High-pressure steel cylinders

INSTRUCTION BOOKLET

GENERAL INFORMATION, INSTRUCTIONS, AND
DEFINITIONS FOR COMMISSION FOREIGN
PRODUCER/EXPORTER QUESTIONNAIRES

High Pressure Steel Cylinders from China
Investigation Nos. 701-TA-480 and 731-TA-1188 (Preliminary)

Further information.--If you have any questions concerning the enclosed
questionnaire(s) or other matters related to this proceeding, you may contact
the following member of the Commission=s staff (Fax 202-205-3205):
Edward Petronzio, investigator (202-205-3176; E-mail [email protected])

GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.--This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on May 11, 2011 by
Norris Cylinder Company, Longview, Texas. Countervailing and/or antidumping duties may be
assessed on the subject imports as a result of this proceeding 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 subsidization and/or dumping.
Questionnaires and other information pertinent to this proceeding are available at
http://www.usitc.gov/trade_remedy/731_ad_701_cvd/investigations/2011/high_pressure_steel_c
ylinders/prelimphase.htm. Address all correspondence to the United States International Trade
Commission, Washington, DC 20436. Hearing-impaired individuals can obtain information
regarding this proceeding 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 May 25, 2011. 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 May 25, 2011. 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 this proceeding.
Service of questionnaire response(s).--In the event that your firm is a party to this proceeding,
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.

2

GENERAL INFORMATION--Continued
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).
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 proceeding, 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 proceeding or other import-injury proceedings
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 proceeding (i.e., a producer, importer, purchaser, and/or
foreign producer questionnaire), you need not respond to duplicated questions in the
questionnaires.
Consolidate all establishments in China.--Report the requested data for your establishment(s)
located in China. 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.

3

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/2011/hig
h_pressure_steel_cylinders/prelimphase.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:
• 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.
• Upload via Secure Drop Box.—Upload the completed questionnaire in MS Word format along with a
scanned copy of the signed certification page (page 1) through the Commission’s secure upload facility:
Web address: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/

Pin: OINV

• 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. 1188. 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 are a party to the proceeding, and service of the questionnaire is required, such service should
be made in paper form.

4

DEFINITIONS
High pressure steel cylinders--, Seamless steel cylinders designed to store and secure gases at
high pressure during transport (“high pressure steel cylinders”). High pressure steel cylinders are
fabricated of chrome alloy steel including, without limitation, chromium-molybdenum steel or
chromium magnesium steel, and marked with the symbol of a U.S. Department of Transportation,
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (“DOT”)-approved high pressure steel
cylinder manufacturer, as well as with an approved DOT type marking of DOT 3A, 3AX, 3AA,
3AAX, 3B, 3E, 3HT, 3T, or DOT-3 (followed by a specific exemption number). High pressure
steel cylinders covered by these investigations have a water capacity up to 450 liters, and a gas
capacity ranging from 8 to 702 cubic feet, regardless of corresponding service pressure levels and
regardless of physical dimensions, finish, or coatings.
Excluded are high pressure steel cylinders manufactured to UN-ISO-9809-1 & 2 specifications
and marked with ISO or UN symbols. Also excluded from these investigations are acetylene
cylinders, with or without internal porous mass, and marked 8A or 8AL in accordance with DOT
regulations.
Merchandise covered by these investigations is classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of
the United States (“HTSUS”) under the statistical reporting number 7311.00.0030. Subject
merchandise may also enter under statistical reporting number 7311.00.0090. Although the
HTSUS subheading is provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of
the merchandise under these investigations is dispositive.
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 China involved in the production of high pressure steel
cylinders (as defined above), including auxiliary facilities operated in conjunction with (whether
or not physically separate from) such facilities.
United States.--For purposes of this proceeding, 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 high pressure steel cylinders (as defined above) into the United States from a foreign
manufacturer or through its selling agent.

5

DEFINITIONS--Continued
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).
Production.--All production in your establishment(s) in China, including production consumed
internally within your firm.
Shipments.--Shipments of products produced in your establishment(s) in China. Quantities
reported should be net of returns.
Home market commercial shipments.--Shipments, other than internal consumption and
transfers to related firms, within China.
Home market internal consumption/transfers to related firms.--Shipments made to
related firms in China, including product consumed internally by your firm.
Export shipments.--Shipments to destinations outside China, including shipments to
related firms.
Inventories.--Finished goods inventory, not raw materials or work-in-progress.

6