13-4-3111 Foreign Producer Questionnaire

Information collections for import injury investigations (producers, importers, purchasers, and foreign producer questionnaires and institution notices for 5-year reviews)

Producer Q Foreign

Xanthan Gum from Austria and China, Inv. No. 731-1202-1203 (Final)

OMB: 3117-0016

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OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 13-4-3111; Expiration Date: 6/30/2014
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FOREIGN PRODUCERS’/EXPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
XANTHAN GUM FROM AUSTRIA AND CHINA

This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than March 26, 2013
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 antidumping investigations concerning xanthan gum from Austria and
China (inv. Nos. 731-TA-1202-03 (Final)). The information requested in the questionnaire is requested
under the authority of the Tariff Act of 1930, title VII.

Name of firm

_________________________________________________________________

Address
World Wide Web address
Has your firm produced or exported xanthan gum (as defined in the instruction booklet) at any time since January
1, 2010?

(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 means of 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

Email address
Fax:

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Xanthan Gum from Austria and China (731-TA-1202-03 (Final)) 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 20 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.

I-1b.

OMB statistics.--Please report below 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
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.

U.S. importers.--Please provide the names, street addresses (not P.O. boxes), contacts, telephone
numbers, and e-mail addresses of the FIVE largest U.S. importers of your firm’s xanthan gum in
2012.

Importer’s name

Contact person

Telephone

Street address (not P.O.
box), city, state, and zip
code

Street Address

,
City

State

Street Address

,
City

State

,
State

Zip Code

Street Address

,
City

Zip Code

Street Address
City

Zip Code

State

Zip Code

Street Address

,
City

State

Zip Code

Share of
your
2012
exports
(%)

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Xanthan Gum from Austria and China (731-TA-1202-03 (Final)) Page 3
PART I.--GENERAL INFORMATION--Continued
I-4.

Related U.S. producers.--Does your firm or any related firm produce, have the capability to
produce, or have any plans to produce xanthan gum in the United States or other countries?
No

I-5.

Yes--Please name the firm(s) and country(ies) below and, if U.S. producer(s),
ensure that they complete the Commission’s producer questionnaire
(contact Cynthia Trainor, 202-205-3354 (cynthia.trainor.usitc.gov)
for copies of that questionnaire).

Related U.S. importers.--Does your firm or any related firm import or have any plans to import
xanthan gum into the United States?
No

Yes--Please name the firm(s) below and ensure that they complete the
Commission’s importer questionnaire (contact Cynthia Trainor, 202205-3354 ([email protected]) for copies of that questionnaire).

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Xanthan Gum from Austria and China (731-TA-1202-03 (Final)) Page 4
PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Cynthia Trainor (202-2053354, [email protected]). Supply all data requested on a calendar-year basis.
II-1.

Contact information.-- Please identify the responsible individual and the manner by which
Commission staff may contact that individual regarding the confidential information submitted in
part II.
Name and title
Email
Telephone
Fax

II-2.

Changes in operations.--Please indicate whether your firm has experienced any of the following
changes in relation to the production of xanthan gum since January 1, 2010.
(check as many as appropriate)
plant openings ..........................

plant closings ............................

relocations ................................

expansions ................................

acquisitions ...............................

consolidations ...........................

prolonged shutdowns or
importation curtailments ................
revised labor agreements ..........

other (e.g., technology) ............

development of new xanthan gum
products..........................................

(please describe and provide date of change)

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Xanthan Gum from Austria and China (731-TA-1202-03 (Final)) Page 5
PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-3.

Anticipated changes in operations.--Does your firm anticipate any changes in the character of
your operations or organization (as noted above) relating to the production of xanthan gum in the
future?
No

II-4.

Yes–Supply details as to the time, nature, and significance of such changes
and provide underlying assumptions, along with relevant portions of
business plans or other supporting documentation that address this
issue. Include in your response a specific projection of your firm’s
capacity to produce xanthan gum (in 1,000 pounds) for 2013 and
2014.

Same equipment, machinery, and workers.--Has your firm since 2010 produced, or does your
firm anticipate producing in the future, other products on the same equipment and machinery
used in the production of xanthan gum?
No

Yes--List the following information and report your firm’s combined
production capacity and production of these products and xanthan gum
in the periods indicated.
Period

Product

Basis for allocation of capacity data

Xanthan gum

(Quantity in 1,000 pounds)
Item
Overall Production Capacity
Production of:
Xanthan gum
Other product 1:
Other product 2:

2010

2011

2012

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Xanthan Gum from Austria and China (731-TA-1202-03 (Final)) Page 6
PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-5.

Constraints on production.--Please describe the constraint(s) that set the limit(s) on your
production capacity.

II-6.

Production shifting.--Is your firm able to switch production between xanthan gum and other
products in response to a relative change in the price of xanthan gum vis-a-vis the price of other
products, using the same equipment and labor?
No

II-7.

Yes---Please identify the other products, the approximate time and cost
involved in switching, and the minimum relative price change required
for your firm to switch production to or from xanthan gum.

Share of sales.--What percentage of your firm’s total sales in its most recent fiscal year was
represented by sales of xanthan gum?
percent

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Xanthan Gum from Austria and China (731-TA-1202-03 (Final)) Page 7
PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-8.

Inventories in the United States.--Has your firm, since 2010, maintained any inventories of
xanthan gum in the United States (not including inventories held by firms identified in
question I-3)?
No

Yes--Report the quantity of such end-of-period inventories below.

(Quantity in 1,000 pounds)
Item

2010

2011

2012

Inventory

II-9.

Third country trade actions.--Is the xanthan gum exported by your firm subject to antidumping
findings, remedies, or proceedings?
No

Yes--List the products(s), countries affected, and the date of such
findings/remedies/proceedings.
Product

Country

Date

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Xanthan Gum from Austria and China (731-TA-1202-03 (Final)) Page 8
PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-10a. Report your firm’s production capacity, production, shipments, and inventories related to the
production of xanthan gum in your establishment(s) in Austria during the specified periods. (See
definitions in the instruction booklet.)

AUSTRIA
Quantity (in 1,000 pounds)
Projections1

Actual experience
Item

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Average production capacity2 (A)
Beginning-of-period inventories3 (B)
Production4 (C)
Home market shipments:
Internal consumption/transfers (D)
Commercial shipments (E)
Exports to the United States5 (F)
Exports to all other markets6 (G)
Total exports (H)
(should equal F+G)
Total shipments (I)
(should equal D+E+F+G)
End-of-period inventories (J)
1

Please explain the basis for your projections.

The production capacity (see definitions in instruction booklet) reported is based on operating
hours per week,
weeks per year. Please describe the methodology used to calculate production capacity, and explain any changes in reported
capacity.

Reconciliation of data.—The data should reconcile as follows: B + C - I = J. Do these data reconcile?

Yes

Also, end-of-period inventories should equal the beginning-of-period inventories reported in the subsequent calendar year (i.e.,
Yes
No
line J of year 2010 should equal line B of year 2011). Do these data reconcile?
If your data do not reconcile, please explain:
4

Please estimate the percentage of total production of xanthan gum in Austria accounted for by your firm’s production in
2012.
percent
5

Please estimate the percentage of total exports to the United States of xanthan gum from Austria accounted for by your
firm’s exports in 2012.
percent
6

Identify principal other export markets.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Xanthan Gum from Austria and China (731-TA-1202-03 (Final)) Page 9
PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
Definitions for home market shipment and exports to the United States shipment end use application
tables (II-10b and II-10c) are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Food & beverage
Pharmaceutical applications
Consumer applications
Industrial applications
Oilfield applications

Xanthan gum provides multiple forms of utility. Applications may benefit from xanthan gum’s ability to
suspend and stabilize dispersions of solids, immiscible fluids, and gases in aqueous systems. Practically
speaking, this would include solids in drilling fluids, immiscible fluids such as oils in personal care
products and salad dressings, and gases in fire-fighting foams. Xanthan gum also provides lubricity,
reducing friction in oilfield drilling applications as well as providing a particular type of skin feel to
lotions and cosmetics.
Food & beverage applications include products approved for use in food and beverage systems. Xanthan
gum is used in condiments (e.g., relish salad dressing, sauces), beverages (e.g., diet, low sugar, energy, or
instant powder drinks), syrups, baked goods, frozen meals, prepared foods, bakery products, such as
frozen dough, muffins, and gluten-free products. “Approved” refers to definitions and requirements as
put forth by multiple regulatory bodies as well as definitive and compendia standards, including:
1. Food Chemicals Codex (FCC)
2. Canadian Food and Drug Law
3. JECFA
4. Japan’s Specifications and Standards for Food Additives
These bodies and standards manifest requirements in terms of:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Microbiological plate counts
Organism types
Heavy metal levels
Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) and Ethanol residual levels
Basic requirements around color and appearance
Consistent and Characterized viscosity

Pharmaceutical end use applications include products such as antibiotics such as amoxicillin. These
products are designed to meet higher level purity standards as set forth in USP and NF monographs, and
international bodies such as the Japanese Pharmaceutical Excipients, and European Pharmacopeia.
Consumer end use applications include products intended for use in oral care (e.g., toothpaste), personal
care (e.g., suncare lotions and sprays).
Industrial applications include agricultural chemicals (e.g., sprayed onto leaves), fabric (e.g., stain
removal), home care (e.g., toilet bowl, surface, and oven cleaners), paints and coatings (e.g., pigment
suspension), and textiles. These products are regulated under the Toxic Substances Control Act
(“TSCA”), The European Community Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and
Restriction of Chemicals (“REACH”), etc.
Oilfield applications include products used in drilling fluid and other applications for the extraction of
oil and gas. These products meet the requirements contained in ISO 13500 and American Petroleum
Institute (“API”) standards.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Xanthan Gum from Austria and China (731-TA-1202-03 (Final)) Page 10
PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-10b. Home market shipments by end use.--Report your firm’s home market shipments (commercial
shipments and internal consumption and transfers of xanthan gum), by major end use.

AUSTRIA
Quantity (in 1,000 pounds), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
2010
2011

Item
FOOD & BEVERAGE:1
Quantity
Value
PHARMACEUTICAL APPLICATIONS:1
Quantity
Value
CONSUMER APPLICATIONS:1
Quantity
Value
INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS:1
Quantity
Value
OILFIELD APPLICATIONS:1
Quantity
Value
ALL OTHER:2
Quantity
Value
TOTAL U.S. SHIPMENTS:3
Quantity
Value

2012

Please indicate the ranges of xanthan gum purity for reported home market shipments during 2012 as
follows:
Purity
(percent)
Food & beverage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _____________
Pharmaceutical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _____________
Consumer applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . _____________
Industrial applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _____________
Oilfield applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _____________
Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _____________
2

Please describe: __________________________________________________________________

Home market shipment data (food & beverage + pharmaceutical + consumer applications +
Industrial applications + oilfield applications + all other) should reconcile with total home market
shipment data reported in section II-10a.
Definitions for the above-specified home market shipment end use applications appear on page 9.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Xanthan Gum from Austria and China (731-TA-1202-03 (Final)) Page 11
PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-10c. Export shipments to the United States from Austria by end use.--Report your firm’s export
shipments from Austria to the United States of xanthan gum, by major end use.

AUSTRIA
Quantity (in 1,000 pounds), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
2010
2011

2012

Please indicate the ranges of xanthan gum purity for reported export shipments to the United States
from Austria during 2012 as follows:
Purity
(percent)
Food & beverage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _____________
Pharmaceutical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _____________
Consumer applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . _____________
Industrial applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _____________
Oilfield applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _____________
Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _____________
2

Please describe: __________________________________________________________________

Export shipments to the United States data (food & beverage + pharmaceutical + consumer
applications + industrial applications + oilfield applications + all other) should reconcile with export
shipments to the United States data reported in section II-10a.
Definitions for the above-specified export shipment end use applications appear on page 9.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Xanthan Gum from Austria and China (731-TA-1202-03 (Final)) Page 12
PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-11a. Report your firm’s production capacity, production, shipments, and inventories related to the
production of xanthan gum in your establishment(s) in China during the specified periods. (See
definitions in the instruction booklet.)

CHINA
Quantity (in 1,000 pounds)
Projections1

Actual experience
Item

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Please explain the basis for your projections.

Reconciliation of data.—The data should reconcile as follows: B + C - I = J. Do these data reconcile?

Yes

Please estimate the percentage of total production of xanthan gum in China accounted for by your firm’s production in
2012.
percent
5

Please estimate the percentage of total exports to the United States of xanthan gum from China accounted for by your
firm’s exports in 2012.
percent
6

Identify principal other export markets.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Xanthan Gum from Austria and China (731-TA-1202-03 (Final)) Page 13
PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
Definitions for home market shipment and export shipments to the United States end use application
tables (II-11b and II-11c) are:
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Food & beverage
Pharmaceutical applications
Consumer applications
Industrial applications
Oilfield applications

Xanthan gum provides multiple forms of utility. Applications may benefit from xanthan gum’s ability to
suspend and stabilize dispersions of solids, immiscible fluids, and gases in aqueous systems. Practically
speaking, this would include solids in drilling fluids, immiscible fluids such as oils in personal care
products and salad dressings, and gases in fire-fighting foams. Xanthan gum also provides lubricity,
reducing friction in oilfield drilling applications as well as providing a particular type of skin feel to
lotions and cosmetics.
Food & beverage applications include products approved for use in food and beverage systems. Xanthan
gum is used in condiments (e.g., relish salad dressing, sauces), beverages (e.g., diet, low sugar, energy, or
instant powder drinks), syrups, baked goods, frozen meals, prepared foods, bakery products, such as
frozen dough, muffins, and gluten-free products. “Approved” refers to definitions and requirements as
put forth by multiple regulatory bodies as well as definitive and compendia standards, including:
5. Food Chemicals Codex (FCC)
6. Canadian Food and Drug Law
7. JECFA
8. Japan’s Specifications and Standards for Food Additives
These bodies and standards manifest requirements in terms of:
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Xanthan Gum from Austria and China (731-TA-1202-03 (Final)) Page 14
PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-11b. Home market shipments by end use.--Report your firm’s home market shipments (commercial
shipments and internal consumption and transfers of xanthan gum), by major end use.

CHINA
Quantity (in 1,000 pounds), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
2010
2011

2012

Please describe: __________________________________________________________________

Home market shipment data (food & beverage + pharmaceutical + consumer applications +
Industrial applications + oilfield applications + all other) should reconcile with total home market
shipment data reported in section II-11a.
Definitions for the above-specified home market shipment end use applications appear on page 13.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Xanthan Gum from Austria and China (731-TA-1202-03 (Final)) Page 15
PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-11c. Export shipments to the United States from China by end use.--Report your firm’s export
shipments from China to the United States of xanthan gum, by major end use.

CHINA
Quantity (in 1,000 pounds), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
2010
2011

2012

Please indicate the ranges of xanthan gum purity for reported export shipments to the United States
from China during 2012 as follows:
Purity
(percent)
Food & beverage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _____________
Pharmaceutical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _____________
Consumer applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . _____________
Industrial applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _____________
Oilfield applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _____________
Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _____________
2

Please describe: __________________________________________________________________

Export shipments to the United States data (food & beverage + pharmaceutical + consumer
applications + industrial applications + oilfield applications + all other) should reconcile with export
shipments to the United States data reported in section II-11a.
Definitions for the above-specified export shipment end use applications appear on page 13.

File Type	application/pdf
File Title	Microsoft Word - Producer Q Foreign
Author	cynthia.trainor
File Modified	2013-02-22
File Created	2013-02-22