Silica Bricks and Shapes from China, Inv. No. 731-1205 (P)

INSTRUCTION BOOKLET

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

SILICA BRICKS AND SHAPES FROM CHINA
Investigation No. 731-TA-1205 (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):
Mary Messer, investigator (202-205-3193; Email [email protected])

GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.--This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on November 15,
2012, by Utah Refractories Corp., Lehi, UT. 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 dumping.
Questionnaires and other information pertinent to this proceeding are available at
http://www.usitc.gov/trade_remedy/731_ad_701_cvd/investigations/2012/silica_bricks/prelimph
ase.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).--Please submit the completed questionnaire(s) to the United States
International Trade Commission so as to be received by no later than November 28, 2012.
Because Commission staff might contact you with questions during the course of the proceeding,
save the final version of the document(s) and retain all files and worksheets associated with the
completed questionnaire(s). Please also retain a copy of any paper original document that you
submit.
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.
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 of your files, worksheets, and supporting documents used in the preparation of the
questionnaire response(s).

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 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. 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.
Electronic completion.--Your firm is encouraged to complete the questionnaire electronically in
MS Word format. The MS Word versions of all the questionnaires in this proceeding are available
online at the ITC web page or may be obtained directly from the Commission’s Investigator, Mary
Messer ([email protected]).
Electronic submission.--To the degree that it is possible and not overly burdensome, the
Commission requests that responding firms submit their questionnaire responses electronically in
MS Word format. The submission of questionnaire responses in the MS Word format allows the
Commission to compile, assess, and analyze submitted data more promptly. There are three
electronic submissions options detailed below. Paper submissions are also accepted.

INSTRUCTIONS--Continued
OPTIONS FOR FILING
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/2012/silica_b
ricks/prelimphase.htm. DO NOT attempt to modify the format or permissions of
the questionnaire document. You may complete the questionnaire and submit it,
electronically, or you may print it out and submit it in paper form, as described
below:
• 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: BRICK

• 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. 731-TA-1205 (Preliminary). 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.
• Fax.—Fax to 202.205.3205.
• Overnight mail service.—Mail to the following address:
United States International Trade Commission
Office of Investigations, Room 615-E
500 E Street SW
Washington, DC 20024
• 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.
Note: If you are a party to the proceeding, and service of the questionnaire is required, such
service should be made in paper form.

DEFINITIONS
Silica bricks and shapes.—Objects, such as bricks and other shapes, containing at least 90 percent
silica, also known as silicon dioxide (“SiO2”), regardless of the other materials in the bricks or
shapes, as covered by statistical reporting number 6902.20.1020 of the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (“HTS”). The major applications for the subject silica bricks and
shapes are for coke ovens and glass furnace crowns. Other applications include, but are not
limited to, glass tank walls, acid practice electric furnaces, tunnel kilns and regenerators.
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 silica bricks and
shapes (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 silica bricks and shapes (as defined above) into the United States from a foreign
manufacturer or through its selling agent.
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.

DEFINITIONS--Continued
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.