13-2-3160 Importer Questionnaire

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

US Importer Questionnaire

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

OMB: 3117-0016

⚠️ Notice: This form may be outdated. More recent filings and information on OMB 3117-0016 can be found here:

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OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 13-2-3160; Expiration Date: 6/30/2014
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U.S. IMPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
SILICA BRICKS AND SHAPES FROM CHINA

This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than September 9, 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 investigation concerning silica bricks and shapes from China (inv. No. 731-TA-1205
(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 firm’s possession (19 U.S.C. § 1333(a)).

Name of firm

_________________________________________________________________

Address
City

State

Zip Code

World Wide Web address
Has your firm imported silica bricks and shapes (as defined in the instruction booklet) from any country 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)

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: XXXX)
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:

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silica Bricks and Shapes from China (731-TA-1205 (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 40 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 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

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
firm’s 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?
No

Firm name

Yes--List the following information

Address

Extent of
ownership

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silica Bricks and Shapes from China (731-TA-1205 (Final))

Page 3

PART I.--GENERAL INFORMATION--Continued
I-4.

Related importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or
foreign, that are engaged in importing silica bricks and shapes from China into the United States
or that are engaged in exporting silica bricks and shapes from China to the United States?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

I-5.

Address

Related producers.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, that are
engaged in the production of silica bricks and shapes?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

I-6.

I-7.

Affiliation

Address

Affiliation

Importing operations.--Please indicate the nature of your firm’s importing operations on silica
bricks and shapes. More than one answer may be applicable.
Importer of record

Takes title to the imported product(s)

Consignee of the imported products(s)

Customs broker or freight forwarder.

Consignee.--If your firm is an importer of record of silica bricks and shapes but is not the
consignee, please list the consignees below (firm name, address, telephone number, and
individual to contact).

Firm name

Address

Contact person and phone
number

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silica Bricks and Shapes from China (731-TA-1205 (Final))

Page 4

PART I.--GENERAL INFORMATION--Continued
I-8.

I-9.

FTZ or bonded warehouses.--Please indicate whether your firm enters silica bricks and shapes
into, or withdraws such merchandise from, foreign trade zones or bonded warehouses.
Foreign trade zones

Yes

Bonded warehouses

Yes

Temporary importation under bond.--Please indicate whether your firm imports silica bricks
and shapes under the TIB (temporary importation under bond) program.
No

I-10.

Yes

Third-country trade activities.--To your knowledge, have the products subject to this
proceeding been the subject of any other import relief proceedings in the United States or in any
other countries?
No

Yes–Please specify.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silica Bricks and Shapes from China (731-TA-1205 (Final))

Page 5

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
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 importation of silica bricks and shapes since January 1, 2010.
(check as many as appropriate)
office/warehouse openings ...........

office/warehouse closings ............

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

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

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

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

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

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

(please describe)

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silica Bricks and Shapes from China (731-TA-1205 (Final))

Page 6

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-3.

Arranged imports.--Has your firm imported or arranged for the importation of silica bricks and
shapes from China for delivery after June 30, 2013?
No

Yes–Indicate when such orders are to be delivered and the quantities
involved.
Quantity (in short tons)

Period/Source

Jul-Sept 2013

Oct-Dec 2013

Jan-Mar 2014

Apr-Jun 2014

China

II-4.

Reasons for importing.--If your firm also produces silica bricks and shapes in the United States,
please indicate the reasons for importing this product. If your firm’s reasons differ by source,
please elaborate.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silica Bricks and Shapes from China (731-TA-1205 (Final))

Page 7

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-5.

IMPORTS FROM SUBJECT SOURCES.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s
shipments and inventories of silica bricks and shapes imported from China by your firm during
the specified periods. (See definitions in the instruction booklet.)

CHINA
Quantity (in short tons), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2010

2011

January-June
2012

2012

2013

Beginning-of-period inventories (quantity)
Imports:1
Quantity of imports
Value of imports
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity of commercial shipments
Value of commercial shipments
Internal consumption/company transfers:
Quantity of internal consumption/transfers
Value2 of internal consumption/transfers
Export shipments:3
Quantity of export shipments
Value of export shipments
End-of-period inventories4 (quantity)
Channels of distribution:
U.S. shipments to distributors (quantity)
U.S. shipments to the steel industry (quantity)
U.S. shipments to the glass industry (quantity)
U.S. shipments to other end users (quantity)
1

Please identify the foreign producers, if known:

Sales to related firms (including internal consumption) must be valued at fair market value. In the event that your firm uses
a different basis for valuing these sales within your company, please specify that basis (e.g., cost, cost plus, etc.) and provide
value data using that basis for each of the periods noted above:
3

Identify your firm’s principal export markets:
Reconciliation of data.--Please note that the quantities reported above should reconcile as follows: beginning-of-period
inventories, plus imports, less total shipments, equals end-of-period inventories. Do the data reported reconcile?
4

Yes

No--Please explain:

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silica Bricks and Shapes from China (731-TA-1205 (Final))

Page 8

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-6.

IMPORTS FROM NONSUBJECT SOURCES.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s
shipments and inventories of silica bricks and shapes imported from all other sources combined
by your firm during the specified periods. (See definitions in the instruction booklet.)

ALL OTHER SOURCES COMBINED
Quantity (in short tons), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2010

2011

January-June
2012

2012

2013

Please identify the sources and foreign producers, if known:

Yes

No--Please explain:

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silica Bricks and Shapes from China (731-TA-1205 (Final))

Page 9

PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Samantha Day (202-2052088, [email protected]).
III-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 III.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
Fax
GENERAL BID AND PRICE INFORMATION
III-2.

Bid opportunities.-(a) How often is there more than one chance to bid on a particular sales agreement?
Always

Frequently

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

(b) If at least “sometimes,” please provide further description or documentation of when these
events have occurred.

(c) If the bid price changes between the initial and final bids, what factors determine this change
(e.g., changes in specification, negotiated price changes, competitive pressure)?

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silica Bricks and Shapes from China (731-TA-1205 (Final))

Page 10

PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-3.

Bid competition.-(a) How often does the purchaser discuss with your firm, the bids of competing firms (whether or
not they disclose who the competition is) in order to get your firm to lower its bid price?
Always

Frequently

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

Please describe these discussions.

(b) Please describe the type of price feedback (formal or informal) that your firm received from
potential purchasers if your firm did not win the sale or contract for the sale, noting the type,
quality, and timing of feedback.

III-4.

Bid exclusions.-- Since January 1, 2010, have there been instances where your firm has been
excluded from bidding (e.g., your firm submitted a bid that the purchaser did not consider, or the
purchaser did not ask your firm to bid) on sales of silica bricks and shapes?
No

Yes-- How often and why was your firm’s bid(s) not considered?

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silica Bricks and Shapes from China (731-TA-1205 (Final))

Page 11

PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-5.

Services included in bid.--

(a) Do the bids that your firm makes for silica bricks and shapes typically include other services,
such as engineering, construction, maintenance, etc.?
No

Yes—Please describe the other services your firm includes in its bids.

(b) If the bids your firm makes for silica bricks and shapes typically include other services, can a
purchaser accept only the silica bricks and shapes portion of your bid and decline the other
services? Please explain your answer.
No

III-6.

Yes

Price setting.-- How does your firm determine the prices that it charges for sales of silica bricks
and shapes (check all that apply)? If your firm issues price lists, please submit sample pages of a
recent list.

Customer type
Steel industry
Glass industry
Other end users
(Specify:
)
Distributors

Transaction
by
transaction

Contracts

Set
price
lists

Other

If other, describe

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silica Bricks and Shapes from China (731-TA-1205 (Final))

Page 12

PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-7.

Discount policy.-- Please indicate and describe your firm’s discount policies (check all that
apply).

Customer type

Quantity
discounts

Annual
total
volume
discounts

No
discount
policy

Other

Describe

Steel industry
Glass industry
Other end users
(Specify:
)
Distributors

III-8.

Pricing terms for silica bricks and shapes.-(a)

What are your firm’s typical sales terms for silica bricks and shapes imported from
China?
Customer type

Net 30
days

Net 60
days

2/10 net
30 days

Other

Other (specify)

Steel industry
Glass industry
Other end users
(Specify:
)
Distributors

(b)

On what basis are your firm’s prices of imported silica bricks and shapes from China
usually quoted (check one)?

Customer type
Steel industry
Glass industry
Other end users
(Specify:
)
Distributors

Delivered

F.o.b.

If f.o.b., specify point

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silica Bricks and Shapes from China (731-TA-1205 (Final))

Page 13

PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-9.

Contract versus spot.--Approximately what share of your firm’s sales of silica bricks and
shapes imported from China in 2012 were on a (1) long-term contract basis, (2) short-term
contract basis, and (3) spot sales basis?
Share of 2012 sales to
Steel
industry

Type of sale

Glass
industry

Other end users
(Specify:
)

Long-term contracts (multiple deliveries for
more than 12 months)

Short-term contracts (multiple deliveries up
to and including 12 months)

Spot sales (for a single delivery)

Total

100

III-10. Contract provisions.— Please fill out the table with respect to provisions of your firm’s typical
sales contracts for silica bricks and shapes from China (or check “not applicable” if your firm
does not sell on a long-term and/or short-term contract basis).
Typical sales contract
provisions

Item

Average contract duration

Number of days

Price renegotiation (during the
contract period)

Yes
No
Quantity

Fixed quantity and/or price

Price
Both

Meet or release provision
Not applicable

Yes
No

Short-term contracts

Long-term contracts

(multiple deliveries up to
and including 12 months)

(multiple deliveries for more
than 12 months)

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silica Bricks and Shapes from China (731-TA-1205 (Final))

Page 14

PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-11. Lead times.--What is your firm’s share of sales of silica bricks and shapes imported from China
both from inventory and produced to order and what is the average lead time between a
customer’s order and the date of delivery for your firm’s sales of silica bricks and shapes?
Share of
2012 sales

Source
From your firm’s U.S. inventory

From foreign manufacturers’ inventory

Produced to order

Total

Lead time
(days)

100 %

III-12. Shipping information.—
(a)

What is the approximate percentage of the total delivered cost of silica bricks and shapes
imported from China that is accounted for by U.S. inland transportation costs?
percent.

(b)

Who generally arranges the transportation to your firm’s customers’ locations?
Your firm
Purchaser (check one)

(c)

When your firm sells silica bricks and shapes imported from China, from where is it
shipped?
Point of importation
Storage facility (check one)

(d)

Indicate the approximate percentage of your firm’s 2012 sales of silica bricks and shapes
imported from China that are delivered the following distances from your firm’s U.S.
point of shipment.
Distance from your firm’s U.S. point of
shipment

Share of 2012
sales

Within 100 miles

101 to 1,000 miles

Over 1,000 miles

%
Total

100

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silica Bricks and Shapes from China (731-TA-1205 (Final))

Page 15

PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-13. Geographical shipments--What is the geographic market area in the United States served by
your firm’s shipments of silica bricks and shapes imported from China? (check all that apply)
China
(√ if applicable)

Geographic area
Northeast.–CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, and VT.
Midwest.–IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, and WI.
Southeast.–AL, DE, DC, FL, GA, KY, MD, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA,
and WV.
Central Southwest.–AR, LA, OK, and TX.
Mountains.–AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, and WY.
Pacific Coast.–CA, OR, and WA.
Other.–All other markets in the United States not previously listed,
including AK, HI, PR, and VI, among others.

III-14. End uses.--Identify the end use applications of the silica bricks and shapes that your firm imports
from China. For each end use application, estimate the percent of the total cost that is accounted
for by silica bricks and shapes and by other inputs (such as labor, energy, other raw materials,
engineering, and construction).
Share of total cost of end use application(s)
accounted for by

End use application

Silica bricks and
shapes

Other inputs

Total

Coke oven (new construction)

= 100%

Coke oven (rebuilding/repair)

= 100%

Glass furnace (new construction)

= 100%

Glass furnace (rebuilding/repair)

= 100%

Other:

= 100%

Other:

= 100%

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silica Bricks and Shapes from China (731-TA-1205 (Final))

Page 16

PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-15. Project type.--Please estimate the share of your firm’s sales of silica bricks and shapes that were
sold to each industry by project type.
Type of project

2010

Share of sales
2011
2012

New construction (of a new coke oven or glass furnace)

Rebuilding/repair (of existing coke oven or glass furnace)

Total

100

III-16. Substitutes.-- Can other products be substituted for silica bricks and shapes?
No

Yes--Please fill out the table.

End use in which this
substitute is used

Substitute

Have changes in the prices of this substitute
affected the price for silica bricks and
shapes?
No Yes

Explanation

1.
2.
3.

III-17. Interchangeability between coke ovens and glass furnaces.--Are silica bricks and shapes that
are produced for use in a coke oven interchangeable with silica bricks and shapes that are
produced for use in a glass furnace?
No

Yes

Explanation

III-18. Demand trends.-- Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United States
(if known) in the silica bricks and shapes market has changed since January 1, 2010. Explain any
trends and describe the principal factors that have affected these changes in demand.

Market
Within
the United
States
Outside
the United
States

Overall
No
Overall Fluctuate with
increase change decrease no clear trend

Explanation and factors

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silica Bricks and Shapes from China (731-TA-1205 (Final))

Page 17

PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-19. Product changes.--Have there been any significant changes in the product mix or marketing of
silica bricks and shapes since January 1, 2010?
No

Yes-- Please describe.

III-20. Conditions of competition.-(a) Is the silica bricks and shapes market subject to business cycles (other than general economywide conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to silica bricks and shapes?
No (skip to question III-21).
Yes--Business cycles (e.g. seasonal business).
Yes--Other distinctive conditions of competition.
If yes, describe below.

Business cycles
Other conditions
of competition

(b) If yes, have there been any changes in the business cycles or conditions of competition for
silica bricks and shapes since January 1, 2010?
No

Yes-- Please describe.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silica Bricks and Shapes from China (731-TA-1205 (Final))

Page 18

PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-21. Supply constraints.--Has your firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply silica bricks and
shapes since January 1, 2010 (examples include 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 describe.

III-22. Raw materials.--Please describe any trends in the prices of raw materials used to produce silica
bricks and shapes and whether your firm expects these trends to continue.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silica Bricks and Shapes from China (731-TA-1205 (Final))

Page 19

PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-23. Interchangeability.--Are silica bricks and shapes 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

Germany

Other countries

United States
China
Germany

For any country-pair producing silica bricks and shapes that is sometimes or never interchangeable,
please explain the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable use:

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silica Bricks and Shapes from China (731-TA-1205 (Final))

Page 20

PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-24. Factors other than price.--Are differences other than price (i.e., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between silica bricks and shapes
produced in the United States and in other countries a significant factor in your firm’s sales 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

Germany

Other countries

United States
China
Germany

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

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silica Bricks and Shapes from China (731-TA-1205 (Final))

Page 21

PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-25. Customer Identification--Please identify the names and contact information for your firm’s
10 largest U.S. customers for silica bricks and shapes since January 1, 2010. Indicate the share of
the quantity of your firm’s total shipments of silica bricks and shapes that each of these customers
accounted for in 2012.

Customer’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

Street Address
City

Zip Code

Street Address
City

Zip Code

Street Address
City

Zip Code

Street Address
City

Zip Code

Street Address
City

Zip Code

State

Zip Code

Street Address

,
City

State

Zip Code

Share
of 2012
sales
(%)

File Type	application/pdf
File Title	Microsoft Word - US Importer Questionnaire
Author	cynthia.trainor
File Modified	2013-07-30
File Created	2013-07-30