12-3-2997 Purchaser Questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 12-3-2989; Expiration Date: 6/30/2014
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
GALVANIZED STEEL WIRE FROM CHINA AND MEXICO

This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than January 30, 2012
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 duty and antidumping investigations concerning galvanized steel wire from China and
Mexico (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-479 and 731-TA-1183-1184 (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 James Fetzer (202-708-5403,
[email protected]).

Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

World Wide Web address
Has your firm purchased galvanized steel wire (as defined in the instruction booklet) from any source (domestic
or foreign) at any time since January 1, 2009?

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 proceedings 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
proceedings 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

Phone:
Signature

E-mail address
Fax

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Galvanized Steel Wire

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.

OMB statistics.--Please report 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.

OMB feedback.--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.

Establishments covered.--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.

Ownership.--Is your firm owned, in whole or in part, by any other firm?

I-4.

No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

Address

Extent of
ownership

Related SUBJECT importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either
domestic or foreign, which are engaged in importing galvanized steel wire from China and
Mexico into the United States or which are engaged in exporting galvanized steel wire from
China and Mexico to the United States?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

Address

Affiliation

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Galvanized Steel Wire

Page 3

PART I.--GENERAL INFORMATION--Continued
I-5.

Related NONSUBJECT importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either
domestic or foreign, which are engaged in importing galvanized steel wire from countries other
than China and Mexico into the United States or which are engaged in exporting galvanized steel
wire from countries other than China and Mexico to the United States?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name and country

I-6.

Address

Affiliation

Related producers.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, which
are engaged in the production of galvanized steel wire?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

Address

Affiliation

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Galvanized Steel Wire

Page 4

PART II.--PURCHASES
Contact information.--Please identify the individual that Commission staff may contact regarding the
confidential information submitted in parts II to IV.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
Fax

II-1.

Purchases.--Report, as indicated below, your firm’s purchases (either directly or through a sales
agent or broker) of galvanized steel wire. Report based on delivery date, not order date.

Quantity (in short tons) and value (in $1,000)
Item
2009
2010
Purchases of galvanized steel wire
produced in-The United States:
Quantity
Value
China:
Quantity
Value
Mexico:
Quantity
Value
Canada:
Quantity
Value
All other countries:1
Quantity
Value
1
Please identify these countries:

2011

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Galvanized Steel Wire

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PART II.--PURCHASES--Continued
II-2.

Changes in purchasing patterns.—Please indicate how the relative levels of your firm’s
purchases of galvanized steel wire from different sources have changed since 2009.

Source of Did not
purchases purchase Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated Explanation for trend
United
States

China

Mexico

Canada

All other
countries

II-3.

Purchases from one country only.--If your firm has purchased galvanized steel wire from only
one country, please explain the reasons for doing so.

II-4.

Supplier identification.--Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers for galvanized steel wire
since 2009. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s total purchases of galvanized
steel wire that each of these suppliers accounted for in 2011.

No.

Supplier’s name

City and state

Share of quantity of
2011 purchases

1

%

2

%

3

%

4

%

5

%

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Galvanized Steel Wire

Page 6

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

Firm type.--Which of the following describes your firm as a purchaser of galvanized steel wire
(check all that apply)?
End user
Distributor
Other (Describe:

III-2.

)

Competition for sales.--If you are a distributor or reseller of galvanized steel wire, do you
compete for sales to your customers with the manufacturers or importers from which you
purchase galvanized steel wire?
No

Yes--Please describe.

III-3.

Types of customers.--If your firm is a distributor or reseller of galvanized steel wire, what are the
major types of consumers to which you sell galvanized steel wire?

III-4.

End uses.--If your firm is an end user of galvanized steel wire, list in order of quantity of
galvanized steel wire consumed, the top 3 products for which your firm purchases galvanized
steel wire as a component part or input. Please indicate what percentage of the total cost is
accounted for by galvanized steel wire and other inputs.
Share of total cost in each of the product(s)
you produce accounted for by

Product(s) you produce

Galvanized steel wire
(percent)

Other inputs
(percent)

Total

1.

%

%

100%

2.

%

%

100%

3.

%

%

100%

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Galvanized Steel Wire

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-5.

Demand for end use products.-(a) If your firm is an end user of galvanized steel wire, has the demand for your firm’s final
products incorporating galvanized steel wire changed since 2009?
Increased

(b)

Substitute

2.
3.

Fluctuated

Yes--Please describe.

Substitutes.--Can other products be substituted for galvanized steel wire?
No

1.

Decreased

Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for galvanized steel wire?
No

III-6.

No change

Yes--Please fill out the table below.

End use in which this
substitute is used

Have changes in the prices of this substitute
affected the price for galvanized steel wire?
No Yes

Explanation

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Galvanized Steel Wire

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-7.

Demand trends.-- Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United States
(if known) for galvanized steel wire has changed since January 1, 2009. Describe the principal
factors that have affected these changes in demand.

Market

No
Increase change Decrease Fluctuate

Factors

Within
the United
States
Outside
the United
States

III-8.

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

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Galvanized Steel Wire

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-9.

Conditions of competition.-(a)

Is the galvanized steel wire market subject to business cycles or conditions of
competition other than the changes in the overall economy?
No

(b)

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

Have the business cycles or conditions of competition for galvanized steel wire changed
since 2009?
No

Yes--Please explain any such changes.

III-10. Decisions based on producer.--Does your firm, and to the extent that you know, do your
customers make purchasing decisions involving galvanized steel wire based on the producer of
the galvanized steel wire you purchase?

Always

Your firm
Your
customers

Usually

Sometimes

Never

If at least sometimes, discuss
how your firm/customers
determine the producer and why
this information is important

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Galvanized Steel Wire

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-11. Decisions based on country-of-origin.--Does your firm, and to the extent that you know, do
your customers make purchasing decisions involving galvanized steel wire based on the country
of origin of the galvanized steel wire you purchase?

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

If at least sometimes, discuss
how your firm/customers
determine the source and why
this information is important

Your firm
Your
customers

III-12. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

How frequently do you make purchases of galvanized steel wire (check one)?
Daily

(b)

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Annually

Other

If other, specify

Have you made significant changes in your purchasing patterns (e.g., frequency) since
2009?
No
Yes—Please describe.

III-13. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers do you generally contact before making a
purchase of galvanized steel wire?
firms

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Galvanized Steel Wire

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-14. Supply constraints.--Has your firm been refused, declined, or unable to purchase galvanized
steel wire since January 1, 2009 (examples include suppliers 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 identify the specific products involved and the circumstances in
which you were not able to obtain the products.

III-15. Supplier negotiations.-(a)

Do purchases of galvanized steel wire usually involve negotiations between supplier and
purchaser?
No

(b)

Yes--Please describe these negotiations, noting whether purchasers
generally quote competing prices as part of the negotiation
process.

Does your firm tend to vary its purchases from a given supplier within a specified time
period based on the price offered for that period?
No

Yes--Specify the time period.

III-16. Change in suppliers.--Have you changed suppliers since 2009?
No

Yes--Please list the supplier(s), whether the firm was added or dropped, the
reasons for the change, and how frequently you change suppliers.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Galvanized Steel Wire

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-17. New suppliers.--Are you aware of any new suppliers of galvanized steel wire, either foreign or
domestic, that have entered the market since 2009?
No

Yes --Please identify the firms and indicate how you became aware of them.

III-18. Supplier qualification
(a) Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified to sell galvanized steel
wire to your firm?
No

Yes--

percent of purchases in 2011

Yes--all purchases

(b) Please provide a general description of the certification or qualification process. Briefly
describe the factors that you consider when qualifying a new supplier (e.g., quality of product,
reliability of supplier, etc.)

(c) How long does it take to qualify a new supplier?

days

III-19. Failure to certify.--Since 2009, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their attempts to
certify or qualify their galvanized steel wire 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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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Galvanized Steel Wire

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-20. Purchasing factors.--For the factors listed below, please rate each in terms of its importance in
your purchase decision for galvanized steel wire.
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 .................
Other (specify):
........
........
........

Somewhat
important

Not
important

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Galvanized Steel Wire

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-21. Major purchasing factors.--Please list, in order of their importance, the three major factors
generally considered by your firm in deciding from whom to purchase galvanized steel wire for
any one order (examples include availability, extension of credit, contracts, price, quality, range
of supplier’s product line, traditional supplier, etc.).
1.
2.
3.
Other factors or comments:

III-22. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of galvanized steel wire?

III-23. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the galvanized
steel wire that is offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

III-24. Price leaders.— 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 is not necessarily the lowest priced supplier.
Please list the names of any firms you considered price leaders in the galvanized steel wire
market since 2009. Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Galvanized Steel Wire

Page 15

PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS

IV-1.

Country knowledge.--Please indicate the countries of origin for galvanized steel wire for which
your firm has actual marketing/pricing knowledge.
United States
China
Mexico
Canada
Other countries (specify

)

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Galvanized Steel Wire

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PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
IV-2.

Interchangeability by country-pair.--Is galvanized steel wire produced in the United States and
in other countries interchangeable (i.e., can they physically be used in the same applications)?
Please indicate A, F, S, N, or 0 in the table below:
A = the products from a specified country-pair are always interchangeable
F = the products are frequently interchangeable
S = the products are sometimes interchangeable
N = the products are never interchangeable
0 = no familiarity with products from a specified country-pair
Country-pair

China

Mexico

Canada

Other countries

United States
China
Mexico
Canada

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

For any comparison between U.S.-produced product and product imported from China or
Mexico which is frequently, sometimes, or never interchangeable, please specifically identify
the types of products for which interchangeability is limited and explain the factors that limit or
preclude interchangeable use:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Galvanized Steel Wire

Page 17

PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
IV-3.

Factors other than price.--Are differences other than price (i.e., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between galvanized steel wire
produced in the United States and in other countries a significant factor in your firm’s purchases
of the products?
Please indicate A, F, S, N, or 0 in the table below:
A = such differences are always significant
F = such differences are frequently significant
S = such differences are sometimes significant
N = such differences are never significant
0 = no familiarity with products from a specified country-pair
Country-pair

China

Mexico

Canada

Other countries

United States
China
Mexico
Canada

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

For any comparison between U.S.-produced product and product imported from China or Mexico
which is always, frequently, or sometimes a significant factor in your firm’s purchases of
galvanized steel wire, please specifically identify the types of products for which there are
differences other than price and report the advantages or disadvantages imparted by such
factors.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Galvanized Steel Wire

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PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
IV-4. Country preferences.--Do you or your customers ever specifically order galvanized steel wire
from one country in particular over other possible sources of supply?
No

IV-5.

Availability of merchandise.--Are certain grades/types/sizes of galvanized steel wire available
from only a single source (domestic or foreign, including both subject and nonsubject countries)?
No

IV-6.

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 galvanized steel wire from
these countries is preferred over product from other countries (please
note the specific product in your response).

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

Choice of product not based on price.--If you purchased galvanized steel wire from one source
although a comparable product was 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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Galvanized Steel Wire

Page 19

PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
IV-7. Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how galvanized steel
wire produced in each country you identified in your response to the first question in Part IV compares
with galvanized steel wire produced in each of the other countries you identified (including the United
States and both subject and nonsubject foreign countries).

Inferior

Comparable

product from
United States
compared to
product from
Canada

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

product from
United States
compared to
product from
Mexico

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Quality

Superior

product from
United States
compared to
product from
China

Availability ...............................................
Delivery terms .........................................
Delivery time ...........................................
Discounts offered ....................................
Extension of credit...................................
Price1 .......................................................
Minimum quantity requirements ..............
Packaging ...............................................
Product consistency ................................
Quality meets industry standards............
Quality exceeds industry standards ........
Product range..........................................
Reliability of supply .................................
Technical support/service .......................
U.S. transportation costs1 .......................
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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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Galvanized Steel Wire

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PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
Continued.

Inferior

Comparable

product from
Mexico
compared to
product from
Canada

Superior

Inferior

product from
China
compared to
product from
Canada
Comparable

Inferior

Comparable

Quality

Superior

product from
China
compared to
product from
Mexico

Superior

IV-7.

Availability ...............................................
Delivery terms .........................................
Delivery time ...........................................
Discounts offered ....................................
Extension of credit...................................
Price1 .......................................................
Minimum quantity requirements ..............
Packaging ...............................................
Product consistency ................................
Quality meets industry standards............
Quality exceeds industry standards ........
Product range..........................................
Reliability of supply .................................
Technical support/service .......................
U.S. transportation costs1 .......................
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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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Galvanized Steel Wire

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PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
Continued.

Inferior

Comparable

product from
Mexico
compared to
product from
Other

Superior

Inferior

product from
China
compared to
product from
Other
Comparable

Inferior

Comparable

Quality

Superior

product from
United States
compared to
product from
Other

Superior

IV-7.

Availability ...............................................
Delivery terms .........................................
Delivery time ...........................................
Discounts offered ....................................
Extension of credit...................................
Price1 .......................................................
Minimum quantity requirements ..............
Packaging ...............................................
Product consistency ................................
Quality meets industry standards............
Quality exceeds industry standards ........
Product range..........................................
Reliability of supply .................................
Technical support/service .......................
U.S. transportation costs1 .......................
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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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Galvanized Steel Wire

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PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued

IV-8.

Minimum quality.--How often does galvanized steel wire from the following countries meet
minimum quality specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?
Source
United States
China
Mexico
Canada
Other:
Other:

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or
never

Don’t
know