16-3-3517 U.S. Purchasers Questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 16-3-3517; Expiration Date: 6/30/2017
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
CIRCULAR WELDED CARBON-QUALITY STEEL PIPE FROM OMAN, PAKISTAN, THE
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, AND VIETNAM
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by August 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/antidumping investigation(s) concerning circular welded carbon-quality steel
pipe (“circular welded pipe”) from Oman, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”), and Vietnam (Inv. Nos. 701-TA549 and 731-TA-1299, 1300, 1302, and 1303 (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 Lauren Gamache (202-205-3489,
[email protected]).
Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm purchased circular welded pipe (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: CWP4)
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

Email address
Fax

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Circular Welded Pipe

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PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.-- This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on October 28, 2015, by Bull
Moose Tube Company, Chesterfield, MO; EXLTUBE, Kansas City, MO; Wheatland Tube, a division of JMC
Steel Group, Chicago, IL; and Western Tube & Conduit, Long Beach, CA. 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://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2016/circular_welded_carbon_quality_steel_pipe_oman/
final.htm
Circular welded pipe covered by these investigations is welded carbon-quality steel pipes and tube, of
circular cross-section, with an outside diameter (O.D.) not more than nominal 16 inches (406.4 mm),
regardless of wall thickness, surface finish (e.g., black, galvanized, or painted), end finish (plain end,
beveled end, grooved, threaded, or threaded and coupled), or industry specification (e.g., American
Society for Testing and Materials International (ASTM), proprietary, or other), generally known as
standard pipe, fence pipe and tube, sprinkler pipe, and structural pipe (although subject product may
also be referred to as mechanical tubing). Specifically, the term “carbon quality” includes products in
which:
(a) iron predominates, by weight, over each of the other contained elements;
(b) the carbon content is 2 percent or less, by weight; and
(c) none of the elements listed below exceeds the quantity, by weight, as indicated:
(i) 1.80 percent of manganese;
(ii) 2.25 percent of silicon;
(iii) 1.00 percent of copper;
(iv) 0.50 percent of aluminum;
(v) 1.25 percent of chromium;
(vi) 0.30 percent of cobalt;
(vii) 0.40 percent of lead;
(viii) 1.25 percent of nickel;
(ix) 0.30 percent of tungsten;
(x) 0.15 percent of molybdenum;
(xi) 0.10 percent of niobium;
(xii) 0.41 percent of titanium;
(xiii) 0.15 percent of vanadium; or
(xiv) 0.15 percent of zirconium.
Covered products are generally made to standard O.D. and wall thickness combinations. Pipe multistenciled to a standard and/or structural specification and to other specifications, such as American
Petroleum Institute (API) API-5L specification, may also be covered by the scope of these investigations.
In particular, such multi-stenciled merchandise is covered when it meets the physical description set
forth above, and also has one or more of the following characteristics: is 32 feet in length or less; is less
than 2.0 inches (50 mm) in outside diameter; has a galvanized and/or painted (e.g., polyester coated)
surface finish; or has a threaded and/or coupled end finish.

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Standard pipe is ordinarily made to ASTM specifications A53, A135, and A795, but can also be made to
other specifications. Structural pipe is made primarily to ASTM specifications A252 and A500. Standard
and structural pipe may also be produced to proprietary specifications rather than to industry
specifications.
Sprinkler pipe is designed for sprinkler fire suppression systems and may be made to industry
specifications such as ASTM A53 or to proprietary specifications.
Fence tubing is included in the scope regardless of certification to a specification listed in the exclusions
below, and can also be made to the ASTM A513 specification. Products that meet the physical
description set forth above but are made to the following nominal outside diameter and wall thickness
combinations, which are recognized by the industry as typical for fence tubing, are included despite
being certified to ASTM mechanical tubing specifications:
O.D. in inches (nominal)
1.315
1.315
1.315
1.315
1.315
1.315
1.315
1.660
1.660
1.660
1.660
1.660
1.900
1.900
1.900
1.900
1.900
1.900
2.375
2.375
2.375
2.375
2.375
2.375
2.375
2.875
2.875
3.500
3.500
4.000
4.000
4.500

Wall thickness in inches
(nominal)
0.035
0.047
0.055
0.065
0.072
0.083
0.095
0.055
0.065
0.083
0.095
0.109
0.047
0.055
0.065
0.072
0.095
0.109
0.047
0.055
0.065
0.072
0.095
0.109
0.120
0.109
0.165
0.109
0.165
0.148
0.165
0.203

The scope of this proceeding does not include:

Gage
20
18
17
16
15
14
13
17
16
14
13
12
18
17
16
15
13
12
18
17
16
15
13
12
11
12
8
12
8
9
8
7

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(a) pipe suitable for use in boilers, superheaters, heat exchangers, refining furnaces and feedwater
heaters, whether or not cold drawn, which are defined by standards such as ASTM A178 or ASTM A192;
(b) finished electrical conduit, i.e., Electrical Rigid Steel Conduit (also known as Electrical Rigid Metal
Conduit and Electrical Rigid Metal Steel Conduit), Finished Electrical Metallic Tubing, and Electrical
Intermediate Metal Conduit, which are defined by specifications such as American National Standard
(ANSI) C80.1-2005, ANSI C80.3-2005, or ANSI C80.6-2005, and Underwriters
Laboratories Inc. (UL) UL-6, UL-797, or UL-1242;
(c) finished scaffolding, i.e., component parts of final, finished scaffolding that enter the United States
unassembled as a “kit.” A kit is understood to mean a packaged combination of component parts that
contains, at the time of importation, all of the necessary component parts to fully assemble final,
finished scaffolding;
(d) tube and pipe hollows for redrawing;
(e) oil country tubular goods produced to API specifications;
(f) line pipe produced to only API specifications, such as API 5L, and not multi-stenciled; and
(g) mechanical tubing, whether or not cold-drawn, other than what is included in the
above paragraphs.
The products subject to this proceeding are currently classifiable in Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States (HTSUS) statistical reporting numbers 7306.19.1010, 7306.19.1050, 7306.19.5110,
7306.19.5150, 7306.30.1000, 7306.30.5015, 7306.30.5020, 7306.30.5025, 7306.30.5032, 7306.30.5040,
7306.30.5055, 7306.30.5085, 7306.30.5090, 7306.50.1000, 7306.50.5030, 7306.50.5050, and
7306.50.5070. The HTSUS subheadings above are provided for convenience and U.S. Customs purposes
only. The written description of the scope of the proceeding 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,
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

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Circular Welded Pipe

Page 5

with this proceeding or other import-injury proceedings conducted by the Commission on the same or
similar merchandise; those individuals would be subject to severe penalties if the information were
divulged to unauthorized individuals.
I-1.

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 circular welded pipe,
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 - Circular Welded Pipe
I-4.

Related SUBJECT importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic
or foreign, which import circular welded pipe from Oman, Pakistan, the UAE, and/or Vietnam
into the United States or which export circular welded pipe from Oman, Pakistan, the UAE,
and/or Vietnam 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 circular welded pipe from countries other than Oman,
Pakistan, the UAE, and/or Vietnam into the United States or which export circular welded pipe
from countries other than Oman, Pakistan, the UAE, and/or Vietnam to the United States?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name and country

I-6.

Page 6

Address

Affiliation

Related producers.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, which
produce circular welded pipe?
No
Firm name

Yes--List the following information.
Address

Affiliation

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Circular Welded Pipe

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PART II.--PURCHASES
Contact information.-- Please identify the responsible individual and the manner by which Commission
staff may contact that individual regarding the confidential information submitted in this questionnaire.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
Fax
II-1.

Purchases and inventories.—
(a)

Report your firm’s total U.S. purchases of circular welded pipe. (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

Purchases of circular welded pipe
produced in--

2013

2014

2015

Quantity (in short tons)

United States
Oman
Pakistan
UAE
Vietnam
Korea
All other sources:1
Sources unknown
Total purchases
1

Please identify these sources:

0

0

0

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Circular Welded Pipe
(b)

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Please report your firm’s end-of-period (EOP) inventories of circular welded pipe.
Item

2013

Ending inventories of circular welded
pipe produced in--

2014

2015

Quantity (in short tons)

United States
Oman
Pakistan
UAE
Vietnam
Korea
All other sources:1
Sources unknown
Total purchases
1

II-2.

0

0

0

Please identify these sources:
Purchases from Allied.-(a)

Has your firm purchased circular welded pipe from U.S. producer Allied since January
2013?
No

(b)

Yes--Please complete the following questions (b) through (e).
If you responded “Yes” to part (a), report the quantity and value of your firm’s
purchases.
2013

2014

Jan. - Jun. 2015

Jul. - Dec. 2015

Jan. - Jun. 2016

Quantity
Value
(c)

If you responded “Yes” to part (a), were your purchases below normal market price?
If yes, please complete.
No

Yes

Date(s) of purchase

Estimated price difference (in percent)

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Circular Welded Pipe
(d)

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If you responded “Yes” to part (b), did you purchase more product than you would have
otherwise due to price?
If yes, please complete.
No

(e)

Yes

Estimated difference (in short tons)

If you responded “Yes” to part (b), did these prices affect price negotiations with other
suppliers?
No

II-3.

Date(s) of purchase

Yes

If yes, please describe.

Changes in purchasing patterns.--Please indicate how the shares of your firm’s purchases of
circular welded pipe from different sources have changed since January 1, 2013.
Source of
purchases

Did not
purchase Decreased Increased

Constant Fluctuated

Explanation for
trend

United States
Oman
Pakistan
UAE
Vietnam
Korea
All other
sources
Sources
unknown
II-4.

Purchases from one country only.--If your firm has purchased circular welded pipe from only
one country, please explain the reasons for doing so.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Circular Welded Pipe
II-5.

Page 10

Supplier identification.--Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers for circular welded pipe
since January 1, 2013. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s total purchases of
circular welded pipe 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

%

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

Firm type.--Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of circular welded
pipe (check all that apply)?
End user

Distributor

Retailer

Other

Describe other

If your firm is a distributor of circular welded pipe, 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 circular welded pipe?
No

III-3.

Yes

If yes, please describe.

Types of customers.--What are the major types of consumers to which your firm sells circular
welded pipe?

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If your firm is an end user of circular welded pipe, please answer questions III-4 and III-5.
III-4.

End uses.--List the top 3 products your firm makes using circular welded pipe and estimate the
percent of your total production cost that is accounted for by circular welded pipe 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.

Circular welded pipe

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 circular welded pipe
changed since January 1, 2013?
Increased

(b)

No change

Decreased

Fluctuated

Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for circular welded pipe?
No

Yes

Explain

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Circular Welded Pipe
III-6.

Page 12

Substitutes.--Can other products be substituted for circular welded pipe?
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 circular welded pipe?
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 circular welded pipe 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)

What effects, if any, do the prices of gas and oil have on demand for and price of circular
welded pipe?

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Circular Welded Pipe
III-8.

Importance of purchasing domestic product.--Please fill out the table below, estimating the
percentage of your firm’s total 2015 purchases of circular welded pipe that required circular
welded pipe 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 13

Estimated percentage of
your firm’s total 2015
purchases of circular
welded pipe
%
%
%
%
0.0 %

Conditions of competition.-(a)

Is the circular welded pipe market subject to business cycles (other than general
economy-wide conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to circular
welded pipe?

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
circular welded pipe since January 1, 2013?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

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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 circular welded pipe 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 circular welded pipe 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
Product from all other
sources
III-12. Supply constraints.--Has any firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply your firm with
circular welded pipe 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,
etc.)?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

III-13. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

How frequently does your firm make purchases of circular welded pipe (check one)?
Daily

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Annually

Other

If other, specify

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Circular Welded Pipe

(b)

Page 15

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)

Does your firm’s purchases of circular welded pipe 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 circular
welded pipe suppliers?
No

(c)

Yes

Yes

Please explain.

Please describe how changes in hot-rolled steel prices affect your purchases of circular
welded pipe, and how these changes affect your firm’s price negotiations.
Please describe the effects on your firm’s purchases.
Increase in prices
Decrease in prices

(d)

Are your firm’s purchase prices indexed to raw material costs?
Purchases
No
By Contract
Spot market

Yes

Please explain (e.g. the indexing mechanism,
relevant raw materials, etc.)

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Circular Welded Pipe

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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 circular welded pipe 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 circular welded pipe 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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III-20. Major purchasing factors.--Please list, in order of their importance, the main factors your firm
considers in deciding from whom to purchase circular welded pipe (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 circular welded pipe.

Factor
Availability
Certified as lead-free under Safe
Drinking Water Act
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs

Very
important

Somewhat
important

Not
important

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III-22. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of circular welded pipe?

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

Usually

Sometimes

Never

III-24. Choice of product not based on price.--If you purchased circular welded pipe 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).

III-25. 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 circular welded pipe
market since January 1, 2013.
Firm(s)

Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership

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III-26. Purchasing subject imports rather than domestic products.—
(a)

Since January 2013, did your firm purchase imports of circular welded pipe from Oman,
Pakistan, the UAE, and/or Vietnam instead of U.S.-produced circular welded
pipe? Respond for each subject country.
Yes
(also respond to parts (b) and
(c))

Source

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

Oman
Pakistan
UAE
Vietnam
(b)

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

Yes

No

Oman
Pakistan
UAE
Vietnam
(c)

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

Source

Oman
Pakistan
UAE
Vietnam

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 - Circular Welded Pipe

Page 20

III-27. U.S. producers and import competition.—
(a)

Since January 1, 2013, in connection with a sale or offer to sell circular welded pipe to
your firm, did U.S. producers reduce their prices of domestically produced circular
welded pipe in order to compete with lower-priced imports of circular welded pipe from
the 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

Oman
Pakistan
UAE
Vietnam
(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)

Oman

%

Pakistan

%

UAE

%

Vietnam

%

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

PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS
IV-1.

United
States

Country knowledge.--Please indicate the countries of origin for circular welded pipe for which
your firm has actual marketing/pricing knowledge.

Oman

Pakistan

UAE

Vietnam

Korea

All other
sources

All other sources (specify)

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Circular Welded Pipe
IV-2.

Page 21

Interchangeability.--Is circular welded pipe 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
Countrypair

Oman

Pakistan

UAE

Vietnam

Korea

All other
sources

United
States
Oman
Pakistan
UAE
Vietnam
Korea
For any country-pair producing circular welded pipe 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 - Circular Welded Pipe
IV-3.

Page 22

Factors other than price.--Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between circular welded pipe
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
Countrypair

Oman

Pakistan

UAE

Vietnam

Korea

All other
sources

United
States
Oman
Pakistan
UAE
Vietnam
Korea
For any country-pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant
factor in your firm’s purchases of circular welded pipe, identify the country-pair and report
the advantages or disadvantages imparted by such factors:

IV-4.

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

Yes

If yes, identify the countries and explain.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Circular Welded Pipe
IV-5.

Availability of merchandise.--Are certain grades/types/sizes of circular welded pipe only
available from certain country sources?
No

IV-6.

Page 23

Yes

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

Domestic preference.-- Is your firm willing to pay more for U.S.-produced circular welded pipe
than circular welded pipe imported from Oman, Pakistan, the UAE, and/or Vietnam?

No

Yes

If yes, how much
more? (percent)
%

If your answer varies by subject country, please
explain.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Circular Welded Pipe
IV-7.

Page 24

Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how circular welded pipe
produced in each country you identified in your response to the first question in Part IV
compares with circular welded pipe produced in each of the other countries you identified.

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

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
1

A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has lower
prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
UAE

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Pakistan

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Oman

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Circular Welded Pipe
IV-7.

Page 25

Continued.

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

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
1

A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has lower
prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
All other sources

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Korea

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Vietnam

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Circular Welded Pipe
IV-7.

Page 26

Continued.

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

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
1

A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has lower
prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
Oman compared
to product from
Vietnam

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
Oman compared
to product from
UAE

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
Oman
compared to
product from
Pakistan

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Circular Welded Pipe
IV-7.

Page 27

Continued.

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

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
1

A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has lower
prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
Pakistan compared
to product from
UAE

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
Oman compared
to product from
All other sources

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
Oman
compared to
product from
Korea

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Circular Welded Pipe
IV-7.

Page 28

Continued.

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

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
1

A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has lower
prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
Product from
Pakistan compared Pakistan compared
to product from
to product from
Korea
All other sources

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
Pakistan
compared to
product from
Vietnam

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Circular Welded Pipe
IV-7.

Page 29

Continued.

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

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
1

A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has lower
prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
UAE compared to
product from
All other sources

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
UAE compared to
product from
Korea

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
UAE
compared to
product from
Vietnam

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Circular Welded Pipe
IV-7.

Page 30

Continued.

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

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
1

A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has lower
prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
Product from
Vietnam compared Korea compared to
to product from
product from
All other sources
All other sources

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
Vietnam
compared to
product from
Korea

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Circular Welded Pipe
IV-8.

Page 31

Minimum quality.--How often does circular welded pipe 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
Oman
Pakistan
UAE
Korea
All other sources1
1

IV-9.

Please specify:

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 - Circular Welded Pipe

Page 32

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/circular_welded_carbon_quality_st
eel_pipe_oman/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: CWP4

• 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.