13-3-3189 Purchaser Questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 14-3-3189; Expiration Date: 6/30/2014
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
DIFFUSION-ANNEALED, NICKEL-PLATED STEEL FROM JAPAN

This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than January

31, 2014

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 antidumping investigation concerning diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel flat-rolled products
(“diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel”) from Japan (Inv. No. 731-TA-1206 (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 John Benedetto (202205-3270, [email protected]).

Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

World Wide Web address
Has your firm purchased diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel (as defined in the instruction booklet) from any
source (domestic or foreign) at any time since January 1, 2011?

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: DANP)
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

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Diffusion-Annealed, Nickel-Plated Steel

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?
No
Firm name

Yes--List the following information.
Address

Extent of ownership
(percent)

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Diffusion-Annealed, Nickel-Plated Steel

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

Related SUBJECT importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either
domestic or foreign, which are engaged in importing diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel from
Japan into the United States or which are engaged in exporting diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated
steel from Japan to the United States?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

I-5.

Address

Related NONSUBJECT importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either
domestic or foreign, which are engaged in importing diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel from
countries other than Japan into the United States or which are engaged in exporting diffusionannealed, nickel-plated steel from countries other than Japan to the United States?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name and country

I-6.

Affiliation

Address

Affiliation

Related producers.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, which
are engaged in the production of diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel?
No
Firm name

Yes--List the following information.
Address

Affiliation

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Diffusion-Annealed, Nickel-Plated Steel

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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 diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel. Report based on delivery date, not
order date.

Item
Purchases of diffusion-annealed, nickelplated steel produced in-The United States:
Quantity (in short tons)
Value (in dollars)
Japan:
Quantity (in short tons)
Value (in dollars)
Germany:
Quantity (in short tons)
Value (in dollars)
Korea:
Quantity (in short tons)
Value (in dollars)
1
All other countries:
Quantity (in short tons)
Value (in dollars)
1

Please identify these countries:

2011

2012

2013

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PART II.--PURCHASES--Continued
II-2.

Changes in purchasing patterns.—Please indicate how the relative levels of your firm’s
purchases of diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel 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

Japan

Germany

Korea

All other
countries

II-3.

Purchases from one or multiple countries.—
(a) If your firm has a preference for purchasing diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel from only
one country, please explain the reasons for doing so.

(b) If your firm has a preference for purchasing diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel from
multiple countries, please explain the reasons for doing so.

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PART II.--PURCHASES--Continued
II-4.

Supplier identification.--Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers for diffusion-annealed,
nickel-plated steel since January 1, 2011. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s
total purchases of diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel that each of these suppliers accounted
for in 2013.

No.

Supplier’s name

City and state

Share of quantity of
2013 purchases

1

%

2

%

3

%

4

%

5

%

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

Firm type.--Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of diffusionannealed, nickel-plated steel (check all that apply)?
End user
(battery
producer)

End user
(can
stamper)

Distributor

Other

Describe other

If your firm is a distributor of diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel, please answer questions III-2
and III-3.
III-2.

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

III-3.

Yes

If yes, please describe.

Types of customers.--If your firm is a distributor or reseller of diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated
steel, what are the major types of consumers to which you sell diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated
steel?

If your firm is an end user (e.g., battery producer, can stamper) of diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated
steel, please answer questions III-4 through III-6.
III-4.

End uses.--List the top 3 products you make using diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel and
estimate the percent of your total production cost that is accounted for by diffusion-annealed,
nickel-plated steel 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

diffusion-annealed,
nickel-plated steel

Other inputs

Total

%

+

%

= 100%

%

+

%

= 100%

%

+

%

= 100%

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Diffusion-Annealed, Nickel-Plated Steel

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

Demand for end use products.-(a)

If your firm is an end user of diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel, has the demand for
your firm’s final products incorporating diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel changed
since January 1, 2011?
Increased

(b)

Decreased

Fluctuated

Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated
steel?
No

III-6.

No change

Yes

Explain

Contracts.—
(a)

Does your firm purchase diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel under contracts
committing a certain percentage of your purchases?
No

(b)

Yes

Explain

If your firm is a can stamper, does your firm work under contracts negotiated with your
suppliers by your customers?
No

Yes

Explain

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Diffusion-Annealed, Nickel-Plated Steel

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-7.

Substitutes.--Can other products be substituted for diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel?
No

Substitute

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 diffusion-annealed,
nickel-plated steel?
No Yes

Explanation

1.
2.
3.

III-8.

Demand trends.-- Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United States
(if known) for diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel has changed since January 1, 2011. Explain
any trends and describe the principal factors that have affected these changes in demand.

Market

Fluctuate
Overall
No
Overall with no clear
increase change decrease
trend

Explanation and factors

Within
the United
States
Outside
the United
States

III-9.

Importance of purchasing domestic product.--Please fill out the table below, estimating the
percentage of your firm’s total 2013 purchases of diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel that
required diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel produced in the United States.

Purchases that did not require domestic product
Purchases of domestic product that were required by law or
regulation (e.g., government purchases under “Buy American”
provisions)
Purchases of domestic product that were not required by law or
regulation, but were required by your customers
Purchases of domestic product that were required for other
reasons (explain:
)

Estimated
percentage of
your firm’s total
2013 purchases of
diffusionannealed, nickelplated steel
%

%
%

100

%
%

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Diffusion-Annealed, Nickel-Plated Steel

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-10. Conditions of competition.-a) Is the diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel market subject to business cycles (other than
general economy-wide conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to diffusionannealed, nickel-plated steel?
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 diffusionannealed, nickel-plated steel since January 1, 2011?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

III-11. Decisions based on producer.--Does your firm, and to the extent that you know, do your
customers make purchasing decisions involving diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel based on
the producer of the diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel 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

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Diffusion-Annealed, Nickel-Plated Steel

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-12. Decisions based on country-of-origin.--Does your firm, and to the extent that you know, do
your customers make purchasing decisions involving diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel
based on the country of origin of the diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel 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-13. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

How frequently do you make purchases of diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel (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
January 1, 2011?
No

Yes

If yes, how and why do you expect these changes to occur?

III-14. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers do you generally contact before making a
purchase? Between
and
firms

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-15. Supplier negotiations.-(a)

Do purchases of diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel usually involve negotiations
between supplier and purchaser?

No

(b)

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

(c)

Yes

If yes, please describe how negotiations take place, including
whether you issue requests for quotations to multiple suppliers
and what factors you use to evaluate bids from suppliers.

Yes

If yes, specify the time period.

Does your firm typically negotiate with suppliers simultaneously for purchases of
diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel inside and outside the United States?

No

Yes

If so, please describe how your overall worldwide negotiations
affect your decisions about supply of diffusion-annealed, nickelplated steel for your U.S. needs.

III-16. Change in suppliers.--Have you changed suppliers since January 1, 2011?

No

Yes

If 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-17. New suppliers.--Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have
entered the market since January 1, 2011?

No

Yes

If yes, please identify the firms and indicate how you became aware
of them.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Diffusion-Annealed, Nickel-Plated Steel

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-18. Supplier qualification.-(a)

Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified to sell diffusionannealed, nickel-plated steel to your firm?
No

Yes- Please answer (b) through (e).

(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?

(d)

Please identify all the suppliers of diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel that were
qualified to supply your firm in 2013 and 2014, by battery specification:

Specification
AA can

Qualified Producers - 2013

days

Qualified producers – 2014

AAA can
AAAA can
C can
D can
End caps
Automotive

(e)

Does your firm ever allow a supplier to bid on contracts for diffusion-annealed, nickelplated steel, even if the supplier is not yet qualified? Please explain

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Diffusion-Annealed, Nickel-Plated Steel

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-19. Failure to certify.--Since January 1, 2011, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their
attempts to certify or qualify their diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel with your firm or have
any producers lost their approved status?

No

Yes

If yes, please identify these firms, the countries where they are located,
and the reasons why they failed the certification/qualification.

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 diffusion-annealed, nickelplated steel 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.
Please list any other factors that are very important in your purchase decisions:

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-21. Purchasing factors.--For the factors listed below, please rate each in terms of its importance in
your purchase decision for diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel.
Very
important
Availability .......................................
Delivery terms .................................
Delivery time ...................................
Discounts offered ............................
Extension of credit...........................
Global relationship with supplier .....
Minimum quantity requirements ......
Overall cost effectiveness ...............
Packaging .......................................
Price ................................................
Processability of material ................
Product consistency ........................
Product range..................................
Quality exceeds industry standards
Quality meets industry standards ....
Reliability of supply .........................
Technical support/service ...............
U.S. transportation costs .................

Somewhat
important

Not
important

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Diffusion-Annealed, Nickel-Plated Steel

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-22. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel?

III-23. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the diffusionannealed, nickel-plated steel that is offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

III-24. 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 diffusion-annealed, nickelplated steel market since January 1, 2011. Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Diffusion-Annealed, Nickel-Plated Steel

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PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS
IV-1.

Country knowledge.--Please indicate the countries of origin for diffusion-annealed, nickelplated steel for which your firm has actual marketing/pricing knowledge.
United States

IV-2.

Japan

Other countries (specify)

Interchangeability by country-pair.--Is diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel 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

Japan

Germany

Korea

Other countries

United States
Japan
Germany
Korea

For any country-pair producing diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel that is sometimes or
never interchangeable, please explain the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable use:

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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 diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated
steel 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

Japan

Germany

Korea

Other countries

United States
Japan
Germany
Korea

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

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

Country preferences.--Do you or your customers ever specifically order diffusion-annealed,
nickel-plated steel from one country in particular over other possible sources of supply?

No

IV-5.

Availability of merchandise.--Are certain grades/types/sizes of diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated
steel available from only a single source (domestic or foreign, including both subject and
nonsubject countries)?
No

IV-6.

Yes

If 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 diffusion-annealed,
nickel-plated steel from these countries is preferred over product from
other countries (please note the specific product in your response).

Yes

If yes, please identify the source and the grade/type/size.

Choice of product not based on price.--If you purchased diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel
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.

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PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
IV-7. Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how diffusion-annealed,
nickel-plated steel produced in each country you identified in your response to the first question in Part
IV compares with diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel produced in each of the other countries you
identified (including the United States and both subject and nonsubject foreign countries).

Inferior

Comparable

product from
Japan
compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

product from
United States
compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

product from
United States
compared to
product from
Japan

Availability ...............................................
Delivery terms .........................................
Delivery time ...........................................
Discounts offered ....................................
Extension of credit...................................
Global relationship with supplier .....
Minimum quantity requirements ..............
Overall cost effectiveness .......................
Packaging ...............................................
1

Price .......................................................
Processability of material ........................
Product consistency ................................
Product range ..........................................
Quality exceeds industry standards ........
Quality meets industry standards ............
Reliability of supply .................................
Technical support/service .......................
1

U.S. transportation costs .......................

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.

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PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
IV-8.

Minimum quality.--How often does diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated steel from the following
countries meet minimum quality specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?

Source

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or
never

Don’t
know

United States
Japan
Germany
Korea
Other:
Other:

IV-9.

Lost sales and lost revenue.—If your firm responded to a lost sales or lost revenue allegation in
the preliminary phase of these investigations, please provide any additional documentation that
your firm has that would corroborate details in the allegation, e.g., pricing levels, volumes, dates,
etc..
Did your firm attach any such corroboration?
No

Yes

Additional comments.