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pdfOMB No. 3117‐0016/USITC No. 14‐4‐3266; Expiration Date: 6/30/2017
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FOREIGN PRODUCERS’/EXPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE FROM CHINA AND INDONESIA
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than JULY 24, 2014
See the last page of this questionnaire 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 duty investigations concerning monosodium glutamate
(“MSG”) from China and Indonesia (Inv. Nos. 731‐TA‐1229‐1230 (Final)). The information requested in
the questionnaire is requested under the authority of the Tariff Act of 1930, Title VII.
Name of firm
Address
Website address
Has your firm produced or exported MSG (as defined on the next page) 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
(Complete all parts of the questionnaire, and return the entire questionnaire to the Commission. Firms
operating more than one establishment in a single country should combine the data for all establishments
into a single report).
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
Phone:
Date
Signature
Email address
Fax:
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ MSG
Page 2
PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.
This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on September 16, 2013 by Ajinomoto
North America Inc. (“AJINA”), Itasca, Illinois.
Antidumping duties may be assessed on the subject imports as a result of these proceedings if the
Commission makes an affirmative determination of injury, threat, or material retardation, and if the U.S.
Department of Commerce makes an affirmative determination of dumping.
Merchandise covered by these investigations.
Monosodium glutamate (“MSG”) or “subject product” covered by these investigations is monosodium
glutamate (MSG), whether or not blended or in solution with other products. Specifically, MSG that has
been blended or is in solution with other product(s) is included in this scope when the resulting mix
contains 15% or more of MSG by dry weight. Products with which MSG may be blended include, but are
not limited to, salts, sugars, starches, maltodextrins, and various seasonings. Further, MSG is included in
this investigation regardless of physical form (including, but not limited to, substrates, solutions, dry
powders of any particle size, or unfinished forms such as MSG slurry), end‐use application, or packaging.
MSG has a molecular formula of C5H8NO4Na, a Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) registry number of
6106‐04‐3, and a Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII) number of W81N5U6R6U.1
MSG is currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) of the United States at subheading
2922.42.10.00. Merchandise subject to the investigation may also enter under HTS subheadings
2922.42.50.00, 2103.90.72.00, 2103.90.74.00, 2103.90.78.00, 2103.90.80.00, and 2103.90.90.91. The
tariff classifications, CAS registry number, and UNII number are provided for convenience and customs
purposes; however, the written description of the scope is dispositive.
Service of questionnaire response(s).‐‐In the event that your firm is a party to this proceeding, you are
required to serve a copy of the questionnaire(s), once completed, on parties to the proceeding that are
subject to administrative protective order (see 19 CFR ' 207.7). A list of such parties is maintained by
the Commission=s Secretary and may be obtained by calling 202‐205‐1803. A certificate of service must
accompany the copy of the completed questionnaire(s) you submit (see 19 CFR ' 207.7).
Confidentiality.‐‐The commercial and financial data furnished in response to the enclosed
questionnaire(s) that reveal the individual operations of your firm will be treated as confidential by the
Commission to the extent that such data are not otherwise available to the public and will not be
disclosed except as may be required by law (see 19 U.S.C. ' 1677f). Such confidential information will
not be published in a manner that will reveal the individual operations of your firm; however, general
characterizations of numerical business proprietary information (such as discussion of trends) will be
treated as confidential business information only at the request of the submitter for good cause shown.
1
Commission staff recognizes that the chemical formula in the scope as written reflects the anhydrous (no water)
form of MSG, while the CAS and UNII numbers in the scope reference the monohydrated (one water molecule)
form of MSG. The correct chemical formula corresponding to the CAS and UNII numbers referenced in the scope
can be expressed as C5H8NO4Na•H2O or C5H10NO5Na.
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ MSG
Page 3
Verification.‐‐The information submitted in the enclosed questionnaire(s) is subject to audit and
verification by the Commission. To facilitate possible verification of data, please keep all of your files,
worksheets, and supporting documents used in the preparation of the questionnaire response(s).
Release of information.‐‐The information provided by your firm in response to the questionnaire(s), as
well as any other business proprietary information submitted by your firm to the Commission in
connection with this proceeding, may become subject to, and released under, the administrative
protective order provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. ' 1677f) and section 207.7 of the
Commission=s Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR ' 207.7). This means that certain lawyers and
other authorized individuals may temporarily be given access to the information for use in connection
with this proceeding or other import‐injury proceedings conducted by the Commission on the same or
similar merchandise; those individuals would be subject to severe penalties if the information were
divulged to unauthorized individuals.
I‐1.
I‐2.
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. We are also
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.
Hours
Dollars
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.
Establishments covered.‐‐Provide the name and address of establishment(s) covered by this
questionnaire. If your firm is publicly traded, please specify the stock exchange and trading
symbol.
“Establishment”‐‐Each facility of a firm involved in the production, importation, and/or
purchase of the subject product, including auxiliary facilities operated in conjunction with
(whether or not physically separate from) such facilities.
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ MSG
I‐3.
Page 4
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
subject product in 2013.
Importer’s name
Contact person
Email
Telephone
Street address (not P.O. box),
city, state, and zip code
Street Address
,
City State Zip Code
Share of your
firm’s 2013
U.S. exports
(%)
1
2
Street Address
,
City State Zip Code
3
Street Address
,
City State Zip Code
4
Street Address
,
City State Zip Code
5
Street Address
,
City State Zip Code
I‐4.
I‐5.
Related U.S. producers.‐‐Does your firm or any related firm produce, have the capability to
produce, or have any plans to produce the subject product in the United States or other
countries?
No
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.
Related U.S. importers.‐‐Does your firm or any related firm import or have any plans to import
the subject product into the United States?
No
Yes‐‐Please name the firm(s) below and ensure that they complete the
Commission’s importer questionnaire
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ MSG
Page 5
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 the subject product since January 1, 2011.
(check as many as appropriate)
(please describe)
II‐3.
plant openings
plant closings
relocations
expansions
acquisitions
consolidations
prolonged shutdowns or
production curtailments
revised labor agreements
other (e.g., technology)
Anticipated changes in operations.‐‐Does your firm anticipate any changes in the character of
its operations or organization relating to the production of the subject product in the future?
No
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.
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ MSG
Page 6
II‐4a. Overall production and capacity.‐‐Please report your firm’s average capacity to produce the
subject product and any other products made on the same equipment and machinery in the
same establishment.
“Average production capacity” or “capacity” is defined as the level of production that your
establishment(s) could reasonably have expected to attain during the specified periods for all
products manufactured in that establishment using the same manufacturing equipment. When
computing overall production capacity assume normal operating conditions (i.e., using
equipment and machinery in place and ready to operate; normal operating levels (hours per
week/weeks per year) and time for downtime, maintenance, repair, and cleanup; and a typical
or representative product mix).
Capacity
(Quantity in 1,000 pounds dry weight of MSG)
Calendar years
Item
2011
2012
Overall production capacity
January‐June
2013
2013
2014
Production of:
Subject product (i.e. MSG)
Other products:
Note.‐‐ Production of MSG should equal production data reported in II‐7.
II‐4b. Operating parameters.‐‐The production capacity reported above is based on operating hours
per week, weeks per year.
II‐4c. Capacity calculation.‐‐Please describe the methodology used to calculate overall production
capacity reported above, and explain any changes in reported capacity. Also describe the
methodology for allocating overall production capacity amongst different products (if applicable).
II‐4d. Production constraints.‐‐Please describe the constraint(s) that set the limit(s) on your firm’s average
production capacity.
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ MSG
II‐5.
Page 7
Product shifting.—
(i)
Is your firm able to switch production between the subject product and other products
using the same manufacturing equipment?
No
Yes‐‐ Please identify other actual or potential products.
(Please note: You should provide data for the products listed here
in questions II‐3a and II‐7a).
(ii)
Please report any changes in the mix of your production that occurred during the period of
investigation in facilities that produce the subject product and non‐scope products. In
responding to this question, report: 1) the date(s) such changes occurred; 2) the time
involved to make the change; 3) the reason(s) for the change.
II‐6.
Inventories in the United States.‐‐Has your firm, since 2011, maintained any inventories of the
subject product 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.
Inventories held in the United States
(Quantity in 1,000 pounds dry weight of MSG)
January‐June
Item
Inventory
II‐7.
2011
2012
2013
2013
2014
Share of sales.‐‐What percentage of your firm’s total sales in its most recent fiscal year was
represented by sales of the subject product? percent.
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ MSG
II‐8.
II‐9.
Page 8
Share of total production.‐‐Please estimate what percentage of total production of the subject
product in China or Indonesia is accounted for by your firm’s total production of the subject
product in 2013: percent.
Share of total exports.‐‐Please estimate what percentage of total exports to the United States
of the subject product from China and/or Indonesia is accounted for by your firm’s total exports
of the subject product in 2013. percent.
II‐10. Third country trade actions.‐‐Is the subject product exported by your firm subject to any other
antidumping, countervailing duty, or safeguard findings, remedies, or proceedings in any
country besides the United States?
No
Yes‐‐List the products(s), countries affected, and the date of such
findings/remedies/proceedings.
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ MSG
Page 9
II‐11. Trade data.‐‐Report your firm’s production capacity, production, shipments, and inventories
related to the production of the subject product in your establishment(s) in China or Indonesia
during the specified periods.
Do not submit data by manufacturing facility if they are in the same country. If your firm has
multiple manufacturing establishments within one country, you are required to combine data
for those establishments within one foreign producer questionnaire response.
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.
Trade Data
Quantity (in 1,000 pounds dry weight of MSG)
Actual experience
Calendar year
Item
2011
2
Average production capacity (A)
3
2012
Projections1
January‐June
2013
2013
2014
2014
2015
Beginning‐of‐period inventories (B)
Production2 (C)
Internal consumption/transfers (D)
Commercial shipments (E)
Exports to the United States (F)
Exports to all other markets4 (G)
Total exports (H)
(should equal F+G)
Total shipments (I)
(should equal D+E+F+G)
End‐of‐period inventories (J)
Home market shipments:
1
Please explain the basis for your firm’s projections.
2 The production capacity reported should equal the quantity reported in question II‐4a under “capacity to produce subject product.”
The production reported should equal the quantity reported in question II‐5a under “production of the subject product.”
3 Reconciliation of data.—The data should reconcile as follows: B + C ‐ I = J. Do these data reconcile?
If your firm’s data do not reconcile, please explain:
4 Identify principal other export markets.
Yes
No
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ MSG
Page 10
Other explanations‐‐If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question that did not
provide a narrative response box, please note the question number and the explanation in the space
provided below. Please also use this space to highlight any issues your firm had in providing the data in
this section, including but not limited to technical issues with the MS Word questionnaire.
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ MSG
Page 11
OPTIONS FOR FILING THIS QUESTIONNAIRE
RESPONSE WITH THE ITC
This questionnaire is available as a “fillable” form in MS Word format on the
Commission’s website at:
http://usitc.gov/trade_remedy/731_ad_701_cvd/investigations/2014/msg/finalphase.htm
Please do not attempt to modify the format or permissions of the questionnaire
document. Please complete the questionnaire and submit it electronically using
one of the methods noted below. If your firm is unable to complete the MS
Word questionnaire or cannot use one of the electronic methods of submission,
please contact the Commission for further instructions.
• Upload via Secure Drop Box.—Upload the completed questionnaire in MS Word format along
with a scanned copy of the signed certification page (page 1) through the Commission’s secure
upload facility:
Web address: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/ Pin: MSG
• E‐mail.—E‐mail your questionnaire to the investigator identified on page 4 of this
questionnaire; include a scanned copy of the signed certification page (page 1).
Please note that submitting your questionnaire by e‐mail may subject your firm’s business
proprietary information to transmission over an unsecure environment and to possible
disclosure. If you choose this option, the Commission warns you that any risk involving possible
disclosure of such information is assumed by the submitter and not by the Commission.
• Compact disc (CD).—Copy your MS Word questionnaire onto a CD. Also please include a
signed certification page (page 1), and mail to the U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E.
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024. It is strongly recommended that you use an overnight mail
service. U.S. mail sent to government offices undergoes additional processing which not only
results in substantial delays in delivery but may also damage CDs.
Note: If you are a party to the proceeding, and service of the questionnaire is required, such
service should be made in paper form.
If you determine that your firm does not produce or export this product, please complete
page 1 of the respective questionnaire by: (1) Filling in your name and address, (2) Checking the
“no” box, (3) Signing the bottom of page 1, and (4) Returning page 1 to the Commission using
any of the methods listed above.
| File Type | application/pdf |
| File Title | Microsoft Word - MSG_Foreign Producer Questionnaire |
| Author | amy.sherman |
| File Modified | 2014-06-23 |
| File Created | 2014-06-23 |