Form 16-3-3501 U.S. Purchasers' Questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 16-3-1501; Expiration Date: 6/30/2017
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
HOT-ROLLED STEEL FLAT PRODUCTS
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by June 9, 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 antidumping and countervailing duty investigations concerning hot-rolled steel flat products from
Australia, Brazil, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the United Kingdom (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-545-547 and 731-TA1291-1297 (Final)). The information requested in the questionnaire is requested under the authority of the Tariff Act of
1930, title VII. This report is mandatory and failure to reply as directed can result in a subpoena or other order to compel
the submission of records or information in your possession (19 U.S.C. § 1333(a)). Further information on this
questionnaire can be obtained from John Benedetto (202-205-3270, [email protected]).
Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm purchased hot-rolled steel (as defined on next page) from any source (domestic or foreign) 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)

Return questionnaire via the U.S. International Trade Commission Drop Box by clicking on the
following link: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/. (PIN: HRS)
CERTIFICATION
I certify that the information herein supplied in response to this questionnaire is complete and correct to the best of my
knowledge and belief and understand that the information submitted is subject to audit and verification by the Commission.
By submitting this certification I also grant consent for the Commission, and its employees and contract personnel, to use the
information provided in this questionnaire and throughout this proceeding in any other import-injury proceedings conducted by
the Commission on the same or similar merchandise.
I, 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

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Hot-Rolled Steel (Final)

Page 2

PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.--This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on August 11, 2015, by AK
Steel Corporation (West Chester, Ohio), ArcelorMittal USA LLC (Chicago, Illinois), Nucor Corporation
(Charlotte, North Carolina), SSAB Enterprises, LLC (Lisle, Illinois), Steel Dynamics, Inc. (Fort Wayne,
Indiana), and United States Steel Corporation (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). Antidumping and
countervailing 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
http://wwwadmin.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2016/hot_rolled_steel_flat_products_australia_braz
il/final.htm
Hot-Rolled Steel.-- The products covered by these investigations are certain hot-rolled, flat-rolled steel
products, with or without patterns in relief, and whether or not annealed, painted, varnished, or coated
with plastics or other non-metallic substances. The products covered do not include those that are clad,
plated, or coated with metal. The products covered include coils that have a width or other lateral
measurement (‘‘width’’) of 12.7 mm or greater, regardless of thickness, and regardless of form of coil
e.g., in successively superimposed layers, spirally oscillating, etc.). The products covered also include
products not in coils (e.g., in straight lengths) of a thickness of less than 4.75 mm and a width that is 12.7
mm or greater and that measures at least 10 times the thickness. The products described above may be
rectangular, square, circular, or other shape and include products of either rectangular or nonrectangular cross-section where such cross-section is achieve subsequent to the rolling process, i.e.,
products which have been ‘‘worked after rolling’’ (e.g., products which have been beveled or rounded at
the edges).
For purposes of the width and thickness requirements referenced above:
(1) Where the nominal and actual measurements vary, a product is within the scope if application of
either the nominal or actual measurement would place it within the scope based on the definitions set
forth above unless the resulting measurement makes the product covered by the existing antidumping 1
or countervailing duty 2 orders on Certain Cut-To-Length Carbon-Quality Steel Plate Products From the
Republic of Korea (A–580–836; C–580–837), and
(2) where the width and thickness vary for a specific product (e.g., the thickness of certain products with
non-rectangular crosssection, the width of certain products with non-rectangular shape, etc.), the
measurement at its greatest width or thickness applies.
Steel products included in the scope of this investigation are 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

1

Notice of Amendment of Final Determinations of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Antidumping Duty Orders:
Certain Cut-To-Length Carbon-Quality Steel Plate Products From France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan and the
Republic of Korea, 65 FR 6585 (February 10, 2000).
2
Notice of Amended Final Determinations: Certain Cut-to-Length Carbon-Quality Steel Plate From India and the
Republic of Korea; and Notice of Countervailing Duty Orders: Certain Cut-To-Length Carbon-Quality Steel Plate
From France, India, Indonesia, Italy, and the Republic of Korea, 65 FR 6587 (February 10, 2000).

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Hot-Rolled Steel (Final)

Page 3

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
2.00 percent of nickel, or
0.30 percent of tungsten, or
0.80 percent of molybdenum, or
0.10 percent of niobium, or
0.30 percent of vanadium, or
0.30 percent of zirconium.

Unless specifically excluded, products are included in this scope regardless of levels of boron and
titanium.
For example, specifically included in this scope are vacuum degassed, fully stabilized (commonly
referred to as interstitial-free (IF)) steels, high strength low alloy (HSLA) steels, the substrate for motor
lamination steels, Advanced High Strength Steels (AHSS), and Ultra High Strength Steels (UHSS). IF steels
are recognized as low carbon steels with micro-alloying levels of elements such as titanium and/or
niobium added to stabilize carbon and nitrogen elements. HSLA steels are recognized as steels with
micro-alloying levels of elements such as chromium, copper, niobium, titanium, vanadium, and
molybdenum. The substrate for motor lamination steels contains micro-alloying levels of elements such
as silicon and aluminum. AHSS and UHSS are considered high tensile strength and high elongation steels,
although AHSS and UHSS are covered whether or not they are high tensile strength or high elongation
steels.
Subject merchandise includes hot-rolled steel that has been further processed in a third country,
including but not limited to pickling, oiling, levelling, annealing, tempering, temper rolling, skin passing,
painting, varnishing, trimming, cutting, punching, and/or slitting, or any other processing that would not
otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of the investigation if performed in the country of
manufacture of the hot-rolled steel.
All products that meet the written physical description, and in which the chemistry quantities do not
exceed any one of the noted element levels listed above, are within the scope of this investigation
unless specifically excluded. The following products are outside of and/or specifically excluded from the
scope of this investigation:
The following products are outside of and/or specifically excluded from the scope of these
investigations:
• Universal mill plates (i.e., hot-rolled, flat-rolled products not in coils that have been rolled on
four faces or in a closed box pass, of a width exceeding 150 mm but not exceeding 1250 mm, of
a thickness not less than 4.0 mm, and without patterns in relief);

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Hot-Rolled Steel (Final)
•
•
•
•

Page 4

Products that have been cold-rolled (cold-reduced) after hot-rolling; 3
Ball bearing steels; 4
Tool steels; 5 and
Silico-manganese steels; 6

The products subject to this investigation are currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of
the United States (HTSUS) under item numbers: 7208.10.1500, 7208.10.3000, 7208.10.6000,
7208.25.3000, 7208.25.6000, 7208.26.0030, 7208.26.0060, 7208.27.0030, 7208.27.0060, 7208.36.0030,
7208.36.0060, 7208.37.0030, 7208.37.0060, 7208.38.0015, 7208.38.0030, 7208.38.0090, 7208.39.0015,
7208.39.0030, 7208.39.0090, 7208.40.6030, 7208.40.6060, 7208.53.0000, 7208.54.0000, 7208.90.0000,
7210.70.3000, 7211.14.0030, 7211.14.0090, 7211.19.1500, 7211.19.2000, 7211.19.3000, 7211.19.4500,
7211.19.6000, 7211.19.7530, 7211.19.7560, 7211.19.7590, 7225.11.0000, 7225.19.0000, 7225.30.3050,
7225.30.7000, 7225.40.7000, 7225.99.0090, 7226.11.1000, 7226.11.9030, 7226.11.9060, 7226.19.1000,
7226.19.9000, 7226.91.5000, 7226.91.7000, and 7226.91.8000. The products subject to the
investigation may also enter under the following HTSUS numbers: 7210.90.9000, 7211.90.0000,
7212.40.1000, 7212.40.5000, 7212.50.0000, 7214.91.0015, 7214.91.0060, 7214.91.0090, 7214.99.0060,
7214.99.0075, 7214.99.0090, 7215.90.5000, 7226.99.0180, and 7228.60.6000.The HTSUS subheadings
above are provided for convenience and U.S. Customs purposes only. The written description of the
scope of the investigation is dispositive.
Certain alloy hot‐rolled steel products (“Alloy hot‐rolled steel” or “Alloy within scope hot-rolled
steel”).‐‐Alloy hot‐rolled steel, a subset of hot-rolled steel, 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 ‐ 1.50 percent of aluminum,
• 0.0008 – unlimited percent of boron,
• 0.40 – 1.50 percent of copper,
• 0.30 ‐ 1.25 percent of chromium,
• 1.65 – 2.50 percent of manganese,
• 0.08 – 0.80 percent of molybdenum,
• 0.30 ‐ 2.00 percent of nickel,
3

For purposes of this scope exclusion, rolling operations such as a skin pass, levelling, temper rolling or other
minor rolling operations after the hot-rolling process for purposes of surface finish, flatness, shape control, or
gauge control do not constitute cold-rolling sufficient to meet this exclusion.
4
Ball bearing steels are defined as steels which contain, in addition to iron, each of the following elements by
weight in the amount specified: (i) Not less than 0.95 nor more than 1.13 percent of carbon; (ii) not less than 0.22
nor more than 0.48 percent of manganese; (iii) none, or not more than 0.03 percent of sulfur; (iv) none, or not
more than 0.03 percent of phosphorus; (v) not less than 0.18 nor more than 0.37 percent of silicon; (vi) not less
than 1.25 nor more than 1.65 percent of chromium; (vii) none, or not more than 0.28 percent of nickel; (viii) none,
or not more than 0.38 percent of copper; and (ix) none, or not more than 0.09 percent of molybdenum.
5
Tool steels are defined as steels which contain the following combinations of elements in the quantity by weight
respectively indicated: (i) More than 1.2 percent carbon and more than 10.5 percent chromium; or (ii) not less
than 0.3 percent carbon and 1.25 percent or more but less than 10.5 percent chromium; or (iii) not less than 0.85
percent carbon and 1 percent to 1.8 percent, inclusive, manganese; or (iv) 0.9 percent to 1.2 percent, inclusive,
chromium and 0.9 percent to 1.4 percent, inclusive, molybdenum; or (v) not less than 0.5 percent carbon and not
less than 3.5 percent molybdenum; or (vi) not less than 0.5 percent carbon and not less than 5.5 percent tungsten.
6
Silico-manganese steel is defined as steels containing by weight: (i) Not more than 0.7 percent of carbon; (ii) 0.5
percent or more but not more than 1.9 percent of manganese, and (iii) 0.6 percent or more but not more than 2.3
percent of silicon.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Hot-Rolled Steel (Final)

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• 0.06 – 0.10 percent of niobium (also called columbium),
• 0.60 – 3.30 percent of silicon,
• 0.05 – unlimited percent of titanium,
• 0.10 – 0.30 percent of vanadium,
• 0.05 – 0.30 percent of zirconium.
Purchaser.--Any firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or subsidiary, in purchasing
hot-rolled steel from another firm that produces, imports, or otherwise distributes hot-rolled steel.
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,
and/or purchaser 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
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Hot-Rolled Steel (Final)
I-1.

Page 6

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
25 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 your U.S. 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 hot-rolled 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)

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Hot-Rolled Steel (Final)
I-4.

Related SUBJECT importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic
or foreign, which import hot-rolled steel from Australia, Brazil, Japan, Korea, Netherlands,
Turkey or United Kingdom into the United States or which export hot-rolled steel from these
countries to the United States?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

I-5.

Address

Affiliation

Related NONSUBJECT importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either
domestic or foreign, which import hot-rolled steel from countries other than Australia, Brazil,
Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Turkey and United Kingdom into the United States or which export
hot-rolled steel from countries other than these countries to the United States?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name and country

I-6.

Page 7

Address

Affiliation

Related producers.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, which
produce hot-rolled steel?
No
Firm name

Yes--List the following information.
Address

Affiliation

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Hot-Rolled Steel (Final)

Page 8

PART II.--PURCHASES
Contact information.-- Please identify the responsible individual and the manner by which Commission
staff may contact that individual regarding the confidential information submitted in this questionnaire.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
Fax
II-1. Purchases and inventories.—
(a) Purchases.--Report your firm’s total U.S. purchases of hot-rolled steel. (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).
Item

2013

2014

Purchases of hot-rolled steel produced
in--

2015

Quantity
(in short tons)

United States
Australia
Brazil
Japan
Korea
Netherlands
Turkey
United Kingdom
Canada (nonsubject)
All other countries1
Sources unknown
Total purchases
1

Please identify these countries:

0.0

0.0

0.0

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Hot-Rolled Steel (Final)
II-1.

Page 9

(b) Inventories.—Report your firm’s end-of-period (EOP) inventories of hot-rolled steel.
Item

Ending inventories of cold-rolled steel
produced in:

2013

2014

2015

Quantity (in short tons)

United States
Australia
Brazil
Japan
Korea
Netherlands
Turkey
United Kingdom
Canada (nonsubject)
All other countries
Sources unknown
Total EOP inventories

0.0

0.0

0.0

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Hot-Rolled Steel (Final)
II-2.

Page 10

Changes in purchasing patterns.--Please indicate how the shares of your firm’s purchases of
hot-rolled steel from different sources have changed since January 1, 2013. If you answer
fluctuated, please describe the changes in each year.
Source of
purchases

Did not
purchase Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated

Explanation for trend

United
States
Australia
Brazil
Japan
Korea
Netherlands
Turkey
United
Kingdom
Canada
All other
countries
Sources
unknown

II-3.

Purchases from one country only.--If your firm has purchased hot-rolled 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 hot-rolled steel since
January 1, 2013. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s total purchases of hotrolled steel that each of these suppliers accounted for in 2015.

No.

Supplier’s name

City and state

Share of quantity of
2015 purchases

1

%

2

%

3

%

4

%

5

%

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Hot-Rolled Steel (Final)

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

Firm type.--Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of hot-rolled steel
(check all that apply)?
End user
Distributor

Tubular
goods

Auto/
transport

Construction

Other

Describe other

If your firm is a distributor of hot-rolled steel, please answer questions III-2 and III-3.
III-2.

Competition for sales.--Does your firm compete for sales to customers with the manufacturers
or importers from which your firm purchases hot-rolled steel?
No

III-3.

Yes

If yes, please describe.

Types of customers.—
(a) What are the major types of consumers to which your firm sells hot-rolled steel?

(b) Are your firm’s purchases of hot-rolled steel intended for your firm’s general inventory or
destined for specific customers?
General inventory

Specific customers

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Hot-Rolled Steel (Final)

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If your firm is an end user of hot-rolled steel, please answer questions III-4 and III-5.
III-4.

End uses.--List the top 3 products your firm makes using hot-rolled steel and estimate the
percent of your total production cost that is accounted for by hot-rolled steel and by other
inputs (such as labor, energy, and other raw materials).
Share of total cost in each of the product(s) your
firm produces accounted for by
Product(s) your firm
produces

III-5.

Hot-rolled steel

Total
(should
sum to
100.0%
across)

Other inputs
% +

%

=

0.0 %

% +

%

=

0.0 %

% +

%

=

0.0 %

Demand for end use products.-(a)

Has the demand for your firm’s final products incorporating hot-rolled steel changed
since January 1, 2013?
Increased

(b)

No change

Decreased

Fluctuated

Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for hot-rolled steel?
No

Yes

Explain

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Hot-Rolled Steel (Final)
III-6.

Page 13

Substitutes.--Can other products be substituted for hot-rolled steel?
No

Yes--Please fill out the table.

End use in which this
substitute is used

Substitute

Have changes in the price of this substitute
affected the price for hot-rolled steel?
No Yes

Explanation

1.
2.
3.
III-7.

Demand trends.—

(a) Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United States (if known) for
hot-rolled steel has changed since January 1, 2013. Explain any trends and describe the principal
factors that have affected these changes in demand.

Overall
increase

Market

No
change

Fluctuate
Overall
with no
decrease clear trend

Explanation and factors

Within the United
States
Outside the United
States
(b) Describe any changes in downstream product demand that have affected changes in demand
for hot-rolled steel in the U.S. market since January 1, 2013.
Market
Change in demand for
oil-country tubular
goods
Change in demand for
other downstream
products

Explanation and factors

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Hot-Rolled Steel (Final)
III-8.

Importance of purchasing domestic product.--Please fill out the table below, estimating the
percentage of your firm’s total 2015 purchases of hot-rolled steel that required hot-rolled steel
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%)
III-9.

Page 14

Estimated percentage of
your firm’s total 2015
purchases of hot-rolled
steel
%
%
%
%
0.0 %

Conditions of competition.-(a)

Is the hot-rolled steel market subject to business cycles (other than general economywide conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to hot-rolled steel?

Check all that apply.

Please describe.

No

Skip to question III-10.

Yes-Business cycles (e.g.
seasonal business)
Yes-Other distinctive
conditions of competition
(b)

Have there been any changes in the business cycles or conditions of competition for
hot-rolled steel since January 1, 2013?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Hot-Rolled Steel (Final)

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III-10. Decisions based on producer and country-of-origin.--How often does your firm, and if known,
do your customers, make purchasing decisions involving hot-rolled 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
III-11. Availability of supply.--Has the availability of hot-rolled steel in the U.S. market changed since
January 1, 2013?
Availability in the U.S.
Please explain, noting the countries and reasons for the
market
No Yes changes.
U.S.-produced product
Subject imports
Nonsubject imports
III-12. Supply constraints.--Has any firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply your firm with
hot-rolled steel since January 1, 2013 (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,
weather-related effects, extended delivery times on quoted prices, etc.)?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Hot-Rolled Steel (Final)

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III-13. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

How frequently does your firm make purchases of hot-rolled steel (check one)?
Daily

(b)

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Annually

Other

If other, specify

Has this purchasing frequency changed since January 1, 2013?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

III-14. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers does your firm generally contact before
making a purchase? Between
and
firms
III-15. Supplier negotiations.—
(a)

Do your firm’s purchases of hot-rolled steel usually involve negotiations between
supplier and purchaser?

No

(b)

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

Do changes in raw material costs affect your firm’s price negotiations with your hotrolled steel suppliers?
No

(c)

Yes

Yes

Please explain.

Are your firm’s purchases of hot-rolled steel indexed to raw material costs?
No

Yes

Please explain.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Hot-Rolled Steel (Final)

Page 17

III-16. Change in suppliers.--Has your firm changed suppliers since January 1, 2013?

No

Yes

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

III-17. New suppliers.--Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have
entered the market since January 1, 2013?
No

Yes

If yes, please identify the firms.

III-18. Supplier qualification.--Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified
to sell hot-rolled steel to your firm?
If yes, provide the following information.
• 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.).

No

Yes

Number
of days Process and factors

III-19. Failure to certify.--Since January 1, 2013, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their
attempts to certify or qualify their hot-rolled 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.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Hot-Rolled Steel (Final)

Page 18

III-20. Major purchasing factors.--Please list, in order of their importance, the main factors your firm
considers in deciding from whom to purchase hot-rolled steel (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:
III-21. Purchasing factors.--Please rate the importance of the following factors in your firm’s
purchasing decisions for hot-rolled steel.

Factor
Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price
Prior experience with supplier
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Supplier certification
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs

Very
important

Somewhat
important

Not
important

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Hot-Rolled Steel (Final)

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III-22. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of hot-rolled steel?

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

Usually

Sometimes

Never

III-24. Price leaders.— A price leader is defined as (1) one or more firms that initiate a price change,
either upward or downward, that is followed by other firms, or (2) one or more firms that have a
significant impact on prices. A price leader is not necessarily the lowest-priced supplier.
Please list the names of any firms you considered price leaders in the hot-rolled steel market
since January 1, 2013.
Firm(s)

Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership

III-25. Purchasing subject imports rather than domestic products.—
(a)

Since January 2013, did your firm purchase imports of hot-rolled steel from subject
countries instead of U.S.-produced hot-rolled steel? Respond for each subject country.

Source
Australia
Brazil
Japan
Korea
Netherlands
Turkey
United Kingdom

Yes
(also respond to parts (b)
and (c))

No
(If “No” for all countries, skip to next
question)

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Hot-Rolled Steel (Final)
(b)

Page 20

If you responded “Yes” to part (a), was the imported product priced lower than the
domestic product?
Source

Yes

No

Australia
Brazil
Japan
Korea
Netherlands
Turkey
United Kingdom
(c)

If you responded “Yes” to part (a) above, was price a primary reason for the shift?

Source

Australia
Brazil
Japan
Korea
Netherlands
Turkey
United
Kingdom

Yes

If Yes, estimate the quantity
of purchases that your firm
shifted to imports since
January 2013 because of price
(in short tons)

No

If No, please indicate the
reason for the shift

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Hot-Rolled Steel (Final)

Page 21

III-26. U.S. producers and import competition.—
(a)

Since January 1, 2013, in connection with a sale or offer to sell hot-rolled steel to your
firm, did U.S. producers reduce their prices of domestically produced hot-rolled steel in
order to compete with lower-priced imports of hot-rolled steel from subject countries?
Respond for each subject country.
Source

Yes (also respond to
question part (b))

No (If “No” for all countries,
skip to next question)

Don’t know

Australia
Brazil
Japan
Korea
Netherlands
Turkey
United Kingdom
(b)

If your firm responded “yes” to any of the above countries, please provide an estimate
of the reduction in U.S. producers’ prices, and any additional explanations, such as
timing (e.g., months/years), frequency of price reductions, or other market/competitive
factors.

Source

Estimated
reduction in
U.S. prices
(percent)

Australia

%

Brazil

%

Japan

%

Korea

%

Netherlands

%

Turkey

%

United Kingdom

%

Additional explanation, including such information as
timing (e.g., months/years), frequency of price
reductions, or other market/competitive factors

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Hot-Rolled Steel (Final)

Page 22

III-27. Transportation network.—
(a) Has your firm had any difficulty and/or additional costs with transporting hot-rolled steel to
your facility (e.g., railcar availability)?
No

Yes

Please explain.

(b) If your firm is based on the West Coast, have freight costs or logistics impacted your
purchasing decisions?
No

Yes

Please explain.

(c) Since January 1, 2013, have you purchased imported hot-rolled steel due to transport costs
or lack of availability of railcar transport for product from U.S. suppliers?
No

Yes

If yes, identify the countries of those imports and explain.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Hot-Rolled Steel (Final)

Page 23

PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS
IV-1.

Country knowledge.--Please indicate the countries of origin for hot-rolled steel for which your
firm has actual marketing/pricing knowledge.
United
States

IV-2.

Australia

Brazil

Japan

Korea

Nether
-lands

Turkey

UK

Other
countries

Other countries
(specify)

Interchangeability.--Is hot-rolled 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

AusBrazil Japan
tralia

Korea

Netherlands

Turkey

UK

Canada

Other
countries

U.S.
Australia
Brazil
Japan
Korea
Netherlands
Turkey
UK
Canada
For any country-pair producing hot-rolled steel which is sometimes or never interchangeable,
please identify the country-pair and explain the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable
use:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Hot-Rolled Steel (Final)
IV-3.

Page 24

Factors other than price.--Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between hot-rolled 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

AusBrazil Japan
tralia

Korea

Netherlands

Turkey

UK

Canada

Other
countries

U.S.
Australia
Brazil
Japan
Korea
Netherlands
Turkey
UK
Canada
For any country-pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant
factor in your firm’s purchases of hot-rolled steel, identify the country-pair and report the
advantages or disadvantages imparted by such factors:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Hot-Rolled Steel (Final)
IV-4.

Page 25

Availability of merchandise.--Are certain grades/types/sizes of hot-rolled steel only available
from certain country sources?
No

Yes

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

Availability of specific products from domestic sources.—Since January 1, 2013, did you
purchase from a foreign supplier any of the products listed below after no U.S. supplier offered
to sell that product to you? Check the box(es) that apply, and please check at least one box.
1. Grade X-70 hot-rolled coil in thicknesses over 0.625”
2. High-tensile hot-rolled coil, with a tensile strength of 585 Mega Pascal
to 779 Mega Pascal, used for automotive parts
3. High-tensile hot-rolled coil, with a tensile strength of 780 Mega Pascal
or more, used for automotive parts
4. High Strength Low Alloy Steel with minimum 50 ksi yield strength,
greater than 0.500 inches in thickness and/or greater than 72 inches
wide
5. Steel with 100 ksi yield strength, greater than 65 inches wide and/or
greater than 0.375 inches thickness
6. Steel with 100 ksi yield strength, up to and including 0.375 inches
thickness with Charpy impact value of at least 20 ft/lb at minus 40
degrees F in transverse test direction
7. High Strength Low Alloy grade 70 steel, thin gauge (maximum 0.078
inches) meeting gauge tolerances not greater than 0.004 inches total
through the entire coil (head to tail)
8. Battery Quality Hot Band – Hot-rolled, continuously cast steel sheet in
coil suitable for further processing and the ultimate manufacture of
battery cans. The steel shall be ultra-clean, with individual particles of
non-metallic inclusions not greater than 1 micron (0.000039 inches)
and clusters or groups of non-metallics not exceeding 5 microns
(0.000197 inches) in length. Scale shall be completely removable by
hydrochloric acid pickling, the resulting surfaces being free of digs,
scratches, pits, gouges and slivers. The steel shall have a low crown,
with a symmetrical profile of 0.0020 inches maximum.
My firm purchased none of the above products since January 1, 2013.
My firm purchased one or more of the above products from domestic
producers since January 1, 2013. Please indicate which product(s) (by
number):
My firm purchased one or more of the above products from import
sources since January 1, 2013, but the products purchased were also
available from domestic sources. Please indicate which product(s) (by
number):

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Hot-Rolled Steel (Final)
IV-5.

Country preferences.--Do you or your customers ever specifically order hot-rolled steel from
one country in particular over other possible sources of supply?
No

IV-6.

Page 26

Yes

If yes, identify the countries and explain.

Choice of product not based on price.—
(d) If you purchased hot-rolled steel from one country 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).

(e) Is your firm willing to pay more for U.S.-produced hot-rolled steel than for hot-rolled steel
imported from subject countries?
No

Yes

If yes, identify the countries and explain.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Hot-Rolled Steel (Final)
IV-7.

Page 27

Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how hot-rolled steel
produced in each foreign country you identified in your response to the first question in Part IV
compares with hot-rolled steel produced in the United States.

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.
Product from
Product from
Product from
United States
United States
United States
compared to
compared to
compared to
product from
product from
product from
Australia
Brazil
Japan

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Prior experience with supplier
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Supplier certification
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 – Hot-Rolled Steel (Final)
IV-7.

Page 28

Continued.

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.
Product from
Product from
Product from
United States
United States
United States
compared to
compared to
compared to
product from
product from
product from
Korea
Netherlands
Turkey

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Prior experience with supplier
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Supplier certification
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 – Hot-Rolled Steel (Final)
IV-7.

Page 29

Continued.

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.
Product from
United States
Product from
Product from
compared to
product from
United States
United States
compared to
compared to
Nonsubject
product from
product from
countries other
United Kingdom
Canada
than Canada

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Prior experience with supplier
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Supplier certification
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 – Hot-Rolled Steel (Final)
IV-8.

Page 30

Minimum quality.--How often does hot-rolled 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
Australia
Brazil
Japan
Korea
Netherlands
Turkey
United Kingdom
Canada
Other:
IV-9.

Other explanations.--If your firm would like to further explain a response to any question that
did not provide a narrative response box, please note the question number and the explanation
in the space provided below.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Hot-Rolled Steel (Final)

Page 31

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://wwwadmin.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2016/hot_rolled_steel_flat_products_a
ustralia_brazil/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: HRS

• E-mail.—E-mail the MS Word 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 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 your firm submits (see
19 CFR § 207.7). Service of the questionnaire must be made in paper form.