10-3-2872 US purchaser questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 10-3-2872; Expiration Date: 6/30/2011
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
NARROW WOVEN RIBBONS FROM CHINA AND TAIWAN

This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than May 5, 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 countervailing and antidumping duty investigations concerning narrow woven ribbons from China and
Taiwan (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-467 and 731-TA-1164-1165 (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)).
Further information on this questionnaire can be obtained from Nancy Bryan (202-205-2088,
[email protected]).

Name of firm
Address
State

City

Zip Code

World Wide Web address
Has your firm purchased narrow woven ribbons (as defined in the instruction booklet) from any source at any
time since January 1, 2007?

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 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 investigations conducted by
the Commission on the same or similar merchandise.
I acknowledge that information submitted in this questionnaire response and throughout this proceeding 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 this proceeding 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
Phone: (

Date

)

Signature

E-mail address
Fax (

)

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Page 2

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 25 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 narrow woven ribbons from China or Taiwan into the United States or which are
engaged in exporting narrow woven ribbons from China or Taiwan to the United States?
No

Firm name

I-5.

Yes--List the following information

Address

Affiliation / Extent of
Ownership

Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, which are engaged in the
production of narrow woven ribbons?
No

Firm name

Yes--List the following information

Address

Affiliation / Extent of
Ownership

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Page 4

PART II.--PURCHASES
II-1.

Who should be contacted regarding the requested purchase information?
Company contact:
Name and title
Please indicate the means by which you may be contacted by the staff of the U.S. International
Trade Commission regarding the confidential information submitted in response to this request.
E-mail address

II-2.

Phone number

(

)

Fax number

(

)

Report, as indicated below, your firm’s purchases (either directly or through a sales agent or
broker) of narrow woven ribbons. Report based on delivery date, not order date.
(Quantity in square yards and spools, value in $1,000)
Item
2007
2008
Purchases of narrow woven ribbons
produced in the United States:
Quantity in square yards (if known)
Quantity in spools (if known)
Value
Purchases of narrow woven ribbons
produced by subject sources in China:
Quantity in square yards (if known)
Quantity in spools (if known)
Value
Purchases of narrow woven ribbons
produced by subject sources in Taiwan:
Quantity in square yards (if known)
Quantity in spools (if known)
Value
Purchases of narrow woven ribbons
produced by all other nonsubject known
sources:1
Quantity in square yards (if known)
Quantity in spools (if known)
Value
Purchases of narrow woven ribbons
produced by all unknown sources:2
Quantity in square yards (if known)
Quantity in spools (if known)
Value
1
2

Please identify these nonsubject sources:
Please explain why the country of origin or source for these purchases is unknown:

2009

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PART II.--PURCHASES--Continued
II-3.

(a)

If the relative shares of your firm’s total purchases of narrow woven ribbons from
different sources (both domestic and foreign) have changed since 2007, please list the
country, state whether the relative share from that country has increased or decreased,
and state the reason.
Country

(b)

Increase/decrease

Reason

If there have been other changes in your firm’s sourcing patterns since 2007, such as the
use of different suppliers, please describe these changes and explain the reasons for the
changes.

II-4. If your firm has purchased narrow woven ribbons from only one country, please explain the
reasons for doing so.

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PART II.--PURCHASES--Continued
II-5.

Supplier identification.--Please identify below the names and addresses of your firm’s FIVE
largest suppliers for narrow woven ribbons since 2007. 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 narrow woven ribbons that each of these suppliers accounted for in 2009.
Supplier’s
name

No.
1

2

3

4

5

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

Contact person

Share of
Telephone number
2009
or e-mail address purchases
(%)

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Page 7

PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES
III-1.

Who should be contacted regarding the requested information on market characteristics and
purchasing practices?
Company contact:
Name and title
Please indicate the means by which you may be contacted by the staff of the U.S. International
Trade Commission regarding the confidential information submitted in response to this request.
E-mail address

III-2.

Phone number

(

)

Fax number

(

)

Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of narrow woven ribbons (check
all that apply, noting the specific end uses if known)?
RETAILER of narrow woven ribbons (

)

END USER—Manufacturer incorporating narrow woven ribbons (please describe final
product:
)

III-3.

DISTRIBUTOR (

)

Other (

)

(a) If your firm is a distributor or reseller of narrow woven ribbons, what are the major types of
consumers to which you sell narrow woven ribbons?

(b) Do you compete for sales to your customers with the manufacturers or importers from which
you purchase narrow woven ribbons?

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PART III.— MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES --Continued
III-4.

If your firm is an end user of narrow woven ribbons, list in order of quantity of narrow woven
ribbons consumed, the top 3 products for which your firm purchases narrow woven ribbons as a
component part or input. Please indicate what percentage of the total cost is accounted for by
narrow woven ribbons.
Product you produce

III-5.

Percent of cost accounted for by narrow
woven ribbons

(a) How has the demand for your firm’s final products incorporating narrow woven ribbons
changed since January 1, 2007?
Increased

No change

Decreased

(b) Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for narrow woven ribbons?

III-6.

(a)

Can other products be substituted for narrow woven ribbons?
No

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

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

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

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PART III.— MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES --Continued
III-6.

(c)

Have changes in the prices of these products affected the price for narrow woven
ribbons?
No

III-7.

Are you aware whether the narrow woven ribbons you are purchasing are U.S.-produced or
imported?
Always

III-8.

Usually

Sometimes

Never

Do you know the manufacturer of the narrow woven ribbons that you purchase?
Always

III-9.

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

Usually

Sometimes

Never

To your knowledge, are your customers aware of and/or interested in the country of origin of the
goods you supply them?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

III-10. Is buying narrow woven ribbons that are produced in the United States an important factor in
your firm’s purchases of narrow woven ribbons (please check ALL that apply)?
No
Yes--Purchases of domestic narrow woven ribbons are required by law or regulation (for
example, government purchases under “Buy American” provisions). This involves
percent of your purchases of narrow woven ribbons.
Yes--Purchases of domestic narrow woven ribbons are not required by law or regulation, but
are by your customers. This involves
percent of your purchases of narrow woven
ribbons.
Yes--Purchases of domestic narrow woven ribbons are required for other reasons (please
specify these reasons below). This involves
percent of your purchases of narrow
woven ribbons.

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PART III.— MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES --Continued
III-11. Conditions of competition.-(a)

Is the narrow woven ribbons market subject to business cycles or conditions of
competition (such as seasonality) distinctive to narrow woven ribbons?
No

(b)

Yes--Please explain and provide estimates of the duration of any such
cycle.

Has the emergence of new markets for narrow woven ribbons since 2007 affected the
business cycles or conditions of competition distinctive to narrow woven ribbons?
No

Yes--Please explain any such changes.

III-12. Have you made significant changes in your purchasing patterns (e.g., frequency) since 2007?
No

Yes-- Please describe.

III-13. How many suppliers do you generally contact before making a purchase?

III-14. Have you changed suppliers since 2007?
No

Yes--Please list the suppliers, indicate whether each firm was added or
dropped as a supplier, and give the reasons for the change.

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PART III.— MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES --Continued
III-15. Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have entered the market
since 2007?
No

Yes--Please identify the firms.

III-16. Do you require your suppliers to become certified or prequalified with respect to the quality,
chemistry, strength, or other performance characteristic of the narrow woven ribbons they sell to
your firm?
No

Yes--

percent of purchases in 2009

Yes--All purchases

Please provide a general description of the certification or qualification process and the time
required.

III-17. Briefly describe the factors that you consider when qualifying a new supplier (e.g., quality of
product, reliability of supplier, etc.) and estimate the time it takes to certify or qualify a new
supplier.

III-18. Since 2007, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their attempts to certify or qualify
their narrow woven ribbons with your firm or have any producers lost their approved status?
No

Yes--Please identify these firms, the countries where they are located, and the
reasons why they failed the certification/qualification process.

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PART III.— MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES --Continued
III-19. (a)

For the factors listed below, please rate each in terms of its importance in your purchase
decision for narrow woven ribbons.
Very
important

Availability .......................................
Delivery terms .................................
Delivery time ...................................
Discounts offered ............................
Extension of credit...........................
Price ................................................
Minimum qty requirements ..............
Packaging .......................................
Product consistency ........................
Quality meets industry standards....
Quality exceeds industry standards
Product range..................................
Reliability of supply .........................
Technical support/service ...............
U.S. transportation costs .................
Availability of fancy ribbons .............
Design innovation/fashion trends ....
Other (specify):
........
........
........

Somewhat
important

Not
important

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PART III.— MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES --Continued
III-19. (b)

Please list, in order of their importance, the three major factors generally considered by
your firm in deciding from whom to purchase narrow woven ribbons for any one order
(examples include current availability, extension of credit, prearranged contracts, price,
quality exceeding specifications or industry standards, range of supplier’s narrow woven
ribbons line, traditional supplier, etc.).
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
Other factors or comments:

III-20. What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the quality of narrow woven
ribbons?

III-21. If you purchased narrow woven ribbons from one source although comparable narrow woven
ribbons were available from another source at a lower price, please explain your reasons for doing
so (please specify by country, including the United States and both subject and nonsubject foreign
countries). Possibilities might include transaction characteristics such as length of time to fill
orders, minimum order size, reliability of supply, etc.

III-22. How often does your firm purchase the narrow woven ribbons that are offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

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PART III.— MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES --Continued
III-23. Do you believe there have been price leaders in the narrow woven ribbons market since 2007? If
so, please list the names of any firms you considered price leaders in the narrow woven ribbons
market since 2007. 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 does not necessarily have to be the lowest priced
supplier. For those firms identified as a price leader, please specify the time period in which a
price change was communicated, whether the price change was upward or downward, and
whether it covered a specific geographic region or a specific narrow woven ribbons type.

III-24. Please describe how the above firm(s) exhibited price leadership.

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PART IV.—NARROW WOVEN RIBBONS COMPARISONS
IV-1.

Who should be contacted regarding the requested information on narrow woven ribbons
comparisons?
Company contact:
Name and title
Please indicate the means by which you may be contacted by the staff of the U.S. International
Trade Commission regarding the confidential information submitted in response to this request.
E-mail address

IV-2.

Phone number

(

)

Fax number

(

)

Please indicate the countries of origin for narrow woven ribbons for which your firm has actual
marketing/pricing knowledge.
United States
China
Taiwan
Other countries (Please specify:

)

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PART IV.— NARROW WOVEN RIBBONS COMPARISONS --Continued
IV-3.

Are narrow woven ribbons 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 narrow woven ribbons from a specified country-pair are always interchangeable,
“F” to indicate that the narrow woven ribbons are frequently interchangeable, “S” to indicate that
the narrow woven ribbons are sometimes interchangeable, “N” to indicate that the narrow woven
ribbons are never interchangeable, and “0” to indicate no familiarity with narrow woven ribbons
from a specified country-pair.1
Country-pair

China

Taiwan

Mexico

Other countries

United States
China
Taiwan
Mexico
Other countries
1

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

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PART IV.— NARROW WOVEN RIBBONS COMPARISONS --Continued
IV-4.

Do you or your customers ever specifically order narrow woven ribbons from one country in
particular over other possible sources of supply?
No

IV-5.

Yes--Please identify all relevant countries (including the United States and
both subject and nonsubject foreign countries) from which you or your
customers prefer to order, and indicate why narrow woven ribbons from
these countries are preferred over narrow woven ribbons from other
countries (please note the specific narrow woven ribbons in your response).

Are certain grades/types/sizes/varieties of narrow woven ribbons available from only a single
source (domestic or foreign, including both subject and nonsubject countries)?
No

Yes--Please identify the source and the grade/type/size.

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PART IV.— NARROW WOVEN RIBBONS COMPARISONS --Continued
For the factors listed below, please rate how narrow woven ribbons produced in each
country you identified in your response to question IV-2 compare with narrow woven
ibbons produced in each of the other countries you identified (including the United
tates, China, and Taiwan). Please type an “X” for each quality in each comparison
ndicating whether the narrow woven ribbons from the first source is superior,
omparable, or inferior compared with the narrow woven ribbons from the second source.

Inferior

Comparable

Narrow woven
ribbons from
subject sources
in China
compared to
narrow woven
ribbons from
subject sources
in Taiwan

Superior

Narrow woven
ribbons from
the United States
compared to
narrow woven
ribbons from
subject sources
in Taiwan

Inferior

Inferior

Comparable

Quality

Superior

Narrow woven
ribbons from
the United States
compared to
narrow woven
ribbons from
subject sources
in
China

Comparable

(a)

Superior

IV-6.

Availability ...............................................
Delivery terms .........................................
Delivery time ...........................................
Discounts offered ....................................
Extension of credit...................................
Price1 .......................................................
Minimum quantity requirements ..............
Packaging ...............................................
Narrow woven ribbons consistency ........
Quality meets industry standards............
Quality exceeds industry standards ........
Narrow woven ribbons range ..................
Reliability of supply .................................
Technical support/service .......................
U.S. transportation costs1 .......................
Availability of fancy ribbons .............
Design innovation/fashion trends ....
Other (specify):

1

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.

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PART IV.— NARROW WOVEN RIBBONS COMPARISONS --Continued
For the factors listed below, please rate how narrow woven ribbons produced in each
country you identified in your response to question IV-2 compare with narrow woven
ribbons produced in each of the other countries you identified (including the United
States, China, and Taiwan). Please type an “X” for each quality in each comparison
indicating whether the narrow woven ribbons from the first source is superior,
comparable, or inferior compared with the narrow woven ribbons from the second source.

Availability ...............................................
Delivery terms .........................................
Delivery time ...........................................
Discounts offered ....................................
Extension of credit...................................
Price1 .......................................................
Minimum quantity requirements ..............
Packaging ...............................................
Narrow woven ribbons consistency ........
Quality meets industry standards............
Quality exceeds industry standards ........
Narrow woven ribbons range ..................
Reliability of supply .................................
Technical support/service .......................
U.S. transportation costs1 .......................
Availability of fancy ribbons .............
Design innovation/fashion trends ....
Other (specify):

1

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.

Inferior

Comparable

compared to
narrow woven
ribbons from

Superior

compared to
narrow woven
ribbons from

Inferior

compared to
narrow woven
ribbons from

Comparable

Narrow woven
ribbons from

Superior

Narrow woven
ribbons from

Inferior

Quality

Narrow woven
ribbons from

Comparable

(b)

Superior

IV-6.

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PART IV.— NARROW WOVEN RIBBONS COMPARISONS --Continued
IV-7.

(a)

How often do domestically produced narrow woven ribbons meet minimum quality
specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?
Always

(b)

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or never

How often do imported subject narrow woven ribbons meet minimum quality
specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?

Source

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or
never

China
Taiwan

(c)

How often do imported nonsubject narrow woven ribbons (i.e., narrow woven ribbons
from countries other than China and/or Taiwan) meet minimum quality specifications for
your uses or your customers’ uses?
Source

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or
never

Mexico
COUNTRY (specify:

)

COUNTRY (specify:

)

IV-8.

Please describe the characteristics of what your firm considers “fancy” narrow woven ribbons:

IV-9.

How does your firm track its inventory of narrow woven ribbons (e.g., in spools of specific width
and length, in square yards, by design group, by producer or supplier, etc.)?

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PART IV.— NARROW WOVEN RIBBONS COMPARISONS --Continued
IV-10. How does your firm typically purchase narrow woven ribbons (e.g., by contract for multiple
shipments, by spot sales, etc.)? And how are narrow woven ribbons sold to your firm (e.g., in
trays of multiple product types; in packages containing spools of one specific product type, etc.)?

IV-11. How specific is your firm when purchasing narrow woven ribbons (e.g., do you order a specific
quantity, a specific product type or design, or do you accept a random assortment offered by the
supplier without requesting specific product types?)