Frontseating Service Valves from China (F)

INSTRUCTION BOOKLET
GENERAL INFORMATION, INSTRUCTIONS, AND
DEFINITIONS FOR COMMISSION QUESTIONNAIRES

Frontseating Service Valves from China
Investigation No. 731-TA-1148 (Final)

Further information.--If you have any questions concerning the enclosed
questionnaire(s) or other matters related to this investigation, you may contact
the following members of the Commission=s staff (Fax 202-205-3205):
Edward Petronzio, investigator (202-205-3176; E-mail [email protected])
regarding general questions and trade and related information;
Charles Yost, auditor (202-205-3432; 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
Background.--This investigation was instituted in response to a petition filed on March 19, 2008
by Parker-Hannifin Corporation, Cleveland, OH. Antidumping duties may be assessed on the
subject imports as a result of this investigation if the Commission makes an affirmative
determination of injury, threat, or material retardation, and if the U.S. Department of Commerce
makes an affirmative determination of dumping.
Questionnaires and other information pertinent to this investigation are available at
http://www.usitc.gov/trade_remedy/731_ad_701_cvd/investigations/2008/service_valves/finalph
ase.htm Address all correspondence to the United States International Trade Commission,
Washington, DC 20436. Hearing-impaired individuals can obtain information regarding this
investigation 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 January 8, 2009. Although the enclosed postpaid
envelope may be used to return the completed questionnaire, use of an overnight mail service may
be necessary to ensure that your response actually reaches the Commission by January 8, 2009. If
you do not use the enclosed envelope, please make sure the completed questionnaire is sent to the
attention of Edward Petronzio, Investigator. 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 investigation.
Service of questionnaire response(s).--In the event that your firm is a party to this investigation,
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
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--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 investigation, may become subject to, and released under,
the administrative protective order provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. ' 1677f) and
section 207.7 of the Commission=s Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR ' 207.7). This means
that certain lawyers and other authorized individuals may temporarily be given access to the
information for use in connection with this investigation 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 this investigation (i.e., a producer and/or importer 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.
Filing instructions.—Questionnaires may be filed either in paper form or electronically.

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INSTRUCTIONS--Continued
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 20024
• Fax.—Fax to 202.205.3205.
• U.S. mail.—Mail to the address above, but use zip code 20436. 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 as a “fillable” form in MS Word format on the
Commission’s website at
http://www.usitc.gov/trade_remedy/731_ad_701_cvd/investigations/2008/service
_valves/finalphase.htm Please do not attempt to modify the format or
permissions of the questionnaire document. 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:
• By means of the Commission’s Electronic Document Information System (EDIS).—Follow
the step-by-step instructions on the next page.
• 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; include a scanned PDF of the signed certification page (page 1). Type the following in
the e-mail subject line: BPI Questionnaire, INV. NO. 1148. 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.

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INSTRUCTIONS--Continued
Note: If you are a party to the investigation, and service of the questionnaire is required, such
service should be made in paper form.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR VOLUNTARY FILING VIA EDIS
STEP 1: REGISTER AS A NEW USER IN EDIS (current registered users may skip this step)
• The authorized official whose name appears under the Certification at the bottom of page
1 of the questionnaire should be the person who completes the registration in EDIS
• Go to https://eofpub.usitc.gov/edis-efile/app
• Click on Register
• Read and accept the Terms of Use Agreement
• Complete the EDIS Online User Registration form
o In the Firm/Organization field, select Questionnaire Respondent
• Click Submit Registration
STEP 2: ELECTRONICALLY SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE(S) IN EDIS
• Click on E-File Documents
• Under Submitter Information, type the name of your firm in the Filed On Behalf Of
field
• Under Investigation Information, click on Find Investigation
o For Investigation Phase, select “Final” and for Investigation Number, type
“731-1148”; Click on Find Investigation
o Click in the circle to the left of the investigation number that appears, then click on
Select and confirm by clicking OK
• Under Document Filing Information—
o For Document Type, select Questionnaire – Foreign Producer, Questionnaire
– Importer, or Questionnaire – U.S. Producer, as appropriate
o Leave Document Title field blank
• Under Add Document Attachments for Electronic Submission—
o In the Attach File field, click on Browse, locate your MS Word questionnaire file,
and double-click the file
o The Attachment Title field is optional
o Click on Attach Files (note that your file will be listed below under Attachments)
o You must attach a scanned PDF of the signed certification page (page 1). If you
wish to attach any other files, i.e., supporting documents, do so at this time (unlike
the questionnaire itself, these additional documents must be PDFs). Only one
questionnaire may be filed at a time.
o When you have attached all relevant files, click on Submit Document
w/attachments. An EDIS Document Submission Confirmation screen will
appear. Confirm the information and click on Accept Information. An EDIS
Notice of Receipt of Electronic Documents will appear, which completes the
process. If you wish to electronically file another questionnaire, repeat Step 2.
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DEFINITIONS
Frontseating Service Valves.—The merchandise covered by this investigation consists of
frontseating service valves (“FSVs”), assembled or unassembled, complete or incomplete, and
certain parts thereof. FSVs are service valves used to isolate sections of an air-conditioning or
refrigeration system during installation and servicing, and to permit technicians to provide
refrigerant charging and evacuating capabilities. FSVs contain a sealing surface on the front side
of the valve stem that allows the indoor unit or outdoor unit to be isolated from the refrigerant
stream when the air conditioning or refrigeration unit is being serviced. FSVs rely on an elastomer
seal when the stem cap is removed for servicing and the stem cap metal to metal seat to create this
seal to the atmosphere during normal operation. (1)
The term “unassembled” FSV means a brazed subassembly requiring any one or more of
the following processes: the insertion of a valve core pin, the insertion of a valve stem and/or O
ring, the application or installation of a stem cap, charge port cap, or tube dust cap. The term
“complete” FSV means a product sold ready for installation into an air conditioning or
refrigeration unit. The term “incomplete” FSV means a product that when sold is in multiple
pieces, sections, subassemblies, or components and is incapable of being installed into an air
conditioning or refrigeration unit as a single, unified valve without further assembly.
The major parts or components of FSVs intended to be covered by the scope under the term
“certain parts thereof” are any brazed subassembly consisting of any two or more of the following
components: a valve body, field connection tube, factory connection tube, or valve charge port.
The valve body is a rectangular block, or brass forging, machined to be hollow in the interior, with
a generally square shaped seat (bottom of body). The field connection tube and factory connection
tube consist of copper or other metallic tubing, cut to length, shaped and brazed to the valve body
in order to create two ports, the factory connection tube and the field connection tube, each on
opposite sides of the valve assembly body. The valve charge port is a service port via which a hose
connection can be used to charge or evacuate the refrigerant medium or to monitor the system
pressure for diagnostic purposes.
The scope of the investigation includes FSVs of any size, configuration, material
composition, or connection type.
FSVs are classified under subheading 8481.80.10 (statistical reporting number
8481.80.1095), and also have been classified under subheading 8415.90.80 (statistical reporting
number 8415.90.8085), of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (“HTSUS”). It is
possible for FSVs to be manufactured out of primary materials other than copper and brass, in
which case they would be classified under HTSUS subheadings 8481.80.30 (statistical reporting
numbers 8481.80.3040 or 8481.80.3090) or 8481.80.50 (statistical reporting number
8481.80.5090). In addition, if unassembled or incomplete FSVs are imported, the various parts or
components would be classified under HTSUS subheadings 8481.90.10, 8481.90.30, or
8481.90.50. The HTSUS numbers are provided for convenience and customs purposes, but the
written description of the scope is dispositive.

(1) The FSV differs from a backseating service valve in that a backseating service valve has two sealing surfaces
on the valve stem. This difference typically incorporates a valve stem on a backseating service valve to be machined
of steel, where an FSV has a brass stem. The backseating service valve dual stem seal (on the back side of the stem)
creates a metal to metal seal when the valve is in the open position, thus, sealing the stem from the atmosphere.

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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 (as defined above), including auxiliary facilities operated in
conjunction with (whether or not physically separate from) such facilities.
United States.--For purposes of this investigation, 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 FSVs (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.
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 FSVs (as defined above) from another firm that produces, imports, or
otherwise distributes FSVs. A retail firm that is the importer of record may be considered a
purchaser.
Original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”).--A person or firm engaged in the production of
equipment using FSVs.
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.
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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.
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.
The following definitions apply only to the PRODUCER QUESTIONNAIRE.
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
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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-September periods, calculate similarly and divide by 9.
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.
Purchases other than direct imports.--Purchases from U.S. producers, U.S. importers, and other
U.S. sources.

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