Certain Lightweight Thermal Paper from China and Germany

GENERAL INFORMATION, INSTRUCTIONS, AND
DEFINITIONS FOR COMMISSION QUESTIONNAIRES

CERTAIN LIGHTWEIGHT THERMAL PAPER FROM
CHINA AND GERMANY
Investigation Nos. 701-TA-451 and 731-TA-1126-1127 (Final)

Further information.--If you have any questions concerning the enclosed
questionnaire(s) or other matters related to these investigations, you may contact
the following members of the Commission=s staff (Fax 202-205-3205):
Christopher Cassise, investigator (202-708-5408; E-mail [email protected])
regarding general questions and trade and related information;
Mary Klir, auditor (202-205-3247; E-mail [email protected])
regarding financial information; and
Nancy Bryan, economist (202-205-2088; E-mail [email protected])
regarding pricing, market, and related information.

GENERAL INFORMATION, INSTRUCTIONS, AND DEFINITIONS

GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.--These investigations were instituted in response to a petition filed on September 19,
2007 by Appleton Papers, Inc., Appleton, WI. Countervailing and antidumping duties may be
assessed on the subject imports as a result of these investigations if the Commission makes
affirmative determinations of injury, threat, or material retardation, and if the U.S. Department of
Commerce makes affirmative determinations of subsidization and/or dumping.
Questionnaires and other information pertinent to these investigations are available at
http://www.usitc.gov/trade_remedy/731_ad_701_cvd/investigations/active/index.htm.
Address all correspondence to the United States International Trade Commission, Washington,
DC 20436. Hearing-impaired individuals can obtain information regarding these investigations
via the Commission=s TDD terminal (202-205-1810).
Due date of questionnaire(s).--Return the completed questionnaire(s) to the United States
International Trade Commission by no later than August 15, 2008. Use of an overnight mail
service may be necessary to ensure that your response (in hard copy or on CD) actually reaches the
Commission by August 15, 2008. Please make sure the completed questionnaire is sent to the
attention of Christopher Cassise. Return only one copy of the completed questionnaire(s), but
please keep a copy for your records so that you can refer to it if the Commission staff
contacts you with any questions during the course of the investigations.
Service of questionnaire response(s).--In the event that your firm is a party to these investigations,
you are required to serve a copy of the questionnaire(s), once completed, on parties to the
proceeding that are subject to administrative protective order (see 19 CFR ' 207.7). A list of such
parties is maintained by the Commission=s Secretary and may be obtained by calling
202-205-1803. A certificate of service must accompany the copy of the completed questionnaire(s)
you submit (see 19 CFR ' 207.7).
Confidentiality.--The commercial and financial data furnished in response to the enclosed
questionnaire(s) 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, nonnumerical 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 the enclosed questionnaire(s) is subject to audit
and verification by the Commission. To facilitate possible verification of data, please keep
all your workpapers and supporting documents used in the preparation of the questionnaire
response(s).

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GENERAL INFORMATION, INSTRUCTIONS, AND DEFINITIONS--Continued

GENERAL INFORMATION--Continued
Release of information.--The information provided by your firm in response to the
questionnaire(s), as well as any other business proprietary information submitted by your firm to
the Commission in connection with the investigations, 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 these investigations or other import-injury investigations
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.
INSTRUCTIONS
Answer all questions.--Do not leave any question or section blank unless a questionnaire
expressly directs you to skip over certain questions or sections. If the answer to any question is
Anone,@ write Anone.@ If information is not readily available from your records in exactly the
form requested, furnish carefully prepared estimates--designated as such by the letter
AE@--and explain the basis of your estimates. Answers to questions and any necessary
comments or explanations should be supplied in the space provided or on separate sheets attached
to the appropriate page of the questionnaire(s). If your firm is completing more than one
questionnaire in connection with these investigations (i.e., a producer, importer, and/or purchaser
questionnaire), you need not respond to duplicated questions in the questionnaires.
Consolidate all U.S. establishments.--Report the requested data for your establishment(s) located
in the United States. Firms operating more than one establishment should combine the data
for all establishments into a single report.

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GENERAL INFORMATION, INSTRUCTIONS, AND DEFINITIONS--Continued
Filing instructions.—Questionnaires may be filed either in paper form or electronically.
OPTIONS FOR FILING IN PAPER FORM
• Overnight mail service.—Mail to the following address:
United States International Trade Commission
Office of Investigations, Room 615
500 E Street, SW
Washington, DC 20436
• Fax.—Fax to 202.205.3205.
• U.S. mail.—Mail to the address above. This option is not recommended. U.S. mail sent to
government offices undergoes additional processing to screen for hazardous materials; this
additional processing results in substantial delays in delivery.
OPTIONS FOR FILING ELECTRONICALLY
This questionnaire is available in “fillable” MS Word form format on the Commission’s website
at http://www.usitc.gov/trade_remedy/731_ad_701_cvd/investigations/active/index.htm.
You may complete the questionnaire electronically, print it out, and submit it in paper form
as described above, or you may submit it electronically through one of the following
means:
• Compact disc (CD).—Copy your questionnaire onto a CD, include a signed certification page
(page 1) (either in paper form or scanned PDF copied onto CD), and mail to the address above. It
is strongly recommended that you use an overnight mail service. U.S. mail sent to government
offices undergoes additional processing which not only results in substantial delays in delivery but
may also damage CDs.
• E-mail.—E-mail your questionnaire to the investigator identified on page 1 of the Instruction
Booklet. Please note that submitting your questionnaire by e-mail may subject your firm’s
business proprietary information to transmission over an unsecure environment and to possible
disclosure. If you choose this option, the Commission warns you that any risk involving possible
disclosure of such information is assumed by the submitter and not by the Commission.
Note: If you choose to submit this questionnaire electronically, please also include
a scanned PDF of the signed certification page (page 1). Your questionnaire will
not be accepted into the record without a signed certification page. In addition, if
service of the questionnaire is required, such service should be made in paper form.

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GENERAL INFORMATION, INSTRUCTIONS, AND DEFINITIONS--Continued

DEFINITIONS--Continued
Certain lightweight thermal paper (“certain LW thermal paper”).--Thermal paper with
a basis weight of 70 grams per square meter (“g/m2”) (with a tolerance of + 4.0 g/m2) or
less; irrespective of dimensions;1 with or without a base coat2 on one or both sides; with
thermal active coating(s)3 on one or both sides that is a mixture of the dye and the
developer that react and form an image when heat is applied; with or without a top coat;4
and without an adhesive backing. Certain lightweight thermal paper is typically (but not
exclusively) used in point-of-sale applications such as ATM receipts, credit card receipts,
gas pump receipts, and retail store receipts.
The merchandise subject to these investigations is imported under Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (“HTSUS”) statistical reporting numbers 4811.90.8040 and
4811.90.9090. Although HTSUS numbers are provided for convenience and customs
purposes, the written description of the scope of these investigations is dispositive.
Other thermal paper.—Thermal paper not included in the definition of certain LW
thermal paper (as defined above).
LW thermal paper with a basis weight of 48 g/m2.—Thermal paper, with a target caliper
of less than 2.2 mils (less than 55.9 microns), with a target basis weight of up to 50 g/m2,
not top coated, black image color, not printed, standard sensitivity.
LW thermal paper with a basis weight of 55 g/m2.—Thermal paper, with a target caliper
of 2.2 to 2.5 mils (55.9 to 63.5 microns), with a target basis weight of greater than 50 g/m2
and up to 60 g/m2, not top coated, black image color, not printed, standard sensitivity.

1

Certain LW thermal paper is typically produced in jumbo rolls that are slit to the specifications of the
converting equipment and then converted into finished slit rolls. Both jumbo rolls and converted rolls (as well as
certain LW thermal paper in any other forms, presentations, or dimensions) are covered by the scope of these
investigations.
2

A base coat, when applied, is typically made of clay and/or latex and like materials and is intended to cover
the rough surface of the paper substrate and to provide insulating value.
3

A thermal active coating is typically made of sensitizer, dye, and co-reactant.

4

A top coat, when applied, is typically made of polyvinyl acetone, polyvinyl alcohol, and/or like materials
and is intended to provide environmental protection, an improved surface for press printing, and/or wear protection for
the thermal print head.

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GENERAL INFORMATION, INSTRUCTIONS, AND DEFINITIONS--Continued

DEFINITIONS--Continued
Jumbo roll.—A roll of LW thermal paper that measures over 12 inches in width.
Slit roll.—A roll of LW thermal paper that measures less than 12 inches in width.
Coaters.–Firms that conduct blending and coating operations on uncoated paper (whether
internally produced or purchased) in the production of jumbo rolls of certain lightweight thermal
paper. Coaters may or may not conduct slitting and packaging operations in the United States. For
purposes of these investigations, those firms that conduct slitting and packaging operations in the
United States on jumbo rolls purchased or imported are considered U.S. converters.
Converters.–Firms that conduct slitting and packaging operations on jumbo rolls which they
purchase or import.
Firm.--An individual proprietorship, partnership, joint venture, association, corporation
(including any subsidiary corporation), business trust, cooperative, trustee in bankruptcy, or
receiver under decree of any court.
Related firm.--A firm that your firm solely or jointly owned, managed, or otherwise controlled; a
firm that solely or jointly owned, managed, or otherwise controlled your firm; and/or a firm that
was solely or jointly owned, managed, or otherwise controlled by a firm that also solely or jointly
owned, managed, or otherwise controlled your firm.
Establishment.--Each facility of a firm in the United States involved in the production,
importation, and/or purchase of certain lightweight thermal paper (as defined above), including
auxiliary facilities operated in conjunction with (whether or not physically separate from) such
facilities.
United States.--For purposes of these investigations, the 50 States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin
Islands, and the District of Columbia.
Importer.--Any person or firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or subsidiary,
in importing certain lightweight thermal paper (as defined above) into the United States from a
foreign manufacturer or through its selling agent.
Imports.--Those products identified for Customs purposes as imports for consumption for which
your firm was the importer of record (i.e., was responsible for paying any import duty) or
consignee (i.e., to which the merchandise was first delivered).
Import quantities.--Quantities reported should be net of returns.

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GENERAL INFORMATION, INSTRUCTIONS, AND DEFINITIONS--Continued

DEFINITIONS--Continued
Import values.--Values reported should be landed, duty-paid values at the U.S. port of
entry, including ocean freight and insurance costs, brokerage charges, and import duties (i.e., all
charges except inland freight in the United States).
Purchaser.--Any person or firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or
subsidiary, in purchasing certain lightweight thermal paper (as defined above) from another firm
that produces, imports, or otherwise distributes certain lightweight thermal paper. A retail firm
that is the importer of record may be considered a purchaser.
Purchases.--Purchases from all sources, NOT including direct imports from foreign producers
(which should be reported in an importer questionnaire).
Purchase quantities.--Quantities reported should be net of returns.
Purchase values.--Values reported should be net values (i.e., gross purchase values less all
discounts, allowances, rebates, and the value of returned goods), delivered to your U.S.
receiving point.
Shipments.--Shipments of products produced in or imported by your U.S. establishment(s).
Include shipments to the contracting firm of product produced by your firm under a toll agreement.
Shipment quantities.--Quantities reported should be net of returns.
Shipment values.--Values reported should be 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. The value of domestic shipments to the contracting firm
under a toll agreement is the conversion fee (including profit).
Types of shipments:
U.S. shipments.--Commercial shipments, internal consumption, and transfers to related
firms within the United States.
Commercial shipments.--Shipments, other than internal consumption and transfers
to related firms, within the United States.
Internal consumption.--Product consumed internally by your firm.
Transfers to related firms.--Shipments made to related domestic firms.

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GENERAL INFORMATION, INSTRUCTIONS, AND DEFINITIONS--Continued

DEFINITIONS--Continued
Export shipments.--Shipments to destinations outside the United States, including
shipments to related firms.
Inventories.--Finished goods inventory, not raw materials or work-in-progress.
Average production capacity.--The level of production that your establishment(s) could
reasonably have expected to attain during the specified periods. 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).
Toll agreement.--Agreement between two firms whereby the first firm furnishes the raw materials
and the second firm uses the raw materials to produce a product that it then returns to the first firm
with a charge for processing costs, overhead, etc.
Production.--All production in your U.S. establishment(s), including production consumed
internally within your firm and production for another firm under a toll agreement.
PRWs.--Production and related workers, including working supervisors and all nonsupervisory
workers (including group leaders and trainees) engaged in fabricating, processing, assembling,
inspecting, receiving, storage, handling, packing, warehousing, shipping, trucking, hauling,
maintenance, repair, janitorial and guard services, product development, auxiliary production for
plant=s own use (e.g., power plant), recordkeeping, and other services closely associated with the
above production operations.
Average number employed.--Add the number of employees, both full-time and part-time, for the
12 pay periods ending closest to the 15th of the month and divide that total by 12. For the
January-June periods, calculate similarly and divide by 6.
Hours worked.--Include time paid for sick leave, holidays, and vacation time. Include overtime
hours actually worked; do not convert overtime pay to its equivalent in straight-time hours.
Wages paid.--Total wages paid before deductions of any kind (e.g., withholding taxes, old-age and
unemployment insurance, group insurance, union dues, bonds, etc.). Include wages paid directly
by your firm for overtime, holidays, vacations, and sick leave.
Fiscal year.--The 12-month period between settlement of your firm=s financial accounts.

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