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pdfOMB No. 3117‐0016/USITC No. 16‐4‐3435; Expiration Date: 6/30/2017
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FOREIGN PRODUCERS’/EXPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
CERTAIN BIAXIAL INTEGRAL GEOGRID PRODUCTS FROM CHINA
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by January 27, 2016
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 countervailing and antidumping duty investigations concerning certain biaxial integral
geogrid products (“biaxial integral geogrids”) from China (Inv. Nos. 701‐TA‐554 and 731‐TA‐1309 (Preliminary)).
The information requested in the questionnaire is requested under the authority of the Tariff Act of 1930, title
VII.
Name of firm
Address
Website
Has your firm produced or exported biaxial integral geogrids (as defined on next page) at any time since January
1, 2012?
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: GRID)
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, the undersigned, acknowledge that information submitted in response to this request for information and throughout this
investigation or other proceeding may be disclosed to and used:
(i) by the Commission, its employees and Offices, and contract personnel (a) for developing or maintaining the records of this or a
related proceeding, or (b) in internal investigations, audits, reviews, and evaluations relating to the programs, personnel, and
operations of the Commission including under 5 U.S.C. Appendix 3; or
(ii) by U.S. government employees and contract personnel, solely for cybersecurity purposes. I understand that all contract
personnel will sign appropriate nondisclosure agreements
Name of Authorized Official Title of Authorized Official
Date
Phone:
Signature
Fax:
Email address
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Biaxial integral geogrids
Page 2
PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.‐‐This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on January 13, 2016, by
Tensar Corporation, Morrow, Georgia. Countervailing and 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 subsidization and/or dumping. Questionnaires and other information pertinent to this
proceeding are available at
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2016/certain_biaxial_integral_geogrid_products_china/p
reliminary.htm.
Biaxial integral geogrid covered by these investigations are a polymer grid or mesh material (whether
or not finished, slit, cut‐to‐length, attached to woven or non‐woven fabric or sheet material, or
packaged) in which four‐sided openings in the form of squares, rectangles, rhomboids, diamonds, or
other four‐sided figures predominate. The products covered have strands (which generally have at least
some degree of molecular orientation) that constitute the sides of the openings and integral junctions
where the strands intersect. The products covered have a tensile strength of greater than 5 kilonewtons
per meter (“kN/m”) as measured by American Society for Testing and Materials (“ASTM”) Standard
D6637/D6637M in any direction and average overall flexural stiffness of more than 100,000 milligram‐
centimeter as measured under the ASTM D7748/D7748M Standard Test Method for Flexural Rigidity of
Geogrids, Geotextiles and Related Products.
Subject merchandise includes material matching the above description that has been finished,
packaged, or otherwise further processed in a third country, including by trimming, slitting, coating,
cutting, attaching to woven or non‐woven fabric or sheet material, or any other finishing, packaging, or
other further processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of the
investigations if performed in the country of manufacture of the biaxial integral geogrid.
All products that meet the written physical description are within the scope of these investigations
unless specifically excluded. The following products are outside of and/or specifically excluded from the
scope of these investigations:
(i) grid or mesh materials comprised of strands (including strands consisting of bundled, coated, or
sheathed fibers or filaments) that are:
(a) woven, knitted, or stitched together;
(b) mechanically joined (such as through tying, stapling, or use of rings);
(c) joined together by calendaring, heating, lasers, or welding in such a way as to lack a
homogenous or integral junction, such as where strands running in different directions remain
mostly in two planes; or
(d) bonded together with adhesives or other materials; and
(ii) grid or mesh materials wholly comprised of materials other than polypropylene or high density
polyethylene.
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Biaxial integral geogrids
Page 3
The products subject to the scope are currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of
the United States (“HTSUS”) under the following provisions: 3926.90.99.95. Subject
merchandise may also enter under provisions 3920.20.00.55 and 3925.90.00.00. The HTSUS
subheadings set forth above are provided for convenience and U.S. Customs purposes only. The
written description of the scope is dispositive.
Reporting of information.‐‐ If information is not readily available from your records, provide carefully
prepared estimates. If your firm is completing more than one questionnaire (i.e., a producer, importer,
purchaser and/or foreign producer questionnaire), you need not respond to duplicated questions.
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 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.
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Biaxial integral geogrids
I‐1.
Page 4
OMB statistics.‐‐Please report below the actual number of hours required and the cost to your
firm of completing this questionnaire.
I‐2.
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, 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.
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 in China involved in the production or export of biaxial
integral geogrids, including auxiliary facilities operated in conjunction with (whether or not
physically separate from) such facilities. Firms operating more than one establishment in China
should combine the data for all establishments into a single report.
I‐3.
Related U.S. producers.‐‐Does your firm or any related firm produce, have the capability to
produce, or have any plans to produce biaxial integral geogrids 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.
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Biaxial integral geogrids
I‐4.
Page 5
Related U.S. importers.‐‐Does your firm or any related firm import or have any plans to import
biaxial integral geogrids into the United States?
No
Yes‐‐Please name the firm(s) below and ensure that they complete the
Commission’s importer questionnaire.
I‐5.
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
biaxial integral geogrids in 2014.
Importer’s name
Contact
person
Email
Telephone
1
2
3
4
5
Share of
your
Street address (not
firm’s
P.O. box), city, state,
2014 U.S.
and zip code
exports
(%)
Street Address
,
City State Zip Code
Street Address
,
City State Zip Code
Street Address
,
City State Zip Code
Street Address
,
City State Zip Code
Street Address
,
City State Zip Code
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Biaxial integral geogrids
Page 6
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 biaxial integral geogrids since January 1, 2012.
(check as many as appropriate)
(please describe)
plant openings
plant closings
relocations
expansions
acquisitions
consolidations
prolonged shutdowns or
production curtailments
revised labor agreements
other (e.g., technology)
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Biaxial integral geogrids
II‐3.
Page 7
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 biaxial integral
geogrids 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. Include in the response a specific projection of your firm’s
capacity to produce biaxial integral geogrids (in pounds) for 2015
and 2016.
II‐4a. Production using same machinery.‐‐ Please report your firm’s production of products made on
the same equipment and machinery used to produce biaxial integral geogrids, and the
combined production capacity on this shared equipment and machinery.
“Overall production capacity” or “capacity” –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.
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).
“Production” ‐‐All production in your establishment(s) in China, including production consumed
internally within your firm.
Quantity (in pounds)
Calendar years
Item
2012
2013
January‐September
2014
2014
2015
Overall production capacity
Production of:
Biaxial integral geogrids 1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
Other products
Total
1
Data entered for production of biaxial integral geogrids will populate here once reported in question
II‐7.
2
Please identify these products: .
II‐4b. Operating parameters.‐‐The production capacity reported in II‐4a is based on operating hours
per week, weeks per year.
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Biaxial integral geogrids
II‐4c.
Page 8
Capacity calculation.‐‐Please describe the methodology used to calculate overall production
capacity reported in II‐4a, and explain any changes in reported capacity.
II‐4d. Production constraints.‐‐Please describe the constraint(s) that set the limit(s) on your firm’s
production capacity.
II‐4e. Product shifting.—
(i).
Is your firm able to switch production (capacity) between biaxial integral geogrids and other
products using the same equipment and/or labor?
No
Yes‐‐ (i.e., have produced other products or are able to produce other
products). Please identify other actual or potential products: .
(ii).
Please describe the factors that affect your firm’s ability to shift production capacity
between products (e.g., time, cost, relative price change, etc.), and the degree to which
these factors enhance or constrain such shifts.
II‐5.
Share of sales.‐‐What percentage of your firm’s total sales in its most recent fiscal year was
represented by sales of biaxial integral geogrids? percent.
II‐6.
II‐7.
Firm's estimated share of production in China.‐‐Please estimate the percentage of total production
of biaxial integral geogrids in the country specified on the certification page accounted for by your
firm’s production in 2014. percent.
Firm's estimated share of country's exports.‐‐Please estimate the percentage of total exports to
the United States of biaxial integral geogrids from the country specified on the certification page
accounted for by your firm’s exports in 2014. percent.
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Biaxial integral geogrids
II‐8.
Page 9
Inventories in the United States.‐‐Has your firm, since 2012, maintained any inventories of
biaxial integral geogrids in the United States (not including inventories held by firms identified in
question I‐3)?
“Inventories”‐‐Finished goods inventory, not raw materials or work in progress.
No
Yes‐‐Report the quantity of such end‐of‐period inventories below.
Quantity (in pounds)
Calendar year
Item
Inventory
II‐9.
2013
2014
Third country trade actions.‐‐Is the biaxial integral geogrids 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.
2012
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Biaxial integral geogrids
Page 10
II‐10. Trade data.‐‐Report your firm’s production capacity, production, shipments, and inventories
related to the production of biaxial integral geogrids in your establishment(s) in China 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.
“Average production capacity” or “capacity” –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.
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).
“Production” ‐‐All production in your establishment(s) in China, including production consumed
internally within your firm.
“Shipments”‐‐Shipments of products produced in your establishment(s) in China. Quantities
reported should be net of returns.
“Home market commercial shipments”‐‐Shipments, other than internal consumption and
transfers to related firms, within China.
“Home market internal consumption/transfers to related firms”‐‐Shipments made to
related firms in China, including product consumed internally by your firm.
“Export shipments”‐‐Shipments to destinations outside China, including shipments
to related firms.
“Inventories”‐‐Finished goods inventory, not raw materials or work‐in‐progress.
Note: As requested in Part I of this questionnaire, please keep all supporting documents/records
used in the preparation of the trade data, as Commission staff may contact your firm regarding
questions on the trade data. The Commission may also request that your company submit copies
of the supporting documents/records (such as production and sales schedules, inventory records,
etc.) used to compile these data.
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Biaxial integral geogrids
Page 11
II‐10. Trade data‐‐Continued.
Quantity (in pounds)
Projections1
Actual experience
Calendar year
Item
2012
2
2013
January‐September
2014
2014
2015
Calendar year
2015
2016
Average production capacity (A)
Beginning‐of‐period inventories
(B)
Production (C)
Home market shipments:
Internal consumption/
transfers (D)
Total exports (H)
(should equal F+G)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total shipments (I)
(should equal D+E+F+G)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Commercial shipments (E)
Exports to the United States (F)
3
Exports to all other markets (G)
End‐of‐period inventories (J)
1
Please explain the basis for your firm’s projections. .
The production capacity 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
Identify principal other export markets. .
2
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Biaxial integral geogrids
Page 12
II‐10. Trade data.—Continued.
RECONCILIATION OF SHIPMENTS, PRODUCTION, AND INVENTORY.‐‐Generally, the data reported
for the end‐of‐period inventories (i.e., line J) should be equal to the beginning‐of‐period
inventories (i.e., line B), plus production (i.e., line C), less total shipments (i.e., lines D, E, F, and
G). Please ensure that any differences are not due to data entry errors in completing this form,
but rather actually reflect your firm’s records; and also provide any likely explanations for any
differences (e.g., theft, loss, damage, record systems issues, etc.) if they exist.
Actual experience
Projections
Calendar year
Item
2012
2013
January‐March
2014
2014
2015
Calendar year
2015
2016
B + C – D – E – F –G – J =
should equal zero ("0")
or provide an
explanation.1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Explanation if the calculated fields above are returning values other than zero (i.e., “0”) but are
nonetheless accurate.
II‐11. Other explanations.‐‐If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question in Part II
that did not provide a narrative 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 – Biaxial integral geogrids
Page 13
PART III.‐‐ ALTERNATIVE PRODUCT INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Amy Sherman (202‐205
3289, [email protected]).
III‐1. Comparability of biaxial integral geogrids vs triaxial integral geogrids.‐‐For each of the
following indicate whether biaxial integral geogrids (subject to these investigations) and triaxial
integral geogrids (a related product) are: fully comparable or the same, i.e., have no
differentiation between them; mostly comparable or similar; somewhat comparable or similar;
never or not‐at‐all comparable or similar; or no familiarity with products.
(a)
Characteristics and Uses.‐‐ The differences and similarities in the physical
characteristics and end uses between biaxial integral geogrids and triaxial integral
geogrids.
Mostly
Somewhat
Not at all
Fully comparable
comparable
comparable
comparable
NA/no familiarity
Please provide a narrative discussion for the comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
characteristics and uses:
(b)
Interchangeability.‐‐The ability to substitute refined biaxial integral geogrids and
triaxial integral geogrids in the same application.
Fully
interchangeable
Mostly
interchangeable
Somewhat
interchangeable
Not at all
interchangeable
NA/no
familiarity
Please provide a narrative discussion for the comparability ratings you provided in terms of
their interchangeability:
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Biaxial integral geogrids
III‐1.
Page 14
Comparability of biaxial integral geogrids vs triaxial integral geogrids.‐‐Continued
(c)
Manufacturing facilities, production processes, and production employees.‐‐ Whether
refined biaxial integral geogrids and triaxial integral geogrids are manufactured in the
same facilities, from the same inputs, on the same machinery and equipment, and
using the same employees.
Fully the same
Mostly the same
Somewhat the
same
Not at all the
same
NA/no familiarity
Please provide a narrative discussion for the comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
manufacturing processes:
(d)
Channels of distribution.‐‐ Channels of distribution/market situation through which
biaxial integral geogrids and triaxial integral geogrids are sold (i.e., sold direct to end
users, through distributors, etc.).
Fully comparable
Mostly
comparable
Somewhat
comparable
Not at all
comparable
NA/no familiarity
Please provide a narrative discussion for the comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
channels of distribution:
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Biaxial integral geogrids
III‐1.
Page 15
Comparability of biaxial integral geogrids vs triaxial integral geogrids.‐‐Continued
(e)
Customer and producer perceptions.‐‐Perceptions as to the differences and/or
similarities in biaxial integral geogrids and triaxial integral geogrids in the market (e.g.,
sales/marketing practices).
Fully comparable
Mostly
comparable
Somewhat
comparable
Not at all
comparable
NA/no familiarity
Please provide a narrative discussion for the comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
customer and producer perceptions:
(f)
Price.‐‐Whether prices are comparable or differ between biaxial integral geogrids and
triaxial integral geogrids.
Fully comparable
Mostly
comparable
Somewhat
comparable
Not at all
comparable
NA/no familiarity
Please provide a narrative discussion for the comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
prices:
Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – Biaxial integral geogrids
Page 16
HOW TO FILE YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSE
This questionnaire is available as a “fillable” form in MS Word format on the Commission’s website at:
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2016/certain_biaxial_integral_geogrid_products_china/p
reliminary.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: GRID
• E‐mail.—E‐mail your questionnaire to [email protected]; include a scanned copy of the signed
certification page (page 1). Submitters are strongly encouraged to encrypt nonpublic documents that are
electronically transmitted to the Commission to protect your sensitive information from unauthorized
disclosure. The USITC secure drop‐box system and the Electronic Document Information System (EDIS)
use Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 140‐2 cryptographic algorithms to encrypt data in
transit. Submitting your nonpublic documents by a means that does not use these encryption algorithms
(such as by email) may subject your firm’s nonpublic information to unauthorized disclosure during
transmission. If you choose a non‐encrypted method of electronic transmission, the Commission warns
you that the risk of such possible unauthorized disclosure is assumed by you and not by the Commission.
If your firm did not produce or export 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, you are 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 (202‐
205‐1803). 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.
File Type | application/pdf |
File Title | Microsoft Word - Foreign producer questionnaire Biaxial Geogrid |
Author | amy.sherman |
File Modified | 2016-01-15 |
File Created | 2016-01-15 |