16-4-3483 Foreign Producers'/Exporters' Questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 16-4-3483; Expiration Date: 6/30/2017
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

FOREIGN PRODUCERS’/EXPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
HEAVY WALLED RECTANGULAR WELDED CARBON STEEL PIPES AND TUBES
FROM KOREA, MEXICO, AND TURKEY
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by May 12, 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 duty and antidumping investigations concerning heavy walled rectangular
welded carbon steel pipes and tubes (“HWR tubular products”) from Korea, Mexico, and Turkey (Inv. Nos. 701TA-539 and 731-TA-1280-1282 (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
Has your firm produced or exported HWR tubular products (as defined on next page) at any time since January
1, 2013?

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)

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

MEXICO

TURKEY

Return questionnaire via the Commission Drop Box by clicking on the following link:
https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/. (PIN: HWR16)
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 proceeding 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 – HWR tubular products

Page 2

PART I.--GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.--This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on June 21, 2015, by Atlas
Tube, a division of JMC Steel Group (Chicago, Illinois), Bull Moose Tube Company (Chesterfield,
Missouri), EXLTUBE (North Kansas City, Missouri), Hannibal Industries, Inc. (Los Angeles, California),
Independence Tube Corporation (Chicago, Illinois), Maruichi American Corporation (Santa Fe Springs,
California), Searing Industries (Rancho Cucamonga, California), Southland Tube (Birmingham, Alabama),
and Vest, Inc. (Los Angeles, California). Countervailing and/or 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://usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2016/heavy_walled_rectangular_welded_carbon_steel_pipes/f
inal.htm
Heavy Walled Rectangular Welded Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes (“HWR Tubular Products”).--The
products covered by these investigations include certain heavy walled rectangular welded steel pipes
and tubes of rectangular (including square) cross section, having a nominal wall thickness of not less
than 4 millimeters. The merchandise includes, but is not limited to, the American Society for Testing and
Materials (ASTM) A 500, grade B specifications, or comparable domestic or foreign specifications.
Included products are those 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) none of the elements
listed below exceeds the quantity, by weight, respectively indicated:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

2.50 percent of manganese, or
3.30 percent of silicon, or
1.50 percent of copper, or
1.50 percent of aluminum, or
1.25 percent of chromium, or
0.30 percent of cobalt, or
0.40 percent of lead, or
2.0 percent of nickel, or
0.30 percent of tungsten, or
0.80 percent of molybdenum, or
0.10 percent of niobium (also called columbium), or
0.30 percent of vanadium, or
0.30 percent of zirconium.

The subject merchandise is currently provided for in item 7306.61.1000 of the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (“HTSUS”). Subject merchandise may also enter under HTSUS
7306.61.3000. While the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the
written description of the scope of this investigation is dispositive. 1

1

The Department of Commerce has preliminarily found that that further processed HWR tubular products for use
as parts fall within the scope of these investigations.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – HWR tubular products

Page 3

Further Processed HWR Tubular Products For Use As Parts.--HWR tubular products that have been
further manufactured beyond tube formation through one or more of the following processes -- laser
cutting, drilling, perforation, and bending -- and that are dedicated for use in producing an industrial
product.
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 – HWR tubular products
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.
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.
I-2.

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 Korea, Mexico, or Turkey involved in the production
or export of HWR tubular products, including auxiliary facilities operated in conjunction with
(whether or not physically separate from) such facilities. Firms operating more than one
establishment in Korea, Mexico, or Turkey should combine the data for all establishments into a
single report.
Do not submit data on multiple countries combined. The establishments reported here should
all be located in the country specified on the certification page. Multinational companies with
production in multiple subject countries should submit separate foreign producer questionnaire
responses for each subject country.

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 HWR tubular products 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 – HWR tubular products
I-4.

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

I-5.

2

3

4

5

Yes--Please name the firm(s) below and ensure that they complete the
Commission’s importer questionnaire.

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 HWR
tubular products in 2015.

Importer’s name

1

Page 5

Contact
person

Email

Telephone

Street address (not
P.O. box), city, state,
and 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
Street Address
,
City State Zip Code

Share of
your
firm’s
2015 U.S.
exports
(%)

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – HWR tubular products

Page 6

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Carolyn Carlson (202-2053002, [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 HWR tubular products since January 1, 2013.
(check as many as appropriate)
plant openings
plant closings
relocations
expansions
acquisitions
consolidations
prolonged shutdowns or
production curtailments
revised labor agreements
other (e.g., technology)

(please describe)

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – HWR tubular products

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 HWR tubular
products in the future?

II-3.

No

II-4a.

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 HWR tubular products (in short tons) for 2016
and 2017.

Overall capacity and production.--Please report your firm’s production of products made on the
same equipment and machinery used to produce HWR tubular products, 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 Korea, Mexico, or Turkey, including
production consumed internally within your firm.
Quantity (in short tons)
Calendar years
Item

2013

2014

January-March
2015

2015

2016

Overall production capacity (A)
Production of:
Subject merchandise/HWR tubular products1
(B)

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Other rectangular (including square) tubing (C)
Other2 (D)
Total production (E)
1

Data entered for production of HWR tubular products will populate here once reported in question II-7.
Please identify these products:
.
3
Generally, total production (line E) will not exceed capacity (line A) in any given time period. If it does, please
explain.
.
2

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – HWR tubular products

Page 8

II-4b.

Operating parameters.--The production capacity reported in II-4a is based on operating
per week,
weeks per year.

II-4c.

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 HWR tubular products and other
products using the same equipment and/or labor?
No

(ii).

hours

Yes--(i.e., have produced other products or are able to produce other
products). Please identify other actual or potential products:
.

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 HWR tubular products?
percent.

II-6.

Firm's estimated share of production in Korea, Mexico, or Turkey.--Please estimate the percentage
of total production of HWR tubular products in the country specified on the certification page
accounted for by your firm’s production in 2015.
percent.

II-7.

Firm's estimated share of country's exports.--Please estimate the percentage of total exports to
the United States of HWR tubular products from the country specified on the certification page
accounted for by your firm’s exports in 2015.
percent.

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – HWR tubular products
II-8.

Page 9

Inventories in the United States.--Has your firm, since January 1, 2013, maintained any
inventories of HWR tubular products 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 short tons)
Calendar year

Item

2013

2014

January to March
2015

2015

2016

Inventory

II-9.

Third country trade actions.--Are the HWR tubular products exported by your firm subject to
antidumping/countervailing duty/safeguard findings, remedies, or proceedings in any third
countries?
No

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

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – HWR tubular products
II-10.

Page 10

Trade data.--Report your firm’s production capacity, production, shipments, and inventories
related to the production of HWR tubular products in your establishment(s) in Korea, Mexico, or
Turkey 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 specified on the certification page. Multinational companies with
production in multiple subject countries should submit separate foreign producer questionnaire
responses for each subject country.
“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 Korea, Mexico, or Turkey, including
production consumed internally within your firm.
“Shipments” – Shipments of products produced in your establishment(s) in Korea, Mexico, or
Turkey. Quantities reported should be net of returns.
“Home market commercial shipments” – Shipments, other than internal consumption and
transfers to related firms, within Korea, Mexico, or Turkey.
“Home market internal consumption/transfers to related firms” – Shipments made to
related firms in Korea, Mexico, or Turkey, including product consumed internally by your firm.
“Export shipments” – Shipments to destinations outside Korea, Mexico, or Turkey, 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 – HWR tubular products
II-10.

Page 11

Trade data.--Continued.
Quantity (in short tons)
Projections1

Actual experience
Calendar year
Item

2013

2014

January-March
2015

2015

Calendar year

2016

2016

2017

2

Average production capacity (A)
Beginning-of-period inventories
(B)
Production (C)
Home market shipments:
Internal consumption/
transfers (D)
Commercial shipments (E)
Exports to the United States (F)
Exports to all other markets3 (G)
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

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 – HWR tubular products
II-10.

Page 12

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
Calendar year
Item

2013

2014

Projections
January-March

2015

2015

2016

Calendar year
2016

2017

B + C – D – E – F –G – J =
should equal zero ("0")
or provide an
explanation.1
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.

0

HWR tubular products export data to the United States.--Report the quantity and value of your
firm’s export data to the United States of the specified type of HWR tubular products produced
in your establishment(s) during the specified periods.
Calendar year
Item

2013

2014

January-March
2015

2015

2016

Quantity (in short tons)
HWR tubular products without
further processing (Quantity) (K)
Further processed HWR tubular
products for use as parts: (Quantity)
(L)
Calendar years
Reconciliation
Quantity reconciliation: K + L – D – E
= zero ("0"), if not revise.

2013

2014
0

January-March
2015

0

2015
0

2016
0

0

Business Proprietary
Foreign Producers’ Questionnaire – HWR tubular products
II-11.

Page 13

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 – HWR tubular products

Page 14

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://usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2016/heavy_walled_rectangular_welded_carb
on_steel_pipes/final.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: HWR16

• 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 (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.