14-4-3175 Foreign Producer Questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 14-4-3175; Expiration Date: 6/30/2014
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

FOREIGN PRODUCERS’/EXPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE FROM CHINA AND INDONESIA

This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than SEPTEMBER 30, 2013
See 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
monosodium glutamate (“MSG”) from China and Indonesia (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-503-504 and 731-TA1229-1230 (Preliminary)). 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 MSG (as defined in the instruction booklet) 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)

Data reported in this questionnaire relate to (Check one):
CHINA

INDONESIA

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: MSG)
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’/Exporters’ Questionnaire – MSG (P)

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. 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

I-1b.

I-2.

I-3.

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.
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.

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 MSG in 2012.

Importer’s name

1

Dollars

Contact person

Email

Telephone

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

Street Address

,
City

2

State

Street Address

,
City

3

State

,
State

Zip Code

Street Address

,
City

5

Zip Code

Street Address
City

4

Zip Code

State

Zip Code

Street Address

,
City

State

Zip Code

Share of
your firm’s
2012
exports (%)

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – MSG (P)

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 MSG 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 Amy Sherman, [email protected], for copies of that
questionnaire).

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

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

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire - MSG (P)

Page 4

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Amy Sherman (202-205-3289,
[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 production of MSG since January 1, 2010.
(check as many as appropriate)
plant openings ..............................

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(please describe)

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire - MSG (P)

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
its operations or organization (as noted above) relating to the production of MSG 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 the response a specific projection of your firm’s
capacity to produce MSG (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 MSG?
No

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

Product

Period

Basis for allocation of capacity data

MSG

(Quantity in 1,000 pounds)
January-June
Item
Overall Production Capacity
Production of:
MSG
Other product 1:
Other product 2:

2010

2011

2012

2012

2013

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire - MSG (P)

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 firm’s
production capacity.

II-6.

Production shifting.--Is your firm able to switch production between MSG and other products in
response to a relative change in the price of MSG 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 MSG.

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

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire - MSG (P)

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
MSG 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)
January-June
Item

2010

2011

2012

2012

Inventory

II-9.

Third country trade actions.--Is the MSG exported by your firm subject to
antidumping/countervailing duty/safeguard findings, remedies, or proceedings?
No

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

Country

Date

2013

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire - MSG (P)

Page 8

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-10.

Report your firm’s production capacity, production, shipments, and inventories related to the
production of MSG in your establishment(s) in China or Indonesia during the specified periods.
(See definitions in the instruction booklet.) Do not submit data on multiple countries combined,
the establishments reported here should all be located in the country of the firm’s address
reported on the certification page. Multinational companies with production in multiple subject
countries should submit separate foreign producer questionnaire responses for each subject
country.
Quantity (in 1,000 pounds)
Actual experience
January-June
Item

2010

2011

2012

2012

2013

1

Projections
2013

2014

2

Average production capacity (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 firm’s projections.

2
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.

3

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

Yes

No

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

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

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

Identify principal other export markets.