13-3-3140 U.S. Purchaser Questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 13-3-3140; Expiration Date: 6/30/2014
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
HARDWOOD PLYWOOD FROM CHINA

This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than July 29, 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 countervailing duty/antidumping investigation(s) concerning hardwood plywood from China (Inv.
Nos. 701-TA-490 and 731-TA-1204 (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 hardwood plywood (as defined in the instruction booklet) from any source (domestic or
foreign) at any time since January 1, 2010?

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)

Return questionnaire via the U.S. International Trade Commission Drop Box by clicking
on the following link: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/. (use the following PIN: HPFC)
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

Email address
Fax

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Hardwood Plywood

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 hardwood plywood from China into the
United States or which are engaged in exporting hardwood plywood from China to the United
States?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

Address

Affiliation

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Hardwood Plywood

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 hardwood plywood from countries other
than China into the United States or which are engaged in exporting hardwood plywood from
countries other than China 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 hardwood plywood?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

Address

Affiliation

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Hardwood Plywood

Page 4

PART II.--PURCHASES
Contact information.-- Please identify the responsible individual and the manner by which Commission
staff may contact that individual regarding the confidential information submitted in this questionnaire.
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 hardwood plywood. Report based on delivery date, not order date.

Item
Purchases of hardwood plywood
produced in-The United States:
Quantity (1,000 square feet)
China:
Quantity (1,000 square feet)
All other countries:1
Quantity (1,000 square feet)
1
Please identify these countries:

II-2.

2010

2011

2012

JanuaryJune 2012

Changes in purchasing patterns.—Please indicate how the relative levels of your firm’s
purchases of hardwood plywood from different sources have changed in the last three years.

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

China

All other
countries

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Hardwood Plywood

Page 5

PART II.--PURCHASES--Continued

II-3.

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

II-4.

Supplier identification.--Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers for hardwood plywood
since 2010. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s total purchases of hardwood
plywood that each of these suppliers accounted for in 2012.

No.

Supplier’s name

City and state

Share of quantity of
2012 purchases

1

%

2

%

3

%

4

%

5

%

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Hardwood Plywood

Page 6

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

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

III-2.

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

III-3.

)

Yes--Please describe.

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

If your firm is an end user of PRODUCT, please answer questions III-4 and III-5.
III-4.

End uses.--List the top 3 products you make using hardwood plywood and estimate the percent
of your total production cost that is accounted for by hardwood plywood and by other inputs (such
as labor, energy, and other raw materials).
Share of total cost in each of the product(s) you
produce accounted for by
Product(s) you produce

Hardwood plywood

Other inputs

Total

%

+

%

= 100%

%

+

%

= 100%

%

+

%

= 100%

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Hardwood Plywood

Page 7

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

Demand for end use products.-(a)

If your firm is an end user of hardwood plywood, has the demand for your firm’s final
products incorporating hardwood plywood changed since 2010?
Increased

(b)

Substitute

2.
3.

Fluctuated

Yes--Please describe.

Substitutes.--Can other products be substituted for hardwood plywood?
No

1.

Decreased

Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for hardwood plywood?
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 hardwood plywood?
No Yes

Explanation

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Hardwood Plywood

Page 8

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 hardwood plywood has changed since January 1, 2010. 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 hardwood plywood (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 hardwood plywood.
Yes--Purchases of domestic product are not required by law or regulation, but are by your
customers. This involves
percent of all purchases of hardwood plywood.
Yes--Purchases of domestic product are required for other reasons (please specify these
reasons below). This involves
percent of all purchases of hardwood plywood.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Hardwood Plywood

Page 9

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

Conditions of competition.-a) Is the hardwood plywood market subject to business cycles (other than general economy-wide
conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to hardwood plywood?
No (skip to question III-10.)
Yes-Business cycles (e.g. seasonal business).
Yes-Other distinctive conditions of competition.
If yes, describe below.

Business cycles
Other conditions
of competition

(b) Have there been any changes in the business cycles or conditions of competition for hardwood
plywood since January 1, 2010?
No

Yes-- Please describe.

III-10. Decisions based on producer.--Does your firm, and to the extent that you know, do your
customers make purchasing decisions involving hardwood plywood based on the producer of the
hardwood plywood 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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Hardwood Plywood

Page 10

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 hardwood plywood based on the country of
origin of the hardwood plywood 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 hardwood plywood (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
2010?
No
Yes—Please describe.

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Hardwood Plywood

Page 11

PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-14. Supplier negotiations.-(a)

Do purchases of hardwood plywood 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-15. Change in suppliers.--Have you changed suppliers since 2010?
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.

III-16. New suppliers.--Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have
entered the market since 2010?
No

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Hardwood Plywood

Page 12

PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-17. Supplier qualification
(a) Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified to sell hardwood
plywood to your firm?
No

Yes--

percent of purchases in 2012

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-18. Failure to certify.--Since 2010, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their attempts to
certify or qualify their hardwood plywood 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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Hardwood Plywood

Page 13

PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-19. Purchasing factors.--For the factors listed below, please rate each in terms of its importance in
your purchase decision for hardwood plywood.
Very
important
Availability .......................................
Core material species (hardwood vs.
softwood).........................................
Delivery time ...................................
Discounts offered ............................
Extension of credit...........................
Minimum qty requirements ..............
Packaging .......................................
Panel thickness ...............................
Price ................................................
Product consistency ........................
Quality exceeds industry standards
Quality meets industry standards....
Product range..................................
Reliability of supply .........................
Technical support/service ...............
U.S. transportation costs .................
Veneer thickness.............................

Somewhat
important

Not
important

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Hardwood Plywood

Page 14

PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-20. 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 hardwood plywood 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-21. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of hardwood plywood?

III-22. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the hardwood
plywood that is offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

III-23. 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 hardwood plywood market
since 2010. Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Hardwood Plywood

Page 15

PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-24. Lacey Act procedures.— Please describe any procedures you have instituted or implemented
regarding your purchases of hardwood plywood to ensure compliance with the Lacey Act.

III-25. Chain of custody certification and forest certification claim.
(a) Do you require your suppliers of hardwood plywood to have a chain of custody certification
(ex. FSC, PEFC, SFI, etc.)? Explain if necessary below.
No

Yes

(b) What percentage (in terms of volume) of the hardwood plywood that you purchase carries a
formal certified forest content certification claim (ex. FSC, PEFC, SFI, etc.)?
percent of purchases in 2012. Explain if necessary below.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Hardwood Plywood

Page 16

PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-26. Supply constraints.--Has any supplier refused, declined, or been unable to supply hardwood
plywood to your firm since January 1, 2010 (examples include being placed on allocation or
“controlled order entry,” suppliers declining to accept you as a new customer or renewing your
firm as an existing customer, suppliers delivering less than the quantity promised, suppliers being
unable to meet timely shipment commitments, etc.)?
No

Yes-- Please describe.

III-27. Veener and panel thickness.—Is the thickness of the veneer an important factor in your
purchases of hardwood plywood or is the thickness of the entire panel an important purchasing
factor? Please explain below. (check all that apply)
The thickness of the veneer is an important factor
The thickness of the entire panel is an important factor
Neither the thickness of the veneer nor the thickness of the entire panel are important factors

III-28. Veener thickness substitutability.—In any applications where a thicker face veneer product
could physically be substituted with a thin face veneer product (less than 0.4 mm), are there any
additional product or utilization-related considerations that would limit such a substitution (e.g.
suitability for sanding, exposed surfaces, lamination, staining/varnishing, painting, decorative
applications, workability etc.) ?
No

Yes-Explain

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Hardwood Plywood

Page 17

PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS

IV-1.

Country knowledge.--Please indicate the countries of origin for hardwood plywood for which
your firm has actual marketing/pricing knowledge.
United States
China
Other countries (specify

IV-2.

)

Interchangeability by country-pair.--Is hardwood plywood produced in the United States and
in other countries interchangeable (i.e., can they physically be used in the same applications, such
as cabinet fronts versus backs)?
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

Canada

Indonesia

Russia

Other countries

United States
China
Canada
Indonesia
Russia

For any country-pair producing hardwood plywood that is sometimes or never interchangeable,
please explain the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable use:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Hardwood Plywood

Page 18

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 hardwood plywood 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

Canada

Indonesia

Russia

Other countries

United States
China
Canada
Indonesia
Russia

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Hardwood Plywood

Page 19

PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
IV-4.

Country preferences.--Do you or your customers ever specifically order hardwood plywood
from one country in particular over other possible sources of supply?
No

IV-5.

Availability of merchandise.--Are certain grades/types/sizes of hardwood plywood 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 hardwood plywood 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 hardwood plywood 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 - Hardwood Plywood

Page 20

PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
IV-7. Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how hardwood plywood
produced in each country you identified in your response to the first question in Part IV compares with
hardwood plywood 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
Indonesia

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

product from
United States
compared to
product from
Canada

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

product from
United States
compared to
product from
China

Availability ...............................................
Core material species (hardwood vs.
softwood) .................................................
Delivery terms .........................................
Delivery time ...........................................
Discounts offered ....................................
Extension of credit...................................
Minimum quantity requirements ..............
Packaging ...............................................
Panel thickness ...............................
Price1 .......................................................
Product consistency ................................
Quality exceeds industry standards ........
Quality meets industry standards............
Product range..........................................
Reliability of supply .................................
Technical support/service .......................
U.S. transportation costs1 .......................
Veneer thickness.....................................
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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Hardwood Plywood

Page 21

PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
Continued.

Inferior

Comparable

product from
China
compared to
product from
Canada

Superior

Inferior

product from
United States
compared to
product from
Other
Comparable

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

product from
United States
compared to
product from
Russia

Superior

IV-7.

Availability ...............................................
Core material species (hardwood vs.
softwood) .................................................
Delivery terms .........................................
Delivery time ...........................................
Discounts offered ....................................
Extension of credit...................................
Minimum quantity requirements ..............
Packaging ...............................................
Panel thickness ...............................
Price1 .......................................................
Product consistency ................................
Quality exceeds industry standards ........
Quality meets industry standards............
Product range..........................................
Reliability of supply .................................
Technical support/service .......................
U.S. transportation costs1 .......................
Veneer thickness.....................................
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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Hardwood Plywood

Page 22

PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
Continued.

Inferior

Comparable

product from
China
compared to
product from
Other

Superior

Inferior

product from
China
compared to
product from
Russia
Comparable

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

product from
China
compared to
product from
Indonesia

Superior

IV-7.

Availability ...............................................
Core material species (hardwood vs.
softwood) .................................................
Delivery terms .........................................
Delivery time ...........................................
Discounts offered ....................................
Extension of credit...................................
Minimum quantity requirements ..............
Packaging ...............................................
Panel thickness ...............................
Price1 .......................................................
Product consistency ................................
Quality exceeds industry standards ........
Quality meets industry standards............
Product range..........................................
Reliability of supply .................................
Technical support/service .......................
U.S. transportation costs1 .......................
Veneer thickness.....................................
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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Hardwood Plywood

Page 23

PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued

IV-8.

Minimum quality.--How often does hardwood plywood from the following countries meet
minimum quality specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?
Source
United States
China
Canada
Indonesia
Russia
Other:
Other:

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or
never

Don’t
know