Form 15-3-3366 U.S. Purchaser Questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 15-3-3366; Expiration Date: 6/30/2017
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE

CUT-TO-LENGTH CARBON STEEL PLATE FROM CHINA, RUSSIA, AND UKRAINE
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by July 22, 2015
See last page for filing instructions.
The information called for in this questionnaire is for use by the United States International Trade Commission in
connection with its review of the antidumping duty order and suspension agreements concerning cut-to-length carbon
steel plate from China, Russia, and Ukraine (Inv. Nos. 731-TA-753, 754, and 756 (Third Review)). 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)). Further information on this
questionnaire can be obtained from Michele Breaux (202-205-2781, [email protected]).

Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm purchased CTL carbon steel plate or CTL micro-alloy steel plate (as defined on pages 2-3)
from any source (domestic or foreign) at any time since January 1, 2009?
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)

Return questionnaire via the Commission Drop Box by clicking on the following link:
https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/. (PIN: CTLP)
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 or reviews
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

Fax:

Email address

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL PLATE FROM CHINA, RUSSIA, AND UKRAINE

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PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background. On October 24, 1997, the Department of Commerce suspended investigations on imports
of CTL carbon steel plate from China, Russia, South Africa, and Ukraine (62 F.R. 61751, 61766, 61773,
and 61780). On August 29, 2003, the Commission determined that termination of the suspended
investigation for South Africa would not be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury
to an industry in the United States within a reasonably foreseeable time (68 F.R. 52614). On November
3, 2003, the Department of Commerce terminated the suspension agreement for China and issued an
antidumping duty order (68 F.R. 60081). On October 1, 2014, the Commission instituted a review
pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. § 1675(c)) (the Act) to determine whether
revocation of the antidumping duty order on CTL plate from China and/or the termination of the
suspended investigations on CTL plate from Russia and Ukraine would be likely to lead to continuation
or recurrence of material injury to the domestic industry within a reasonably foreseeable time. If the
Commission and Commerce make an affirmative determination, the antidumping duty order and/or
suspension agreements will remain in place. If the Commission or Commerce makes a negative
determination, the Department of Commerce will revoke the antidumping duty order and/ or terminate
the suspension agreements. Questionnaires and other information pertinent to this proceeding are
available at
http://usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2014/cut_to_length_carbon_steel_plate_china_russia_and/thir
d_review_full.htm.
These reviews cover:
CTL carbon steel plate.--Hot-rolled carbon steel universal mill plates (i.e., flat-rolled products rolled on
four faces or in a closed box pass, of a width exceeding 150 millimeters but not exceeding 1,250
millimeters and of a thickness of not less than 4 millimeters, not in coils and without patterns in relief),
of rectangular shape, neither clad, plated nor coated with metal, whether or not painted, varnished, or
coated with plastics or other nonmetallic substances; and certain hot-rolled carbon steel flat-rolled
products in straight lengths, of rectangular shape, hot rolled, neither clad, plated, nor coated with metal,
whether or not painted, varnished, or coated with plastics or other nonmetallic substances, 4.75
millimeters or more in thickness and of a width which exceeds 150 millimeters and measures at least
twice the thickness.
Included in the subject product are flat-rolled products of non-rectangular cross-section where such
cross-section is achieved subsequent to the rolling process (i.e., products that have been “worked after
rolling”) for example, products that have been beveled or rounded at the edges. The subject product is
covered by statistical reporting numbers 7208.40.3030, 7208.40.3060, 7208.51.0030, 7208.51.0045,
7208.51.0060, 7208.52.0000, 7208.53.0000, 720.90.0000, 7210.70.3000, 7210.90.9000, 7211.13.0000,
7211.14.0030, 7211.14.0045, 7211.90.0000, 7212.40.1000, 7212.40.5000, and 7212.50.0000 of the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS).
Specifically excluded from the subject product is grade X-70 plate. Also excluded is certain carbon CTL
steel plate with a maximum thickness of 80 millimeters in steel grades BS 7191, 355 EM, and 355 EMZ,
as amended by Sable Offshore Energy Project specification XB MOO Y 15 0001, types 1 and 2.

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CTL micro-alloy steel plate.—CTL micro-alloy steel plate products, in which: (1) iron predominates by
weight, over each of the other contained elements; (2) the carbon content is 2 percent or less, by
weight; and (3) one or more of the elements listed below is present in the quantity, by weight,
respectively indicated:
0.30 - 0.50 percent of aluminium
0.30 - 1.25 percent of chromium
0.40 – 1.00 percent of copper
1.65 – 1.80 percent of manganese
0.08 – 0.10 percent of molybdenum
0.30 - 1.25 percent of nickel

0.06 – 0.10 percent of niobium
0.60 – 1.50 percent of silicon
0.05 – 0.41 percent of titanium
0.10 – 0.15 percent of vanadium
0.05 – 0.15 percent of zirconium

Imports of nonsubject CTL micro-alloy steel plate may be reported in the following HTS statistical
numbers: 7725.40.3050, 7725.40.7000, 7225.99.0090, 7226.90.0180, 7226.91.5000, 7226.91.7000,
7226.91.8000, and 7226.99.0000.
Unless otherwise specified, “CTL plate” refers to both cut-to-length carbon steel plate and cut-to-length
micro-alloy steel plate.
Reporting of information.-- If information is not readily available from your records in exactly the form
requested, furnish carefully prepared estimates. If your firm is completing more than one questionnaire
in connection with this proceeding (i.e., a producer, importer, and/or purchaser questionnaire), you
need not respond to duplicated questions in the questionnaires.
Confidentiality.--The commercial and financial data furnished in response to this questionnaire 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.
Verification.--The information submitted in this questionnaire 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. Please also retain a copy
of the final document that you submit.
Release of information.--The information provided by your firm in response to this questionnaire, 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.

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I-1a. OMB statistics.--Please report the actual number of hours required and the cost to your firm of
completing this questionnaire.
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
40 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering data, and
completing and reviewing the questionnaire.
We welcome comments regarding the accuracy of this burden estimate, suggestions for
reducing the burden, and any suggestions for improving this questionnaire. Please attach such
comments to your response or send to the Office of Investigations, USITC, 500 E St. SW,
Washington, DC 20436.
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, if different from that listed on the cover page. Firms operating more than one
establishment should combine the data for all establishments into a single report.
“Establishment”--Each facility of a firm involved in the purchase of CTL plate (carbon steel or
micro-alloy steel), including auxiliary facilities operated in conjunction with (whether or not
physically separate from) such facilities.

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 - CTL PLATE FROM CHINA, RUSSIA, AND UKRAINE
I-4.

Related SUBJECT importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic
or foreign, that import CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) from China, Russia, and/or
Ukraine into the United States or that export CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) from
China, Russia, and/or Ukraine to the United States?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

I-5.

Address

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name and country

Address

Affiliation

Related producers.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, that
produce CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel)?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name and country

I-7.

Affiliation

Related NONSUBJECT importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either
domestic or foreign, that import CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) from countries
other than China, Russia, and/or Ukraine into the United States or that export CTL plate (carbon
steel or micro-alloy steel) from countries other than China, Russia, and/or Ukraine to the United
States?
No

I-6.

Page 5

Address

Affiliation

Business plan.--Does your company or any related firm have a business plan or any internal
documents that describe, discuss, or analyze expected market conditions for CTL plate (carbon
steel or micro-alloy steel)?

No

Yes

If yes, please provide these documents. If you are not providing the
requested documents, please explain why not.

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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

For the following questions, if your responses differ with respect to CTL carbon steel
plate and CTL micro-alloy steel plate, please indicate.
II-1.

Purchases.—
(a)

Please estimate your firm’s total U.S. purchases of CTL plate (carbon steel and microalloy steel) in 2014. (Do not include imports for which your firm was the importer of
record; such imports should be reported in your U.S. importer’s questionnaire.)
2014 purchases
CTL carbon steel
plate

CTL micro-alloy
steel plate

Quantity (short tons)
(b)

Estimate the percentage of the quantity of your firm’s purchases of CTL plate (carbon
steel and micro-alloy steel) in 2014 that were produced in each of the specified
countries.
Share of quantity of 2014 purchases
CTL plate produced in:

CTL carbon steel
plate

CTL micro-alloy
steel plate

United States

%

%

China

%

%

Russia

%

%

Ukraine

%

%

All other countries:1

%

%

Total (should sum to 100.0%)
1

Please identify these countries:

0.0

%

0.0

%

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL PLATE FROM CHINA, RUSSIA, AND UKRAINE
II-2.

Page 7

Changes in purchasing patterns.--Please indicate how the shares of your firm’s purchases of CTL
plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) from different sources have changed since January 1,
2009.
Source of
purchases

Did not Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated
purchase

Explanation for
trend

United States

China

Russia

Ukraine
All other
countries
II-3.

Purchases from one country only.--If your firm has purchased CTL plate (carbon steel or microalloy steel) from only one country, please explain the reasons for doing so.

II-4.

Supplier identification.-- Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers for CTL plate (carbon steel
or micro-alloy steel) since January 1, 2009. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s
total purchases of CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) that each of these suppliers
accounted for in 2014.

No.

Supplier’s name

City and state

Share of quantity of
2014 purchases

1

%

2

%

3

%

4

%

5

%

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PART III.-- MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES

For the following questions, if your responses differ with respect to CTL carbon steel
plate and CTL micro-alloy steel plate, please indicate.
III-1.

Firm type.--Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of CTL plate (carbon
steel or micro-alloy steel) (check all that apply)?
End user

Processor/Service
Center

Distributor

Other

Describe other

If your firm is a distributor of CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel), please answer questions III-2
and III-3.
III-2.

Competition for sales.--Do you compete for sales to your customers with the manufacturers or
importers from which you purchase CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel)?
No

III-3.

Yes

If yes, please describe.

Types of customers.--What are the major types of consumers to which you sell CTL plate (carbon
steel or micro-alloy steel)?

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

End uses.--List the top 3 products you make using CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel)
and estimate the percent of your total production cost that is accounted for by CTL plate and by
other inputs (such as labor, energy, and other raw materials).
Share of total cost of end use product
accounted for by
End use product

III-5.

CTL plate

Other inputs

Total
(should sum to
100.0% across)

%

%

0.0 %

%

%

0.0 %

%

%

0.0 %

Demand for end use products.-(a)

Has the demand for your firm’s final products incorporating CTL plate (carbon steel or
micro-alloy steel) changed since January 1, 2009?
Increased

(b)

No change

Decreased

Fluctuated

Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy
steel)?
No

Yes

Explain

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL PLATE FROM CHINA, RUSSIA, AND UKRAINE
III-6.

Page 10

Changes in end uses.-- Have there been any changes in the end uses of CTL plate (carbon steel
or micro-alloy steel) since January 1, 2009? Do you anticipate any future changes?
Changes in end
uses

No

Yes

Explain

Changes since
2009
Anticipated
changes

III-7.

Substitutes.--Can other products be substituted for CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel)?
No

Substitute

Yes--Please fill out the table.

End use in which this
substitute is used

Have changes in the price of this substitute
affected the price for CTL plate?
No Yes

Explanation

1.
2.
3.
III-8.

Changes in substitutes.-- Have there been any changes in the number or types of products that
can be substituted for CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) since January 1, 2009? Do
you anticipate any future changes?
Changes in
substitutes
Changes since
January 1, 2009
Anticipated
changes

No Yes

Explain

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL PLATE FROM CHINA, RUSSIA, AND UKRAINE
III-9.

Page 11

Demand trends.-- Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United
States (if known) for CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) has changed since January 1,
2009, and how you anticipate demand will change in the future. Explain any trends and
describe the principal factors that have affected, and that you anticipate will affect, these
changes in demand.

Market

Overall
increase

No
change

Overall
decrease

Fluctuate
with no
clear trend

Explanation and factors

Demand since January 1, 2009
Within
the United
States
Outside
the United
States
Anticipated future demand
Within
the United
States
Outside
the United
States
III-10. Market studies.--Please provide as a separate attachment to this request any studies, surveys,
etc. that you are aware of that quantify and/or otherwise discuss CTL plate (carbon steel or
micro-alloy steel) supply (including production capacity and capacity utilization) and demand in
(1) the United States, (2) each of the other major producing/consuming countries, including
China, Russia, and/or Ukraine, and (3) the world as a whole. Of particular interest are such data
from 2009 to the present and forecasts for the future.

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III-11. Availability of supply.--Has the availability of CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) in the
U.S. market changed since January 1, 2009? Do you anticipate any future changes?
Availability in the U.S.
market

Please explain, noting the countries and reasons for the
No Yes changes.

Changes since January 1, 2009:
U.S.-produced product
Subject imports
Nonsubject imports
Anticipated changes:
U.S.-produced product
Subject imports
Nonsubject imports
III-12. Importance of purchasing domestic product.--Please fill out the table below, estimating the
percentage of your firm’s total 2014 purchases of CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel)
that required CTL plate produced in the United States.

Purchases that did not require domestic product
Purchases that were required by law or regulation to be domestic
product (e.g., government purchases under “Buy American”
provisions)
Purchases that were not required by law or regulation, but were
required by your customers to be domestic product
Purchases that were required to be domestic product for other
reasons (explain:
)
Total (should sum to 100.0%)

Estimated
percentage of
your firm’s total
2014 purchases
of CTL plate
%
%
%
%
0.0 %

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III-13. Conditions of competition.-(a) Is the CTL plate market subject to business cycles (other than general economy-wide
conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to CTL plate (carbon steel or
micro-alloy steel)?
Check all that apply.

Please describe.

No

Skip to question III-14.

Yes-Business cycles (e.g.
seasonal business)
Yes-Other distinctive
conditions of competition
(b) If yes, have there been any changes in the business cycles or conditions of competition for
CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) since January 1, 2009?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

III-14. Decisions based on producer and country-of-origin.--How often does your firm, and if you
know, do your customers, make purchasing decisions involving CTL plate (carbon steel or microalloy steel) based on its producer or country of origin?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

If at least sometimes, explain.

Decision based on producer
Your firm
Your
customers
Decision based on country of origin
Your firm
Your
customers

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III-15. Supply constraints.--Has any firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply your firm with CTL
plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) since January 1, 2009 (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

If yes, please describe.

III-16. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

How frequently do you make purchases of CTL plate (check one)?
Daily

(b)

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Annually

Other

If other, specify

Do you expect this purchasing frequency to change in the next two years?
No

Yes

If yes, explain.

III-17. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers do you generally contact before making a
purchase? Between
and
firms.
III-18. Supplier negotiations.--Do your purchases of CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) usually
involve negotiations between supplier and purchaser?

No

Yes

If yes, explain the factors you generally negotiate and note whether
your firm quotes competing prices during negotiations.

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III-19. Change in suppliers.--Have you changed suppliers since January 1, 2009?

No

Yes

If yes, please list the supplier(s), whether the firm was added or
dropped, the reasons for the change.

III-20. New suppliers.-(a)

Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have entered the
market since January 1, 2009?
No

(b)

Yes

If yes, please identify the firms.

Do you expect new CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) suppliers to enter the
U.S. market?
No

Yes

If yes, please explain.

III-21. Supplier qualification.--Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified
to sell CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) to your firm?
If yes, provide the following information.
•
•

No

The number of days to qualify a new supplier.
A general description of the certification or qualification process. Also, a brief
description of the factors that you consider when qualifying a new supplier (e.g., quality
of product, reliability of supplier, etc.).

Yes

Number
of days Process and factors

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III-22. Failure to certify.--Since January 1, 2009, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their
attempts to certify or qualify their CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy 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-23. Major purchasing factors.-- Please list, in order of their importance, the three major factors
your firm considers in deciding from whom to purchase CTL plate (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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III-24. Purchasing factors.--Please rate the importance of the following factors in your firm’s
purchasing decisions for CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel).
Very
important

Factor

Somewhat
important

Not
important

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price
Product consistency
Product range
Quality exceeds industry standards
Quality meets industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs
III-25. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel)?

III-26. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the CTL plate
(carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) that is offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

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III-27. 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 CTL plate (carbon steel or
micro-alloy steel) market since January 1, 2009.
Firm(s)

Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership

III-28. Changes in U.S. industry.-(a)

Please identify and discuss any improvements/changes in the U.S. CTL plate (carbon
steel or micro-alloy steel) industry since January 1, 2009 and explain the factors,
including the order(s) under review, that were responsible for each
improvement/change.

(b)

Please discuss any improvements/changes that you anticipate in the future in the U.S.
CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) industry. Identify the time period and
causes for these improvements/changes.

III-29. Effect of revocation.--What do you think will be the likely effects of any revocation of the
antidumping duty order on CTL plate China and suspension agreements covering imports of CTL
plate from Russia and Ukraine? As appropriate, please discuss any potential effects of
revocation of the antidumping duty order and suspension agreements on (1) the future
activities of your firm and (2) the U.S. market as a whole. Please note the future time period to
which you are referring.
(1) Activities of
your firm
(2) Entire U.S.
market

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PART IV.-- PRODUCT COMPARISIONS

For the following questions, if your responses differ with respect to CTL carbon steel
plate and CTL micro-alloy steel plate, please indicate.
IV-1.

Country knowledge.--Please indicate the countries of origin for CTL plate (carbon steel or microalloy steel) for which your firm has actual marketing/pricing knowledge.
United
States

IV-2.

China

Russia

Ukraine

Other
countries

Other countries (specify)

Interchangeability.--Is CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy 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

China

Russia

Ukraine

Other countries

United States
China
Russia
Ukraine
For any country-pair producing CTL plate which is sometimes or never interchangeable, please
identify the country-pair and explain the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable use:

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL PLATE FROM CHINA, RUSSIA, AND UKRAINE
IV-3.

Page 20

Factors other than price.--Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between CTL plate (carbon steel
or micro-alloy 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

China

Russia

Ukraine

Other countries

United States
China
Russia
Ukraine
For any country-pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant
factor in your firm’s purchases of CTL plate, identify the country-pair and report the
advantages or disadvantages imparted by such factors:

IV-4.

Availability of merchandise.--Are certain grades/types/sizes of CTL plate (carbon steel or microalloy steel) available only from certain country sources?
No

IV-5.

Yes

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

Choice of product not based on price.--If you purchased CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy
steel) from one source although a comparable product was available from another country
source at a lower price, please explain your reasons for doing so (please specify by country).

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL PLATE FROM CHINA, RUSSIA, AND UKRAINE

Page 21

IV-6. Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how CTL plate (carbon
steel or micro-alloy steel) produced in each country you identified in your response to the first question
in Part IV compares with CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy steel) produced in each of the other
countries you identified.
If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.

Inferior

Comparable

product from
United States
compared to
product from
Ukraine

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

product from
United States
compared to
product from
Russia

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

product from
United States
compared to
product from
China

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality exceeds industry standards
Quality meets industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
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 - CTL PLATE FROM CHINA, RUSSIA, AND UKRAINE
IV-6.

Page 22

Continued.

If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.

Inferior

Comparable

product from
Russia
compared to
product from
Ukraine

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

product from
China
compared to
product from
Ukraine

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

product from
China
compared to
product from
Russia

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality exceeds industry standards
Quality meets industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
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 - CTL PLATE FROM CHINA, RUSSIA, AND UKRAINE
IV-6.

Page 23

Continued.

If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.

Inferior

Comparable

product from
Russia
compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

product from
China
compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

product from
United States
compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality exceeds industry standards
Quality meets industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
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 - CTL PLATE FROM CHINA, RUSSIA, AND UKRAINE
IV-6.

Page 24

Continued.

If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

product from
Ukraine
compared to product from
Nonsubject countries

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality exceeds industry standards
Quality meets industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
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 - CTL PLATE FROM CHINA, RUSSIA, AND UKRAINE
IV-7.

Page 25

Minimum quality.--How often does CTL plate (carbon steel or micro-alloy 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
China
Russia
Ukraine
Other:
IV-8.

Change in price.-(a)

Since January 1, 2009, has there been a change in the price of CTL plate? If so, has the
price of U.S.-produced CTL plate changed more or less than the price of imported CTL
plate from China, Russia, and/or Ukraine?
No change in price.
Prices have changed by the same amount.
Price of U.S.-produced CTL plate has changed relative to the price of CTL
plate from China.
Price of U.S.-produced CTL plate has changed relative to the price of CTL
plate from Russia.
Price of U.S.-produced CTL plate has changed relative to the price of CTL
plate from Ukraine.

(b)

If the price of U.S.-produced CTL plate has changed relative to the price of CTL plate
from China, Russia, and/or Ukraine, the price of U.S.-produced CTL plate is now
relatively
Higher

Lower
than those from China.
than those from Russia.
than those from Ukraine.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - CTL PLATE FROM CHINA, RUSSIA, AND UKRAINE
IV-9.

Page 26

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.

HOW TO FILE YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSE
This questionnaire is available as a “fillable” form in MS Word format on the
Commission’s website at:
http://usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2014/cut_to_length_carbon_steel_plate_china_
russia_and/third_review_full.htm.
Please do not attempt to modify the format or permissions of the questionnaire
document. Please submit the completed questionnaire 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 MS Word questionnaire 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: CTLP

• E-mail.—E-mail the MS Word questionnaire to [email protected]; 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.
If your firm does not purchase this product, please fill out page 1, print, sign, and submit a scanned
copy to the Commission.
Parties to this proceeding.—If your firm is a party to this proceeding, it is required to serve a copy of the
completed questionnaire on parties to the proceeding that are subject to administrative protective
order (see 19 CFR § 207.7). A list of such parties may be obtained from the Commission’s Secretary (202205-1803). A certificate of service must accompany the completed questionnaire you submit (see 19 CFR
§207.7). Service of the questionnaire must be made in paper form.