changes in demand?
Increased

(b)

No Change

Decreased

Fluctuated

How has the demand outside the United States (if known) for wire decking changed since
January 1, 2006? What principal factors affect changes in demand?
Increased

(c)

No Change

Decreased

Fluctuated

Has the growth of big-box retailers, such as Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Wal-Mart,
affected the demand for wire decking since 2006? Please explain.

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

Yes-- Please describe.

III-16. Market segments.--What proportion of the wire decking you sell is sold for new construction
and existing construction?
Share of total sales (percent)
New construction
Existing construction
Other:
100%
III-17. Used wire decking.--What proportion of the wire decking market is made up of sales of used
wire decking?

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire –Wire Decking from China

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-18. Business cycles.-(a) Is the wire decking market subject to business cycles or conditions of competition (including
seasonal business) distinctive to wire decking?
No (skip to question IV-16.)

Yes-- Please describe below and then answer part (b).

(b) If yes, have there been any changes in the business cycles or conditions of competition for
wire decking since January 1, 2006?
No

Yes-- Please describe.

III-19. Supply constraints.--Has your firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply wire decking
since January 1, 2006 (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, been unable to meet timely shipment commitments, etc.)?
No

Yes-- Please describe.

III-20. Raw materials.--Please describe any trends in the prices of raw materials used to produce wire
decking and whether your firm expects these trends to continue.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire –Wire Decking from China

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-21. Interchangeability.--Is wire decking 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

Other countries

United States
China
1

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

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire –Wire Decking from China

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-22. Factors other than price.--Are differences other than price (i.e., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between wire decking 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

Other countries

United States
China
1

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

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire –Wire Decking from China

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-23. Please identify below the names and addresses of your firm’s 10 largest customers for wire
decking you imported during 2006-2009. 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 wire decking from
China that each of these customers accounted for in 2009.

No.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Customer’s name

Contact person

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

Area
code and
telephone
number

Share of
2009
sales
(percent)