17-2-3642 U.S. Importers' Questionnaire

Information collections for import injury investigations (producers, importers, purchasers, and foreign producer questionnaires and institution notices for 5-year reviews)

US importer--Silicon metal

Silicon Metal from Australia, Brazil, Kazakhstan, and Norway, Inv. No. 701-TA-567-569 and 731-TA-343-1345 (Preliminary)

OMB: 3117-0016

⚠️ Notice: This form may be outdated. More recent filings and information on OMB 3117-0016 can be found here:

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OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 17-2-3642; Expiration Date: 6/30/2017
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U.S. IMPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
SILICON METAL FROM AUSTRALIA, BRAZIL, KAZAKHSTAN, AND NORWAY
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by March 22, 2017
See last page for filing instructions.
The information called for in this questionnaire is for use by the United States International Trade Commission in
connection with its countervailing duty and antidumping investigations concerning silicon metal from Australia, Brazil,
Kazakhstan, and Norway (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-567-569 and 731-TA-1343-1345 (Preliminary)). 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
firm’s possession (19 U.S.C. § 1333(a)).

Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm imported silicon metal (as defined on next page) from any country at any time since January 1,
2014?

(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: SIMN)
CERTIFICATION
I certify that the information herein supplied in response to this questionnaire is complete and correct to the best of my
knowledge and belief and understand that the information submitted is subject to audit and verification by the Commission. By
means of this certification I also grant consent for the Commission, and its employees and contract personnel, to use the
information provided in this questionnaire and throughout this proceeding in any other import-injury proceedings conducted by
the Commission on the same or similar merchandise.
I, the undersigned, acknowledge that information submitted in response to this request for information and throughout this
proceeding or other proceedings 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. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal

Page 2

PART I.--GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.--This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on March 8, 2017, by Globe
Specialty Metals, Inc., Beverly, Ohio. Countervailing and antidumping duties may be assessed on the
subject imports as a result of these proceedings if the Commission makes an affirmative determination
of injury, threat, or material retardation, and if the U.S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) makes
affirmative determinations of subsidization and/or dumping. Questionnaires and other information
pertinent to this proceeding are available at
https://usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2017/silicon_metal_australia_brazil_kazakhstan_and/prelimina
ry.htm.
Silicon metal covered by these investigations is all forms and sizes of silicon metal, including silicon
metal powder. Silicon metal contains at least 85.00 percent but less than 99.99 percent silicon, and less
than 4.00 percent iron, by actual weight. Semiconductor grade silicon (merchandise containing at least
99.99 percent silicon by actual weight and classifiable under HTSUS subheading 2804.61.0000) is
excluded from the scope of these investigations.
Silicon metal is currently imported under statistical reporting numbers 2804.69.1000 and 2804.69.5000
of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). The HTSUS provisions are for
convenience and customs purposes; the written description of the scope is dispositive.
Importer.--Any person or firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or subsidiary, in
importing silicon metal (as defined above) into the United States from a foreign manufacturer or
through its selling agent.
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

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal

Page 3

similar merchandise; those individuals would be subject to severe penalties if the information were
divulged to unauthorized individuals.
Valid number error messages.--If you are completing this form in a country that uses periods (“.”) to
delineate multiples of 1000 (e.g., one million would appear as $1.000.000 rather than $1,000,000), you
may be unable to enter in numbers greater than 999 in numeric form fields. The solution to this data
entry issue is to temporarily change your operating system’s number formatting to be consistent with
the U.S. number formatting system while you complete this form. Detailed instructions on how to
resolve this issue is provided at the end of this questionnaire and is available upon request from Carolyn
Carlson (202-205-3002, [email protected])
I-1.

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

Dollars

The questions in this questionnaire have been reviewed with market participants to ensure that
issues of concern are adequately addressed and that data requests are sufficient, meaningful,
and as limited as possible. Public reporting burden for this questionnaire is estimated to average
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 your firm is publicly traded, please specify the stock exchange and trading
symbol.
“Establishment” -- Each facility of a firm involved in the importation of silicon metal, including
auxiliary facilities operated in conjunction with (whether or not physically separate from) such
facilities.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal
I-3.

Ownership.--Is your firm owned, in whole or in part, by any other firm?
No

Firm name

I-4.

Page 4

Yes--List the following information

Address

Extent of
ownership
(percent)

Related importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or
foreign, that are engaged in importing silicon metal from Australia, Brazil, Kazakhstan, and/or
Norway into the United States or that are engaged in exporting silicon metal from Australia,
Brazil, Kazakhstan, and/or Norway to the United States?
No
Firm name

Yes--List the following information.
Country

Affiliation

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal
I-5.

Related producers.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, that are
engaged in the production of silicon metal?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

I-6.

Country

Affiliation

Importing operations.--Please indicate the nature of your firm’s importing operations on silicon
metal. More than one answer may be applicable.
Importer of record

I-7.

Page 5

Takes title to the
imported product(s)

Consignee of the
imported products(s)

Customs broker or
freight forwarder

Consignee.--If your firm is an importer of record of silicon metal but is not the consignee, please
list the consignees below (firm name, address, telephone number, and individual to contact).

Firm name

Address

Contact person
and phone
number

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal
I-8.

Page 6

FTZ, TIB, or bonded warehouses.--Please indicate whether your firm enters silicon metal into, or
withdraws such merchandise from, foreign trade zones or bonded warehouses. Also indicate
whether your firm imports silicon metal under the TIB (temporary importation under bond)
program.
“Foreign trade zone” is a designated location in the United States where firms utilize special
procedures that allow delayed or reduced customs duty payments on foreign merchandise, as
well as other savings. A foreign trade zone must be designed as such pursuant to the rules and
procedures set forth in the Foreign-Trade Zones Act.
“Bonded warehouse” is a secured facility supervised by U.S. customs, where dutiable landed
imports are stored pending their re-export, or release after payment of import duties, taxes, and
other charges. A bonded warehouse must be designed as such pursuant to the rules and
procedures set forth in 19 U.S.C. § 1555.
“Temporary Importation under Bond (“TIB”) program” is a procedure whereby imported
merchandise may be entered under certain conditions for a limited time into the United States
free of duty. Under the program, an importer posts a bond for twice the amount of duty, taxes,
etc. that would otherwise be owed on the importation and agrees to export or destroy the
merchandise within a specified time or pay liquidated damages. This program is restricted to
certain categories of merchandise listed in subheadings 9813.00.05 through 9813.00.75 of the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS).
No

Yes

Foreign trade zones
Bonded warehouses
Temporary importation under bond

I-9.

Other trade actions.--To your knowledge, have the products subject to this proceeding been the
subject of any other import relief proceedings in the United States or in any other countries?
No

Yes–Please specify.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal

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PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Carolyn Carlson (202-2053002, [email protected] ). Supply all data requested on a calendar-year basis.
II-1.

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

II-2.

Changes in operations.--Please indicate whether your firm has experienced any of the following
changes in relation to the importation of silicon metal since January 1, 2014.
(check as many as appropriate)
Office/warehouse openings
Office/warehouse closings
Relocations
Expansions
Acquisitions
Consolidations
Prolonged shutdowns or
importation curtailments
Revised labor agreements
Other (e.g., technology)

(If checked, please describe; leave blank if not applicable)

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal
II-3.

Page 8

Arranged imports.--Has your firm imported or arranged for the importation of silicon metal for
delivery after December 31, 2016?
“Arranged imports” are imports for which your firm has placed an order with a foreign supplier
for subject merchandise, but delivery of those imports is not scheduled to occur until after the
date listed above.
No

Yes--Fill out the table below.
Quantity (in short tons contained silicon)

Period/Source

Jan-Mar 2017

Apr-Jun 2017

Jul-Sept 2017

Oct-Dec 2017

Australia
Brazil
Kazakhstan
Norway
Other sources
II-4.

Reasons for importing if producer.--If your firm also produces silicon metal in the United States,
please indicate the reasons for importing this product. If your firm’s reasons differ by source,
please elaborate.

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Definitions
“Imports” -- Those products identified for Customs purposes as imports for consumption for
which your firm was the importer of record (i.e., was responsible for paying any import duty) or
consignee (i.e., to which the merchandise was first delivered).
“Admissions into FTZs” -- Note that any firm that “admits” silicon metal into a Free Trade Zone
(FTZ), processes those imports of silicon metal into a downstream product, and then classifies
those goods as the downstream product for purposes of clearance through Customs (i.e.,
“imports for consumption”), should report its “admissions” into its FTZ as imports in this
questionnaire, and its use of those admissions/imports as “internal consumption”.
“Import quantities” -- Quantities reported should be net of returns.
“Import values” -- Values reported should be landed, duty-paid values at the U.S. port of entry,
including ocean freight and insurance costs, brokerage charges, and import duties (i.e., all
charges except inland freight in the United States).
“U.S. commercial shipments” -- Shipments made within the United States as a result of an arm’s
length commercial transaction in the ordinary course of business. Report net values (i.e., gross
sales values less all discounts, allowances, rebates, prepaid freight, and the value of returned
goods) in U.S. dollars, f.o.b. your point of shipment.
“Internal consumption” -- Product consumed internally by your firm. Such transactions are
valued at fair market value.
“Transfers to related firms” -- Shipments made to related domestic firms. Such transactions are
valued at fair market value.
“Related firm” -- A firm that your firm solely or jointly owns, manages, or otherwise controls.
“Export shipments” -- Shipments to destinations outside the United States, including shipments
to related firms.
“Inventories” -- Finished goods inventory, not raw materials or work in progress.
Note: As requested in Part I of this questionnaire, please keep all supporting documents/records
used in the preparation of the trade data, as Commission staff may contact your firm regarding
questions on the trade data. The Commission may also request that your company submit copies
of the supporting documents/records (such as production and sales schedules, inventory records,
etc.) used to compile these data.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal
II-5.

Page 10

U.S. imports from Australia.--Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and
inventories of silicon metal imported from Australia by your firm during the specified periods.

Australia
Quantity (in short tons contained silicon), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2014

2015

2016

Beginning-of-period inventories (quantity) (A)
Imports / admissions into FTZs:1
Quantity (B)
Value (C)
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity (D)
Value (E)
Internal consumption/ company transfers:
Quantity (F)
Value2 (G)
Export shipments:3
Quantity (H)
Value (I)
End-of-period inventories (quantity) (J)
Channels of distribution:
U.S. shipments:
To distributors (quantity) (K)
To chemical producers (quantity) (L)
To primary aluminum producers (quantity) (M)
To secondary aluminum producers (quantity) (N)
To all other end users (quantity) (O)
1

Please identify the foreign producers, if known:
.
Sales to related firms (including internal consumption) must be valued at fair market value. In the event that your firm
uses a different basis for valuing these sales within your company, please specify that basis (e.g., cost, cost plus, etc.) and
provide value data using that basis for each of the periods noted above:
.
3
Identify your firm’s principal export markets:
.
2

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II-5.

Page 11

U.S. imports from Australia.--Continued

RECONCILIATION OF SHIPMENTS, IMPORTS, AND INVENTORIES.--Generally, the data reported for the
end-of-period inventories (i.e., line J) should be equal to the beginning-of-period inventories (i.e., line A),
plus imports (i.e., line B), less total shipments (i.e., lines D, F, and H). Please ensure that any differences
are not due to data entry errors in completing this form, but rather actually reflect your firm’s records;
and also provide any likely explanations for any differences (e.g., theft, loss, damage, record systems
issues, etc.) if they exist.
Calendar years
Reconciliation

2014

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

2015
0

2016
0

Explanation if the calculated fields above are returning values other than zero (i.e., “0”) but are nonetheless
accurate:
.
RECONCILIATION OF CHANNELS.--Please ensure that the quantities reported for channels of distribution
(i.e., lines K and L) in each time period equal the quantity reported for U.S. shipments (i.e., lines D and F)
in each time period. If the calculated fields below return values other than zero (i.e., “0”), the data
reported must be revised prior to submission to the Commission.
Calendar years
Reconciliation item
K + L + M + N +O – D – F = zero ("0"),
if not revise.

2014

2015
0

2016
0

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II-6.

Page 12

U.S. shipments of imports from Australia.--Report your firm’s U.S. shipments (i.e., inclusive of
commercial U.S. shipments, internal consumption, and transfers for related firms) of imports
from Australia by product form during the specified periods.

Australia
Quantity (in short tons contained silicon), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2014

2015

2016

U.S. shipments.-In lump form.-Quantity (P)
Value (Q)
In powder form.-Quantity (R)
Value (S)
RECONCILIATION OF SHIPMENTS.--Please ensure that the quantities reported for shipments by form (i.e.,
lines P and R for quantity, and Q and S for value) in each time period equal the quantity reported for U.S.
shipments (i.e., line D and F for quantity, and E and G for value) in each time period. If the calculated
fields below return values other than zero (i.e., “0”), the data reported must be revised prior to
submission to the Commission.
Calendar years
Reconciliation item

2014

2015

2016

Quantity reconcile: P + R – D – F =
zero ("0"), if not revise.

Value reconcile: Q + S – E – G = zero
("0"), if not revise.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal
II-7.

Page 13

U.S. imports from Brazil.--Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and inventories
of silicon metal imported from Brazil by your firm during the specified periods.

Brazil
Quantity (in short tons contained silicon), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2014

2015

2016

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal
II-7.

Page 14

U.S. imports from Brazil.--Continued

2014

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

2015
0

2016
0

2014

2015
0

2016
0

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal
II-8.

Page 15

U.S. shipments of imports from Brazil.--Report your firm’s U.S. shipments (i.e., inclusive of
commercial U.S. shipments, internal consumption, and transfers for related firms) of imports
from Brazil by product form during the specified periods.

Brazil
Quantity (in short tons contained silicon), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2014

2015

2016

2014

2015

2016

Quantity reconcile: P + R – D – F =
zero ("0"), if not revise.

Value reconcile: Q + S – E – G = zero
("0"), if not revise.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal
II-9.

Page 16

U.S. imports from Kazakhstan.--Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and
inventories of silicon metal imported from Kazakhstan by your firm during the specified periods.

Kazakhstan
Quantity (in short tons contained silicon), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2014

2015

2016

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal
II-9.

Page 17

U.S. imports from Kazakhstan.--Continued

2014

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

2015
0

2016
0

2014

2015
0

2016
0

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal
II-10.

Page 18

U.S. shipments of imports from Kazakhstan.--Report your firm’s U.S. shipments (i.e., inclusive
of commercial U.S. shipments, internal consumption, and transfers for related firms) of imports
from Kazakhstan by product form during the specified periods.

Kazakhstan
Quantity (in short tons contained silicon), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2014

2015

2016

2014

2015

2016

Quantity reconcile: P + R – D – F =
zero ("0"), if not revise.

Value reconcile: Q + S – E – G = zero
("0"), if not revise.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal
II-11.

Page 19

U.S. imports from Norway.--Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and
inventories of silicon metal imported from Norway by your firm during the specified periods.

Norway
Quantity (in short tons contained silicon), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2014

2015

2016

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal
II-11.

Page 20

U.S. imports from Norway.--Continued

2014

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

2015
0

2016
0

2014

2015
0

2016
0

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II-12.

Page 21

U.S. shipments of imports from Norway.--Report your firm’s U.S. shipments (i.e., inclusive of
commercial U.S. shipments, internal consumption, and transfers for related firms) of imports
from Norway by product form during the specified periods.

Norway
Quantity (in short tons contained silicon), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2014

2015

2016

2014

2015

2016

Quantity reconcile: P + R – D – F =
zero ("0"), if not revise.

Value reconcile: Q + S – E – G = zero
("0"), if not revise.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal
II-13.

Page 22

U.S. imports from all other sources.--Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and
inventories of silicon metal imported from all other sources by your firm during the specified
periods.

All Other Sources

(list sources:

)
Quantity (in short tons contained silicon), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2014

2015

2016

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II-13.

Page 23

U.S. imports from all other sources.--Continued

2013

2014

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

2015
0

2014

2015
0

2016
0

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II-14.

Page 24

U.S. shipments of imports from All other sources.--Report your firm’s U.S. shipments (i.e.,
inclusive of commercial U.S. shipments, internal consumption, and transfers tor related firms) of
imports from all other sources by product form during the specified periods.

All other sources
Quantity (in short tons contained silicon), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2014

2015

2016

2014

2015

2016

Quantity reconcile: P + R – D – F =
zero ("0"), if not revise.

Value reconcile: Q + S – E – G = zero
("0"), if not revise.

II-15.

Other explanations.--If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question in Part II
that did not provide a narrative response box, please note the question number and the
explanation in the space provided below. Please also use this space to highlight any issues your
firm had in providing the data in this section, including but not limited to technical issues with
the MS Word questionnaire.

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PART III.--PRICING AND MARKET FACTORS
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Lauren Gamache (202-2053489, [email protected]).
III-1.

PRICE DATA
Questions III-2 and III-3 request quarterly quantity and value data for your firm’s commercial shipments
to unrelated U.S. customers or direct imports for internal use since January 1, 2014 of the following
products your firm imported from Australia, Brazil, Kazakhstan, and/or Norway:
Product 1.--Sold to primary aluminum producers; silicon metal less than 99.99% pure that
contains a minimum of 98.5% silicon, a maximum of 1.00% iron, a maximum of
0.07% calcium, and no restriction of the aluminum content.
Product 2.--Sold to secondary aluminum producers; silicon metal less than 99.99% pure that
contains a minimum of 97.0% silicon, a maximum of 2.00% iron, a maximum of 0.4%
calcium, and no restriction of the aluminum content.
Product 3.--Sold to chemical manufacturers; silicon metal less than 99.99% pure that contains a
minimum of 98.0% silicon, a maximum of 1.50% iron, a maximum of 0.2% calcium,
and a maximum of 0.4% aluminum.
Please note that values should be f.o.b., U.S. point of shipment and should not include U.S.-inland
transportation costs. Values should reflect the final net amount paid to your firm (i.e., should be net
of all deductions for discounts or rebates).
III-2a. During January 2014-December 2016, did your firm import from Australia, Brazil, Kazakhstan,
Norway, and/or South Africa and sell to unrelated U.S. customers any of the above listed
products (or any products that were competitive with these products)?
Yes.--Please complete the following pricing data tables as appropriate.
No.--Skip to question III-3.

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III-2b. Price data.--Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from Australia
and sold by your firm.

Australia

Report data in actual short tons and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
(Quantity in short tons of contained silicon, value in dollars)
Product 1
Product 2
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value

Product 3
Period of shipment
Quantity
Value
2014:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2015:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2016:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
1
Net values (i.e., gross sales values less all discounts, allowances, rebates, prepaid freight, and the value of returned goods), f.o.b. your
firm’s U.S. point of shipment.
2
Pricing product definitions are provided on the first page of Part III.
Note.--If your firm’s product does not exactly meet the product specifications but is competitive with the specified product, provide a
description of your firm’s product. Also, please explain any anomalies in your firm’s reported pricing data.
Product 1:
Product 2:
Product 3:

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal
III-2c.

Page 27

Price data.--Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from Brazil
and sold by your firm.

Brazil

Report data in actual short tons and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
(Quantity in short tons of contained silicon, value in dollars)
Product 1
Product 2
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value

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III-2d. Price data.--Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from
Kazakhstan and sold by your firm.

Kazakhstan

Report data in actual short tons and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
(Quantity in short tons of contained silicon, value in dollars)
Product 1
Product 2
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value

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III-2e. Price data.--Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from Norway
and sold by your firm.

Norway

Report data in actual short tons and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
(Quantity in short tons of contained silicon, value in dollars)
Product 1
Product 2
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal
III-2f.

Page 30

Price data.--Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from South
Africa and sold by your firm.

South Africa

Report data in actual short tons and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
(Quantity in short tons of contained silicon, value in dollars)
Product 1
Product 2
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value

III-3a. Imports for internal use.-- During January 2014-December 2016, did your firm import from
Australia, Brazil, Kazakhstan, and/or Norway and sell for your firm’s own use any of the above
listed products (or any products that were competitive with these products)?
Yes.--Please complete the following pricing data tables as appropriate.
No.--Skip to question III-4.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal

Page 31

III-3b. Imports for internal use.--Report below the quarterly import data1 for pricing products2
imported from Australia and used by your own firm. These are imports that your firm does not
resell as silicon metal.

Australia

Report data in actual short tons and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
(Quantity in short tons of contained silicon, value in dollars)
Product 1
Product 2
Quantity
LDP Value
Quantity
LDP Value

Product 3
Period of shipment
Quantity
LDP Value
2014:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2015:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2016:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
1
Please note that values should be net landed, duty-paid (“LDP”) at the U.S. port of entry, including ocean freight and insurance costs,
brokerage charges, and import duties (i.e., all charges except inland freight in the United States).
2
Pricing product definitions are provided on the first page of Part III.
Note.--If your firm’s product does not exactly meet the product specifications but is competitive with the specified product, provide a
description of your firm’s product. Also, please explain any anomalies in your firm’s reported pricing data.
Product 1:
Product 2:
Product 3:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal
III-3c.

Page 32

Imports for internal use.-- Report below the quarterly import data1 for pricing products2
imported from Brazil and used by your own firm. These are imports that your firm does not
resell as silicon metal.

Brazil

Report data in actual short tons and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
(Quantity in short tons of contained silicon, value in dollars)
Product 1
Product 2
Quantity
LDP Value
Quantity
LDP Value

Product 3
Quantity
LDP Value

Period of shipment
2014:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2015:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2016:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
1
Please note that values should be net landed, duty-paid (“LDP”) at the U.S. port of entry, including ocean freight and insurance costs,
2
brokerage charges, and import duties (i.e., all charges except inland freight in the United States). Pricing product definitions are provided on
the first page of Part III.
Note.--If your firm’s product does not exactly meet the product specifications but is competitive with the specified product, provide a
description of your firm’s product. Also, please explain any anomalies in your firm’s reported pricing data.
Product 1:
Product 2:
Product 3:

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal

Page 33

III-3d. Imports for internal use.-- Report below the quarterly import data1 for pricing products2
imported from Kazakhstan and used by your own firm. These are imports that your firm does
not resell as silicon metal.

Kazakhstan

Report data in actual short tons and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
(Quantity in short tons of contained silicon, value in dollars)
Product 1
Product 2
Quantity
LDP Value
Quantity
LDP Value

Product 3
Quantity
LDP Value

Period of shipment
2014:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2015:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2016:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
1
Please note that values should be net landed, duty-paid (“LDP”) at the U.S. port of entry, including ocean freight and insurance costs,
brokerage charges, and import duties (i.e., all charges except inland freight in the United States).
2
Pricing product definitions are provided on the first page of Part III.
Note.--If your firm’s product does not exactly meet the product specifications but is competitive with the specified product, provide a
description of your firm’s product. Also, please explain any anomalies in your firm’s reported pricing data.
Product 1:
Product 2:
Product 3:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal

Page 34

III-3e. Imports for internal use.-- Report below the quarterly import data1 for pricing products2
imported from Norway and used by your own firm. These are imports that your firm does not
resell as silicon metal.

Norway

Report data in actual short tons and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
(Quantity in short tons of contained silicon, value in dollars)
Product 1
Product 2
Quantity
LDP Value
Quantity
LDP Value

Product 3
Quantity
LDP Value

Period of shipment
2014:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2015:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2016:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
1
Please note that values should be net landed, duty-paid (“LDP”) at the U.S. port of entry, including ocean freight and insurance costs,
brokerage charges, and import duties (i.e., all charges except inland freight in the United States).
2
Pricing product definitions are provided on the first page of Part III.
Note.--If your firm’s product does not exactly meet the product specifications but is competitive with the specified product, provide a
description of your firm’s product. Also, please explain any anomalies in your firm’s reported pricing data.
Product 1:
Product 2:
Product 3:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal
III-3f.

Page 35

Imports for internal use.-- Report below the quarterly import data1 for pricing products2
imported from South Africa and used by your own firm. These are imports that your firm does
not resell as silicon metal.

South Africa

Report data in actual short tons and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
(Quantity in short tons of contained silicon, value in dollars)
Product 1
Product 2
Quantity
LDP Value
Quantity
LDP Value

Product 3
Quantity
LDP Value

Period of shipment
2014:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2015:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2016:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
1
Please note that values should be net landed, duty-paid (“LDP”) at the U.S. port of entry, including ocean freight and insurance costs,
brokerage charges, and import duties (i.e., all charges except inland freight in the United States).
2
Pricing product definitions are provided on the first page of Part III.
Note.--If your firm’s product does not exactly meet the product specifications but is competitive with the specified product, provide a
description of your firm’s product. Also, please explain any anomalies in your firm’s reported pricing data.
Product 1:
Product 2:
Product 3:

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal

Page 36

III-3g. Additional costs for your direct imports of silicon metal for internal use.
(i)

If your firm reported purchase cost data above (question III-3a through III-f), please
identify the factors that add to your cost of importing directly since January 1, 2014,
estimate the share of the cost of the landed duty paid value (LDPV), and explain the
specific costs associated with each category.

Factors
Logistical or supply chain costs
Warehousing costs
Compliance or customs brokerage costs
Currency conversion costs
Other (
)
(ii)

Estimated share of
landed duty paid
value

Explanation

To which source does your firm compare costs in determining your additional
transaction costs to directly import?
U.S. importers

U.S. producers

Both

Neither

(iii)

If your firm reported direct import data (question III-3a through III-3e), briefly identify
the benefits of purchasing silicon metal directly instead of purchasing silicon from a U.S.
importer or from a U.S. producer.

(iv)

Please provide the estimated margin saved by having purchased silicon metal directly
from Australia, Brazil, Kazakhstan, and/or Norway instead of purchasing from a U.S.
importer.
percent of landed duty-paid value.

(v)

Explain any variation in the margin saved since January 1, 2014.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal

Page 37

III-3g. Additional costs for your direct imports of silicon metal for internal use.--Continued.

III-4.

(vi)

What is the approximate percentage of the total cost of silicon metal you directly
imported from Australia, Brazil, Kazakhstan, and/or Norway that is accounted for by U.S.
inland transportation or other logistics costs from the port of importation to your
distribution network or retail store?
percent.

(vii)

Did your firm purchase silicon metal from a U.S. producer?
No
Yes -- Please complete the lost sales/lost revenue questionnaire.

Pricing data methodology.--Please describe the method and the kinds of documents/records
that were used to compile your price data.

Note: As requested in Part I of this questionnaire, please keep all supporting documents/records used in
the preparation of the price data, as Commission staff may contact your firm regarding questions on the
price data. The Commission may also request that your company submit copies of the supporting
documents/records (such as sales journal, invoices, etc.) used to compile these data.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal
III-5.

Price setting.--How does your firm determine the prices that it charges for sales of silicon metal
(check all that apply)? If your firm issues price lists, please submit sample pages of a recent list.
Transaction
by
transaction

III-6.

Contracts

Other

If other, describe

Annual
total
volume
discounts

No
discount
policy

Other

Describe

Pricing terms.-(a)

What are your firm’s typical sales terms for silicon metal imported from Australia, Brazil,
Kazakhstan, and/or Norway?
Net 30
days

(b)

Net 60
days

2/10 net 30
days

Other

Other (specify)

On what basis are your firm’s prices of imported silicon metal from Australia, Brazil,
Kazakhstan, and/or Norway usually quoted (check one)?
Delivered

III-8.

Set
price
lists

Discount policy.--Please indicate and describe your firm’s discount policies (check all that apply).

Quantity
discounts

III-7.

Page 38

F.o.b.

If f.o.b., specify point

Contract versus spot.--Approximately what share of your firm’s sales of silicon metal imported
from Australia, Brazil, Kazakhstan, and/or Norway in 2016 was on a (1) long-term contract basis,
(2) annual contract basis, (3) short-term contract basis, and (4) spot sales basis?

Share of 2016
sales

Long-term
contracts
(multiple
deliveries for
more than 12
months)
%

Type of sale
Short-term
Annual
contracts
contracts
(multiple
(multiple
deliveries for
deliveries for 12
less than 12
months)
months)
%

Total
(should
sum to
100.0%)

Spot sales
(for a single
delivery)
%

0.0

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal
III-9.

Page 39

Contract provisions.--Please fill out the table regarding your firm’s typical sales contracts for
silicon metal from Australia, Brazil, Kazakhstan, and/or Norway (or check “not applicable” if your
firm does not sell on a long-term, short-term and/or annual contract basis).

Typical sales
contract provisions

Item

Average contract
duration

No. of
days

Price renegotiation
(during contract
period)

Yes

Fixed quantity
and/or price
Meet or release
provision

Short-term
contracts
(multiple deliveries
for less than 12
months)

Annual contracts
(multiple deliveries
for 12 months)

Long-term contracts
(multiple deliveries for
more than 12 months)

365

No
Quantity
Price
Both
Yes
No

Not applicable
III-10. Lead times.--What is your firm’s share of sales of silicon metal imported from Australia, Brazil,
Kazakhstan, and/or Norway from inventory and produced to order and what is the typical lead
time between a customer’s order and the date of delivery for your firm’s sales of silicon metal?

Source

Lead time
(Average number
Share of 2016 sales
of days)

From your firm’s U.S. inventory

From foreign manufacturers’ inventory

Produced to order

Total (should sum to 100.0%)

0.0 %

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal

Page 40

III-11. Shipping information.-(a)

What is the approximate percentage of the total delivered cost of silicon metal
imported from Australia, Brazil, Kazakhstan, and/or Norway that is accounted for by U.S.
inland transportation costs?
percent.

(b)

Who generally arranges the transportation to your firm’s customers’ locations?
Your firm
Purchaser (check one)

(c)

When your firm sells silicon metal imported from Australia, Brazil, Kazakhstan, and/or
Norway, from where is it shipped?
Point of importation
Storage facility (check one)

(d)

Indicate the approximate percentage of your firm’s sales of silicon metal imported from
Australia, Brazil, Kazakhstan, and/or Norway that are delivered the following distances
from your firm’s U.S. point of shipment.
Distance from your firm’s U.S. point of shipment

Within 100 miles

101 to 1,000 miles

Over 1,000 miles

Total (should sum to 100.0%)

0.0

III-12. Geographical shipments.--Please indicate the U.S. geographic market area(s) into which your
firms has sold or internally consumed silicon metal imported from subject countries in 2016
(check all that apply)?
Sale of imports from.-Geographic area
Northeast.–CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, and VT.
Midwest.–IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH,
SD, and WI.
Southeast.–AL, DE, DC, FL, GA, KY, MD, MS, NC, SC,
TN, VA, and WV.
Central Southwest.–AR, LA, OK, and TX.
Mountains.–AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, and WY.
Pacific Coast.–CA, OR, and WA.
Other.–All other markets in the United States not
previously listed, including AK, HI, PR, and VI.

Australia

Brazil

Kazakhstan

Norway

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal

Page 41

III-13. End uses.--List the end uses of the silicon metal that your firm imports from Australia, Brazil,
Kazakhstan, and/or Norway. For each end-use product, what percentage of the total cost is
accounted for by silicon metal and other inputs?
Share of total cost of end-use product
accounted for by
End use product

Silicon metal

Other inputs

Total
(should sum to
100.0% across)

0.0 %

III-14. Substitutes.--Can other products be substituted for silicon metal?
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 silicon metal?
No Yes

Explanation

1.
2.
3.
III-15. Demand trends.--Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United
States (if known) for silicon metal has changed since January 1, 2014. Explain any trends and
describe the principal factors that have affected these changes in demand.

Market
Within the United States
Outside the United States

Overall
increase

No
Overall Fluctuate with
change decrease no clear trend

Explanation and factors

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal

Page 42

III-16. Product changes.--Have there been any significant changes in the product range, product mix or
marketing of silicon metal since January 1, 2014?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

III-17. Conditions of competition.-(a) Is the silicon metal market subject to business cycles (other than general economy-wide
conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to silicon metal?
Check all that apply.

Please describe.

Skip to question III-16.

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
silicon metal since January 1, 2014?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

III-18. Supply constraints.--Has your firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply silicon metal
since January 1, 2014 (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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal

Page 43

III-19. Raw materials.--How have silicon metal raw material prices changed since January 1, 2014?
Fluctuate
Overall
No
Overall
with no
increase change decrease clear trend

Explain, noting how raw material price changes
have affected your firm’s selling prices for silicon
metal.

III-20. Interchangeability.--Is silicon metal 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

Australia

Brazil

Kazakhstan

Norway

Other
countries

United States
Australia
Brazil
Kazakhstan
Norway
For any country-pair producing silicon metal that is sometimes or never interchangeable,
identify the country-pair and explain the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable use:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal

Page 44

III-21. Factors other than price.--Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between silicon metal produced
in the United States and in other countries a significant factor in your firm’s sales 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

Australia

Brazil

Kazakhstan

Norway

Other
countries

United States
Australia
Brazil
Kazakhstan
Norway
For any country-pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant
factor in your firm’s sales of silicon metal, identify the country-pair and report the advantages
or disadvantages imparted by such factors:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal

Page 45

III-22. Customer identification.--List the names and contact information for your firm’s 10 largest U.S.
customers for silicon metal since January 1, 2014. Indicate the share of the quantity of your
firm’s total shipments of silicon metal that each of these customers accounted for in 2016.

Customer’s name

Contact person

Telephone

City

State

Share
of
2016
sales
(%)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

III-23. Other explanations.--If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question in Part III
that did not provide a narrative response box, please note the question number and the
explanation in the space provided below. Please also use this space to highlight any issues your
firm had in providing the data in this section, including but not limited to technical issues with
the MS Word questionnaire.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal

Page 46

Correcting Valid number error messages.--If you are completing a Commission

questionnaire in a country that uses periods (“.”) to delineate multiples of 1000 (e.g., one million would
appear as $1.000.000 instead of as $1,000,000), you may be unable to enter in numbers greater than
999 in numeric form fields. This issues stem from your computer number formatting setting (e.g., not
the MS Word document itself, but the computer from which you are opening up the document). In the
United States commas (,) delineate multiples of 1000 and periods (.) delineate fractions less than one.
Many EU countries use the reverse where multiples of 1000 are delineated with periods (.) and
fractions less than one are delineated with commas (,). The US International Trade Commission’s
questionnaires are set-up in the United States with the U.S. number formatting. When this formatting
interacts with a computer set to EU number formatting, we believe this may cause this issue.
The solution to this data entry issue is to temporarily change your operating system’s number
formatting to be consistent with the U.S. number formatting system while you complete the
questionnaire.
To temporarily change your computer’s number settings to U.S. settings, please do the following (for
Microsoft Windows Operating system):
•
•
•
•
•

START
Control Panel
Region and Language (under Clock, Language, and Region category)
Format tab
Change the Format from your existing one (e.g. “Italian (Italy)”) to “English (United States)” (see
screen shots below)

When you do this the number “twelve million dollars and thirty five cents” would change from
$12.000.000,35 (Italy format) to $12,000,000.35 (U.S. format), and then there will be no conflict with
the USITC foreign producer questionnaire form. When you finish reporting the data then you can close
the questionnaire and switch back to Italy settings.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Silicon Metal

Page 47

HOW TO FILE YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSE
This questionnaire is available as a “fillable” form in MS Word format on the
Commission’s website at:
https://usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2017/silicon_metal_australia_brazil_kazakhsta
n_and/preliminary.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: SIMN

• 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 did not import 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.

File Type	application/pdf
File Title	US importer questionnaire
Subject	Title 7 investigations
Author	Ruggles, Fred
File Modified	2017-03-09
File Created	2017-03-09