16-3-3541 Purchasers' Questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 16-3-3541; Expiration Date: 6/30/2017
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
CERTAIN COATED PAPER SUITABLE FOR HIGH-QUALITY PRINT GRAPHICS USING
SHEET-FED PRESSES FROM CHINA AND INDONESIA
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by August 23, 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 review of the antidumping and countervailing duty orders concerning certain coated paper suitable
for high-quality print graphics using sheet-fed presses (“certain coated paper and paperboard”) from China and
Indonesia (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-470-471 and 731-TA-1169-1170 (Review)). The information requested in the questionnaire is
requested under the authority of the Tariff Act of 1930, title VII. This report is mandatory and failure to reply as directed
can result in a subpoena or other order to compel the submission of records or information in your possession (19 U.S.C.
§ 1333(a)). Further information on this questionnaire can be obtained from Amelia Preece (202-205-3250,
[email protected]).
Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm purchased certain coated paper and paperboard (as defined on the next page) and/or sheeter rolls
of coated paper from any source (domestic or foreign) at any time since January 1, 2010?

NO

(Sign the certification below and promptly return only this page of the questionnaire to the Commission)

YES

(Complete all parts of the questionnaire, and return the entire questionnaire to the Commission)

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Coated Paper and Paperboard

Page 2

PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background. On November 17, 2010, the Department of Commerce issued antidumping and
countervailing duty orders on imports of certain coated paper and paperboard from China and
Indonesia. On October 1, 2015, the Commission instituted a review pursuant to section 751(c) of the
Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. § 1675(c)) (the Act) to determine whether revocation of the orders would
be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury to the domestic industry within a
reasonably foreseeable time. If both the Commission and Commerce make affirmative determinations,
the orders will remain in place. If either the Commission or Commerce makes negative determinations,
the Department of Commerce will revoke the orders.
Questionnaires and other information pertinent to this proceeding are available at:
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2015/certain_coated_paper_suitable_high_quality_print/first_review_full.htm

Certain coated paper suitable for high-quality print graphics using sheet-fed presses (“certain coated
paper and paperboard”).—The paper products covered by these reviews are:
Certain coated paper and paperboard in sheets suitable for high quality print graphics using sheet-fed
presses; coated on one or both sides with kaolin (China or other clay), calcium carbonate, titanium
dioxide, and/or other inorganic substances; with or without a binder; having a GE brightness level of 80
or higher; weighing not more than 340 grams per square meter; whether gloss grade, satin grade, matte
grade, dull grade, or any other grade of finish; whether or not surface-colored, surface-decorated,
printed (except as described below), embossed, or perforated; and irrespective of dimensions.
Certain coated paper includes: (a) coated free sheet paper and paperboard that meets this scope
definition; (b) coated groundwood paper and paperboard produced from bleached chemi-thermomechanical pulp (“BCTMP”) that meets this scope definition; and (c) any other coated paper and
paperboard that meets this scope definition.
Coated paper is typically (but not exclusively) used for printing multi-colored graphics for catalogues,
books, magazines, envelopes, labels and wraps, greeting cards, and other commercial printing
applications requiring high quality print graphics.
Specifically excluded from the scope are imports of paper and paperboard printed with final content
printed text or graphics.
U.S. imports of the subject merchandise are provided for under the following statistical categories of the
HTSUS: 4810.14.1100, 4810.14.1900, 4810.14.2010, 4810.14.2090, 4810.14.5000, 4810.14.6000,
4810.14.7000, 4810.19.1100, 4810.19.1900, 4810.19.2010, 4810.19.2090, 4810.22.1000, 4810.22.5000,
4810.22.6000, 4810.22.7000, 4810.29.1000, 4810.29.5000, 4810.29.6000, 4810.29.7000, 4810.32,
4810.39, and 4810.92.
While HTSUS subheadings/statistical reporting numbers are provided for convenience and customs
purposes, the written description of the scope of these reviews is dispositive.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Coated Paper and Paperboard

Page 3

Purchaser.--Any firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or subsidiary, in purchasing
certain coated paper and paperboard from another firm that produces, imports, or otherwise distributes
certain coated paper and paperboard.
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 in connection with this
proceeding (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 of your files, worksheets, and
supporting documents used in the preparation of the questionnaire response. Please also retain a copy
of the final document that you submit.
Release of information.--The information provided by your firm in response to this questionnaire, as
well as any other business proprietary information submitted by your firm to the Commission in
connection with this proceeding, may become subject to, and released under, the administrative
protective order provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. § 1677f) and section 207.7 of the
Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR § 207.7). This means that certain lawyers and
other authorized individuals may temporarily be given access to the information for use in connection
with this proceeding or other import-injury proceedings conducted by the Commission on the same or
similar merchandise; those individuals would be subject to severe penalties if the information were
divulged to unauthorized individuals.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Coated Paper and Paperboard
I-1.

Page 4

OMB statistics.--Please report the actual number of hours required and the cost to your firm of
completing this questionnaire.
Hours

Dollars

The questions in this questionnaire have been reviewed with market participants to ensure that
issues of concern are adequately addressed and that data requests are sufficient, meaningful,
and as limited as possible. Public reporting burden for this questionnaire is estimated to average
40 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering data, and
completing and reviewing the questionnaire.
We welcome comments regarding the accuracy of this burden estimate, suggestions for
reducing the burden, and any suggestions for improving this questionnaire. Please attach such
comments to your response or send to the Office of Investigations, USITC, 500 E St. SW,
Washington, DC 20436.
I-2.

Establishments covered.--Provide the name and address of establishment(s) covered by this
questionnaire, if different from that listed on the cover page. Firms operating more than one
establishment should combine the data for all establishments into a single report.
“Establishment”--Each facility of a firm involved in the purchase of certain coated paper and
paperboard, 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 - Certain Coated Paper and Paperboard
I-4.

Related SUBJECT importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic
or foreign, that import certain coated paper and paperboard from China and Indonesia into the
United States or that export certain coated paper and paperboard from China and Indonesia to
the United States?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

I-5.

Address

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name and country

Address

Affiliation

Related producers.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, that
produce certain coated paper and paperboard?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name and country

I-7.

Affiliation

Related NONSUBJECT importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either
domestic or foreign, that import certain coated paper and paperboard from countries other
than China and Indonesia into the United States or that export certain coated paper and
paperboard from countries other than China and Indonesia to the United States?
No

I-6.

Page 5

Address

Affiliation

Business plan.--Does your company or any related firm have a business plan or any internal
documents that describe, discuss, or analyze expected market conditions for certain coated
paper and paperboard?

No

Yes

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Coated Paper and Paperboard

Page 6

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.—
(a)

Please estimate your firm’s total U.S. purchases of certain coated paper and paperboard
in 2015. (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.)
Quantity (short tons)

(b)

Estimate the percentage of the quantity of your firm’s purchases of certain coated paper
and paperboard in 2015 that were produced in each of the specified countries.
Certain coated paper and paperboard
produced in:

Share of quantity of 2015 purchases

United States

%

China

%

Indonesia

%

All other countries:1

%

Total (should sum to 100.0%)
1

(c)

0.0

%

Please identify these countries:

Do you purchase certain coated paper and paperboard in sheeter rolls? If yes, indicate
the quantity purchased in 2015 and contact Andrew (Drew) Dushkes (202-205-3229,
[email protected]) for a producer’s questionnaire.

No

Yes

If yes, please report number of short tons purchased in 2015.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Coated Paper and Paperboard
II-2.

Page 7

Purchases before and after order. -(a)

Did your firm purchase certain coated paper and paperboard from China and Indonesia
before 2010?
No--skip to (c)

(b)

Yes

If yes, has your pattern of purchasing certain coated paper and paperboard from China
and Indonesia changed since 2010?
No, our pattern of purchasing is essentially unchanged.
Yes, we discontinued purchases from China and Indonesia because of the order.
Yes, we reduced purchases from China and Indonesia because of the order.
Yes, but we changed the pattern of purchases from China and Indonesia for
reasons other than the order (please explain below).

(c)

Has your pattern of purchasing certain coated paper and paperboard from nonsubject
foreign sources (i.e., countries other than China and Indonesia) changed since 2010?
We did not purchase from nonsubject foreign sources before or after the order.
No, our pattern of purchasing is essentially unchanged.
Yes, we increased purchases from nonsubject countries because of the order.
Yes, but we changed our pattern of purchases from nonsubject countries for
reasons other than the order (please explain below).

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Coated Paper and Paperboard
II-3.

Page 8

Changes in purchasing patterns.--Please indicate how the shares of your firm’s purchases of
certain coated paper and paperboard from different sources have changed since January 1,
2010.
Source of Did not
purchases purchase Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated

Explanation for trend

United
States
China
Indonesia
All other
countries
Sources
unknown

II-4.

Purchases from one country only.--If your firm has purchased certain coated paper and
paperboard from only one country, please explain the reasons for doing so.

II-5.

Supplier identification.-- Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers for certain coated paper
and paperboard since January 1, 2010. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s
total purchases of certain coated paper and paperboard 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

%

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Coated Paper and Paperboard

Page 9

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

Firm type.--Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of certain coated
paper and paperboard (check all that apply)?
End user
(Publishing
house)

End user
(Other)

Distributor

Other

Describe other

If your firm is a distributor of certain coated paper and paperboard, please answer questions III-2 and
III-3.
III-2.

Competition for sales.--Do you compete for sales to your customers with the manufacturers or
importers from which you purchase certain coated paper and paperboard?
No

III-3.

Yes

If yes, please describe.

Types of customers.--What are the major types of consumers to which you sell certain coated
paper and paperboard?

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Coated Paper and Paperboard

Page 10

If your firm is an end user of certain coated paper and paperboard, please answer questions III-4 and
III-5.
III-4.

End uses.—
(a)

List the top 3 products you make using certain coated paper and paperboard and
estimate the percent of your total production cost that is accounted for by certain
coated paper and paperboard 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

(b)

Certain coated paper
and paperboard

Total
(should
sum to
100.0%
across)

Other inputs

% +

%

=

0.0 %

% +

%

=

0.0 %

% +

%

=

0.0 %

Have there been any changes in the end uses of certain coated paper and paperboard
since January 1, 2010? Do you anticipate any future changes?

Changes in end uses

No

Yes

Explain

Changes since
January 1, 2010
Anticipated changes
III-5.

Demand for end use products.-(a)

Has the demand for your firm’s final products incorporating certain coated paper and
paperboard changed since January 1, 2010?
Increased

No change

Decreased

Fluctuated

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Coated Paper and Paperboard
III-5.

Demand for end use products.--Continued
(b)

Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for certain coated paper and
paperboard?
No

III-6.

Page 11

Yes

Explain

Substitutes.—
(a)

Can other products be substituted for certain coated paper and paperboard?
No

Substitute

Yes--Please fill out the table.

End use in which this
substitute is used

Have changes in the price of this substitute
affected the price for certain coated paper
and paperboard?
No Yes

Explanation

1.
2.
3.
(b)

Have there been any changes in the number or types of products that can be
substituted for certain coated paper and paperboard since January 1, 2010? Do you
anticipate any future changes?

Changes in substitutes No Yes
Changes since January
1, 2010
Anticipated changes

Explain

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Coated Paper and Paperboard
III-7.

Page 12

Demand trends.-- Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United
States (if known) for certain coated paper and paperboard has changed since January 1, 2010,
and how you anticipate demand will change in the future. Explain any trends and describe the
principal factors that have affected, and that you anticipate will affect, these changes in
demand.

Market

Overall
increase

No
change

Overall
decrease

Fluctuate
with no
clear trend

Explanation and factors

Demand since January 1, 2010
Within
the United
States
Outside
the United
States
Anticipated future demand
Within
the United
States
Outside
the United
States
III-8.

Market studies.--Please provide as a separate attachment to this request any studies, surveys,
etc. that you are aware of that quantify and/or otherwise discuss certain coated paper and
paperboard supply (including production capacity and capacity utilization) and demand in (1)
the United States, (2) each of the other major producing/consuming countries, including China
and Indonesia, and (3) the world as a whole. Of particular interest is such data from 2010 to the
present and forecasts for the future.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Coated Paper and Paperboard
III-9.

Page 13

Importance of purchasing domestic product.--Please fill out the table below, estimating the
percentage of your firm’s total 2015 purchases of certain coated paper and paperboard that
required certain coated paper and paperboard produced in the United States.

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

Estimated percentage of
your firm’s total 2015
purchases of certain
coated paper and
paperboard
%
%
%
%
0.0 %

III-10. Conditions of competition.-(a) Is the certain coated paper and paperboard market subject to business cycles (other than
general economy-wide conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to
certain coated paper and paperboard?
Check all that apply.

Please describe.

No

Skip to question III-11.

Yes-Business cycles (e.g.
seasonal business)
Yes-Other distinctive
conditions of competition
(b) If yes, have there been any changes in the business cycles or conditions of competition for
certain coated paper and paperboard since January 1, 2010?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Coated Paper and Paperboard

Page 14

III-11. Decisions based on producer, country-of-origin, and certification.--How often does your firm,
and if you know, do your customers, make purchasing decisions involving certain coated paper
and paperboard based on its producer, country of origin, or certification?
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
Decision based on Forest Stewardship Council Certification or equivalent
Your firm
Your
customers
III-12. Availability of supply.--Has the availability of certain coated paper and paperboard in the U.S.
market changed since January 1, 2010? Do you anticipate any future changes?
Availability in the U.S.
market

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

Changes since January 1, 2010:
U.S.-produced product
Subject imports
Nonsubject imports
Anticipated changes:
U.S.-produced product
Subject imports
Nonsubject imports

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Coated Paper and Paperboard

Page 15

III-13. Supply constraints.--Has any firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply your firm with
certain coated paper and paperboard since January 1, 2010 (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-14. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

How frequently do you make purchases of certain coated paper and paperboard (check
one)?
Daily

(b)

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Annually

Other

If other, specify

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

Yes

If yes, explain.

III-15. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers do you generally contact before making a
purchase? Between
and
firms.
III-16. Supplier negotiations.--Do your purchases of certain coated paper and paperboard usually
involve negotiations between supplier and purchaser?

No

Yes

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

III-17. Change in suppliers.-- Has your firm changed suppliers since January 1, 2010?

No

Yes

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Coated Paper and Paperboard

Page 16

III-18. New suppliers.-(a)

Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have entered the
market since January 1, 2010?
No

(b)

Yes

If yes, please identify the firms.

Do you expect new certain coated paper and paperboard suppliers to enter the U.S.
market?
No

Yes

If yes, please explain.

III-19. Supplier qualification.—
a) Do you require your suppliers of certain coated paper and paperboard you purchase to be
environmentally certified?
If yes, provide the following information.
• The type or types of environmental certification required.
• The total share of your purchasers requiring any of the environmental certification (such
as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification).
No

Yes

Environmental Certification(s)

Share of your purchases
%

b) Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified (other than
environmental certification) to sell certain coated paper and paperboard 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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Coated Paper and Paperboard

Page 17

III-20. Failure to certify.--Since January 1, 2010, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their
attempts to certify or qualify their certain coated paper and paperboard with your firm or have
any producers lost their approved status?

No

Yes

If yes, please identify these firms, the countries where they are located, and
the reasons why they failed the certification/qualification.

III-21. Major purchasing factors.-- Please list, in order of their importance, the three major factors
your firm considers in deciding from whom to purchase certain coated paper and paperboard
(examples include availability, extension of credit, contracts, price, quality, range of supplier’s
product line, traditional supplier, environmental certification, etc.).
1.
2.
3.
Please list any other factors that are very important in your purchase decisions:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Coated Paper and Paperboard

Page 18

III-22. Purchasing factors.--Please rate the importance of the following factors in your firm’s
purchasing decisions for certain coated paper and paperboard.
Very
important

Factor

Somewhat
important

Not
important

Ability to meet custom specifications
Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Environmental certification such as
Forest Stewardship Council certified
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price
Product consistency
Product range
Quality exceeds industry standards
Quality meets industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs
III-23. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of certain coated paper and paperboard?

III-24. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the certain coated
paper and paperboard that is offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Coated Paper and Paperboard

Page 19

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 certain coated paper and
paperboard market since January 1, 2010.
Firm(s)

Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership

III-26. Changes in U.S. industry.-(a)

Please identify and discuss any improvements/changes in the U.S. certain coated paper
and paperboard industry since January 1, 2010 and explain the factors, including the
order(s) under review, that were responsible for each improvement/change.

(b)

Please discuss any improvements/changes that you anticipate in the future in the U.S.
certain coated paper and paperboard industry. Identify the time period and causes for
these improvements/changes.

For questions III-27, if your firm’s response differs between the orders on China and the orders on
Indonesia, please indicate and explain the particular effect of imposition and/or revocation of orders
on specific countries.
III-27. Effect of revocation.--What do you think will be the likely effects of any revocation of the
countervailing duty and antidumping duty orders for imports of certain coated paper and
paperboard from China and Indonesia? As appropriate, please discuss any potential effects of
revocation of the countervailing duty and antidumping duty orders on (1) the future activities of
your firm and (2) the U.S. market as a whole. Please note the future time period to which you
are referring.

Activities of your firm
Entire U.S. market

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Coated Paper and Paperboard

Page 20

PART IV.-- PRODUCT COMPARISIONS
IV-1.

Country knowledge.--Please indicate the countries of origin for certain coated paper and
paperboard for which your firm has actual marketing/pricing knowledge.
United
States

IV-2.

China

Indonesia

Other
countries

Other countries (specify)

Interchangeability.--Is certain coated paper and paperboard produced in the United States and
in other countries interchangeable (i.e., can they physically be used in the same applications)?
Please indicate A, F, S, N, or 0 in the table below:
A = the products from a specified country-pair are always interchangeable
F = the products are frequently interchangeable
S = the products are sometimes interchangeable
N = the products are never interchangeable
0 = no familiarity with products from a specified country-pair
Country-pair

China

Indonesia

Other countries

United States
China
Indonesia
For any country-pair producing certain coated paper and paperboard 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 - Certain Coated Paper and Paperboard
IV-3.

Page 21

Factors other than price.--Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between certain coated paper
and paperboard produced in the United States and in other countries a significant factor in your
firm’s purchases of the products?
Please indicate A, F, S, N, or 0 in the table below:
A = such differences are always significant
F = such differences are frequently significant
S = such differences are sometimes significant
N = such differences are never significant
0 = no familiarity with products from a specified country-pair
Country-pair

China

Indonesia

Other countries

United States
China
Indonesia
For any country-pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant
factor in your firm’s purchases of certain coated paper and paperboard, identify the countrypair and report the advantages or disadvantages imparted by such factors:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Coated Paper and Paperboard
IV-4.

Country preferences.--Do you or your customers ever specifically order certain coated paper
and paperboard from one country in particular over other possible sources of supply?
No

IV-5.

Yes

If yes, identify the countries and explain.

Availability of merchandise.--Are certain grades/types/sizes of certain coated paper and
paperboard only available from certain country sources?
No

IV-6.

Page 22

Yes

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

Choice of product not based on price.--If you purchased certain coated paper and paperboard
from one source although a comparable product was available from another country source at a
lower price, please explain your reasons for doing so (please specify by country).

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Coated Paper and Paperboard
IV-7.

Page 23

Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how certain coated paper
and paperboard produced in each country you identified in your response to the first question
in Part IV compares with certain coated paper produced in each of the other countries you
identified.

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

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
China compared to
product from
Indonesia

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Indonesia

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
China

Ability to meet custom specifications
Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Environmental certification such as
Forest Stewardship Council certified
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality exceeds industry standards
Quality meets industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
1

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Coated Paper and Paperboard
IV-7.

Page 24

Continued.

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

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
Indonesia
compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
China
compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries

Ability to meet custom specifications
Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Environmental certification such as
Forest Stewardship Council certified
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality exceeds industry standards
Quality meets industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
1

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Coated Paper and Paperboard
IV-8.

Page 25

Minimum quality.--How often does certain coated paper and paperboard from the following
countries meet minimum quality specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?

Source

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or
never

Don’t
know

United States
China
Indonesia
Other:
IV-9.

Change in price.-(a)

Since January 1, 2010, has there been a change in the price of certain coated paper and
paperboard? If so, has the price of U.S.-produced certain coated paper and paperboard
changed more or less than the price of imported certain coated paper and paperboard
from China and Indonesia?
No change in price.
Prices have changed by the same amount.
Price of U.S.-produced certain coated paper and paperboard has changed
relative to the price of certain coated paper and paperboard from China.
Price of U.S.-produced certain coated paper and paperboard has changed
relative to the price of certain coated paper and paperboard from
Indonesia.

(b)

If the price of U.S.-produced certain coated paper and paperboard has changed relative
to the price of certain coated paper and paperboard from China and Indonesia, the price
of U.S.-produced certain coated paper and paperboard is now relatively
Higher

Lower
than those from China.
than those from Indonesia.

IV-10. Other explanations.--If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question that did
not provide a narrative response box, please note the question number and the explanation in
the space provided below.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Coated Paper and Paperboard

Page 26

HOW TO FILE YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSE
This questionnaire is available as a “fillable” form in MS Word format on the
Commission’s website at: LINK
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: XXXX

• E-mail.—E-mail the MS Word questionnaire to Amelia Preece (202-205-3250,
[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 dropbox 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 nonencrypted 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 you submit (see 19 CFR
§ 207.7). Service of the questionnaire must be made in paper form.