17-2-3709 U.S. Importer Questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 17-2-3709; Expiration Date: 6/30/2020
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. IMPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
RIPE OLIVES FROM SPAIN
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by July 6, 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 ripe olives from Spain (Inv. Nos. 701TA-582 and 731-TA-1377 (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 ripe olives (as defined on next page) from any country at any time since January 1,
2013?

NO

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

YES

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

Return questionnaire via the U.S. International Trade Commission Drop Box by clicking on the
following link: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/. (PIN: RIPE)
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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PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background. --This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition instituted on June 22, 2017, by
the Coalition for Fair Trade in Ripe Olives, consisting of Bell-Carter Foods, Walnut Creek, CA, and Musco
Family Olive Company, Tracy, CA. Countervailing and/or antidumping duties may be assessed on the
subject imports as a result of these proceedings if the Commission makes an affirmative determination
of injury, threat, or material retardation, and if the U.S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) makes
an affirmative determination of subsidization and/or dumping. Questionnaires and other information
pertinent to this proceeding are available at
http://wwwadmin.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2017/ripe_olives_spain/preliminary.htm.
Ripe olives covered by these investigations are certain processed olives, usually referred to as "ripe
olives." The subject merchandise includes all colors of olives; all shapes and sizes of olives, whether
pitted or not pitted, and whether whole, sliced, chopped, minced, wedged, broken, or otherwise
reduced in size; all types of packaging, whether for consumer (retail) or institutional (food service) sale,
and whether canned or packaged in glass, metal, plastic, multi-layered airtight containers (including
pouches), or otherwise; and all manners of preparation and preservation, whether low acid or acidified,
stuffed or not stuffed, with or without flavoring and/or saline solution, and including in ambient,
refrigerated, or frozen conditions.
Included are all ripe olives processed in Spain, regardless of the origin of the olives or the location of
packaging. Excluded from the scope are: (1) "Spanish-style" and other similar olives that have been
processed by being both fermented and briefly cured in an alkaline solution; (2) olives that have been
processed by fermentation only; and (3) provisionally prepared olives unsuitable for immediate
consumption (currently classifiable in subheading 0711.20 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States (HTSUS)).
The merchandise subject to this petition is currently classifiable under statistical reporting numbers
2005.70.0230, 2005.70.0260, 2005.70.0430, 2005.70.0460, 2005.70.5030, 2005.70.5060, 2005.70.6020,
2005.70.6030, 2005.70.6050, 2005.70.6060, 2005.70.6070, 2005.70.7000, 2005.70.7510, 2005.70.7515,
2005.70.7520, and 2005.70.7525 HTSUS.
Subject merchandise may also be imported under statistical reporting numbers 2005.70.0600,
2005.70.0800, 2005.70.1200, 2005.70.1600, 2005.70.1800, 2005.70.2300, 2005.70.2510, 2005.70.2520,
2005.70.2530, 2005.70.2540, 2005.70.2550, 2005.70.2560, 2005.70.9100, 2005.70.9300, and
2005.70.9700.
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 ripe olives (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

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extent that such data are not otherwise available to the public and will not be disclosed except as may
be required by law (see 19 U.S.C. § 1677f). Such confidential information will not be published in a
manner that will reveal the individual operations of your firm; however, general characterizations of
numerical business proprietary information (such as discussion of trends) will be treated as confidential
business information only at the request of the submitter for good cause shown.
Verification.-- The information submitted in this questionnaire is subject to audit and verification by the
Commission. To facilitate possible verification of data, please keep all files, worksheets, and supporting
documents used in the preparation of the questionnaire response. Please also retain a copy of the final
document that you submit.
Release of information.--The information provided by your firm in response to this questionnaire, as
well as any other business proprietary information submitted by your firm to the Commission in
connection with this proceeding, may become subject to, and released under, the administrative
protective order provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. § 1677f) and section 207.7 of the
Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR § 207.7). This means that certain lawyers and
other authorized individuals may temporarily be given access to the information for use in connection
with this proceeding or other import-injury proceedings conducted by the Commission on the same or
similar merchandise; those individuals would be subject to severe penalties if the information were
divulged to unauthorized individuals.
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 Jordan
Harriman (202-205-2610, [email protected]).

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ripe olives
I-1.

Page 4

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

Dollars

The questions in this questionnaire have been reviewed with market participants to ensure that
issues of concern are adequately addressed and that data requests are sufficient, meaningful,
and as limited as possible. Public reporting burden for this questionnaire is estimated to average
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 ripe olives, including
auxiliary facilities operated in conjunction with (whether or not physically separate from) such
facilities.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ripe olives
I-3.

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

Firm name

I-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 ripe olives from Spain into the United States or that are
engaged in exporting ripe olives from Spain to the United States?
No
Firm name

I-5.

Page 5

Yes--List the following information.
Country

Affiliation

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

Yes--List the following information.
Country

Affiliation

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ripe olives
I-6.

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

I-7.

Page 6

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 ripe olives 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 - Ripe olives
I-8.

Page 7

FTZ, TIB, or bonded warehouses.--Please indicate whether your firm enters ripe olives into, or
withdraws such merchandise from, foreign trade zones or bonded warehouses. Also indicate
whether your firm imports ripe olives 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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PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Jordan Harriman (202-2052610, [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 ripe olives since January 1, 2013.
(check as many as appropriate)
Office/warehouse openings
Office/warehouse closings
Relocations
Expansions
Acquisitions
Consolidations
Prolonged shutdowns or
importation curtailments
Weather related disruptions
Revised labor agreements
Other (e.g., technology)

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

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ripe olives
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Arranged imports.--Has your firm imported or arranged for the importation of ripe olives 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.
Specific three month periods
Source

Jan-Mar 2017 Apr-Jun 2017

Jul-Sept 2017

Oct-Dec 2017

Spain
Morocco
Other sources

II-4.

Imports in the 12 month period preceding the petition.--Has your firm imported ripe olives
from any source between June 1, 2016 and May 30, 2017? (i.e., the last seven months in 2016
and first five months in 2017 combined)
No

Yes–Report the quantity of such imports below by source.
Source

June 2016 through May 2017

Spain
Morocco
Other sources

II-5.

Reasons for importing if producer.--If your firm also produces ripe olives 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).
“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 - Ripe olives
II-6a.

Page 11

Imports from Spain.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and inventories of
ripe olives imported from Spain by your firm during the specified periods.

Spain
Quantity (in short tons, drained weight) and value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2013

2014

2015

2016

Beginning-of-period inventories (quantity) (A)
Imports:1
Quantity (B)
Value (C)
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity (D)
Value (E)
Internal consumption/ company
transfers:2
Quantity (F)
Value2 (G)
Export shipments:3
Quantity (H)
Value (I)
End-of-period inventories (quantity) (J)
Channels of distribution:
Commercial U.S. shipments:
To distributors (quantity) (K)
To retailers: branded (quantity) (L)
To retailers: private label (quantity) (M)
To institutional / food processors
(quantity) (N)
To other firms (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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Page 12

Imports from Spain.–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

2013

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

2014
0

2015
0

2016
0

0

1

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 through O) in each time period equal the quantity reported for commercial U.S. shipments
(i.e., line D) 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
K + L + M + N + O – D = zero ("0"), if not
revise.

2013

2014
0

2015
0

2016
0

0

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ripe olives
II-6b.

Page 13

Commercial U.S. shipments by olive variety and type of processing: Spain.--Report your firm’s
commercial U.S. shipments of imports from Spain by olive variety and type of processing in
calendar year 2016.

Spain

Quantity (in short tons, drained weight)
Olive variety
Item

Manzanilla

Sevillano

Mission

Other

2016: Commercial U.S. shipments:
Whole with pit (P)
Whole pitted (Q)
Segmented (R)
Sliced (S)
Chopped (T)
Other (U)
Subtotal

0

0

0

0

RECONCILIATION OF CHANNELS.--Please ensure that the quantities reported for olive variety and type of
processing (i.e., lines P through U) for 2016 (all rows and columns in this question) equal the quantity
reported for commercial U.S. shipments (i.e., line D) in 2016 in part "a" of this question. 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.
Reconciliation

Calendar year 2016

P + Q + R + S + T +U (for all varieties/ columns) – D = zero ("0"), if
not revise.
Optional: Describe any issues and/or assumptions in how your firm classified its 2016 commercial U.S.
shipments above.

0

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ripe olives
II-7a.

Page 14

Imports from Morocco.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and inventories
of ripe olives imported from Morocco by your firm during the specified periods.

Morocco
Quantity (in short tons, drained weight) and value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2013

2014

2015

2016

Beginning-of-period inventories (quantity) (A)
Imports:1
Quantity (B)
Value (C)
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity (D)
Value (E)
Internal consumption/ company
transfers:2
Quantity (F)
Value2 (G)
Export shipments:3
Quantity (H)
Value (I)
End-of-period inventories (quantity) (J)
Channels of distribution:
Commercial U.S. shipments:
To distributors (quantity) (K)
To retailers: branded (quantity) (L)
To retailers: private label (quantity) (M)
To institutional / food processors
(quantity) (N)
To other firms (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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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ripe olives
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Page 15

Imports from Morocco.–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

2013

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

2014
0

2015
0

2016
0

0

1

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 through O) in each time period equal the quantity reported for commercial U.S. shipments
(i.e., line D) 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
K + L + M + N + O – D = zero ("0"), if not
revise.

2013

2014
0

2015
0

2016
0

0

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II-7b.

Page 16

Commercial U.S. shipments by olive variety and type of processing: Morocco.--Report your
firm’s commercial U.S. shipments of imports from Morocco by olive variety and type of
processing in calendar year 2016.

Morocco

Quantity (in short tons, drained weight)
Olive variety
Item

Manzanilla

Sevillano

Mission

Other

2016: Commercial U.S. shipments:
Whole with pit (P)
Whole pitted (Q)
Segmented (R)
Sliced (S)
Chopped (T)
Other (U)
Subtotal

0

0

0

0

RECONCILIATION OF CHANNELS.--Please ensure that the quantities reported for olive variety and type of
processing (i.e., lines P through U) for 2016 (all rows and columns in this question) equal the quantity
reported for commercial U.S. shipments (i.e., line D) in 2016 in part "a" of this question. 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.
Reconciliation

Calendar year 2016

P + Q + R + S + T +U (for all varieties/ columns) – D = zero ("0"), if
not revise.
Optional: Describe any issues and/or assumptions in how your firm classified its 2016 commercial U.S.
shipments above.

0

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Page 17

Imports from all other sources.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and
inventories of ripe olives imported from all other sources (i.e., from sources other than Spain or
Morocco) by your firm during the specified periods.

All other sources

(list sources:

)
Quantity (in short tons, drained weight) and value (in $1,000)
Calendar years

Item

2013

2014

2015

2016

Beginning-of-period inventories (quantity) (A)
Imports:1
Quantity (B)
Value (C)
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity (D)
Value (E)
Internal consumption/ company
transfers:2
Quantity (F)
Value2 (G)
Export shipments:3
Quantity (H)
Value (I)
End-of-period inventories (quantity) (J)
Channels of distribution:
Commercial U.S. shipments:
To distributors (quantity) (K)
To retailers: branded (quantity) (L)
To retailers: private label (quantity) (M)
To institutional / food processors
(quantity) (N)
To other firms (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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Page 18

Imports from all other sources.–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

2013

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

2014
0

2015
0

2016
0

0

1

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 through O) in each time period equal the quantity reported for commercial U.S. shipments
(i.e., line D) 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
K + L + M + N + O – D = zero ("0"), if not
revise.

2013

2014
0

2015
0

2016
0

0

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Page 19

Commercial U.S. shipments by olive variety and type of processing: All other sources.--Report
your firm’s commercial U.S. shipments of imports from all other sources by olive variety and
type of processing in calendar year 2016.

All other sources

Quantity (in short tons, drained weight)
Olive variety
Item

Manzanilla

Sevillano

Mission

Other

2016: Commercial U.S. shipments:
Whole with pit (P)
Whole pitted (Q)
Segmented (R)
Sliced (S)
Chopped (T)
Other (U)
Subtotal

0

0

0

0

RECONCILIATION OF CHANNELS.--Please ensure that the quantities reported for olive variety and type of
processing (i.e., lines P through U) for 2016 (all rows and columns in this question) equal the quantity
reported for commercial U.S. shipments (i.e., line D) in 2016 in part "a" of this question. 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.
Reconciliation

Calendar year 2016

P + Q + R + S + T +U (for all varieties/ columns) – D = zero ("0"), if
not revise.
Optional: Describe any issues and/or assumptions in how your firm classified its 2016 commercial U.S.
shipments above.

0

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ripe olives
II-9.

Page 20

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 Amelia Preece (202-2053250, [email protected]).
III-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 III.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
Fax

PRICE DATA
III-2.

This question requests quarterly quantity and value data for your firm’s commercial shipments
to unrelated U.S. customers since January 1, 2013 of the following products your firm imported
from Spain:

Product 1.--(Retail Branded).‐‐Medium pitted black ripe olives in 300 cans, 24 cans per case.
Report BRANDED sales only. Can size is 300 x 407. Drain weight is 6 oz. per can, 144 oz. (4.08
kg) per case.
Product 2.--(Retail Private Label).‐‐Medium pitted black ripe olives in 300 cans, 24 cans per case.
Report PRIVATE LABEL sales only. Can size is 300 x 407. Drain weight is 6 oz. per can, 144 oz.
(4.08 kg) per case.
Product 3.--(Retail Private Label).‐‐Sliced black ripe olives in 211 cans, 24 cans per case. Report
PRIVATE LABEL sales only. Can size is 211 x 200. Drain weight is 2.25 oz. per can, 54 oz. (1.53
kg) per case.
Product 4.--(Institutional).‐‐Sliced black ripe olives in #10 cans, 6 cans per case. Can size is 603 x 700.
Drain weight is 55 oz. per can, 330 oz. (9.36 kg) per case.
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).
During January 2013-December 2016, did your firm import from Spain 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 table as appropriate.
No.--Skip to question III-3.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ripe olives
III-2.

Page 22

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

Spain

Report data in actual cases and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
Product 1
Quantity
Value

(Quantity in actual cases, value in dollars)
Product 2
Product 3
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value

Product 4
Period of shipment
Quantity
Value
2013:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
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:
Product 4:

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 - Ripe olives
III-3.

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

III-4.

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 ripe olives imported from Spain?
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 ripe olives from Spain usually quoted
(check one)?
Delivered

III-6.

Set
price
lists

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

Quantity
discounts

III-5.

Page 23

F.o.b.

If f.o.b., specify point

Contract versus spot.--Approximately what share of your firm’s sales of ripe olives imported
from Spain in 2016 was on a (1) long-term contract basis, (2) annual contract basis, (3) shortterm contract basis, and (4) spot sales basis?

Item
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

%

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ripe olives
III-7.

Page 24

Contract provisions.—Please fill out the table regarding your firm’s typical sales contracts for
ripe olives from Spain (or check “not applicable” if your firm does not sell on a long-term, shortterm and/or annual contract basis).
Short-term
contracts
(multiple deliveries
for less than 12
months)

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

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-8.

Lead times.--What is your firm’s share of sales of ripe olives imported from Spain 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 ripe olives?

Source

Lead time
(Average number
of days)

Share of 2016
sales

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 - Ripe olives
III-9.

Page 25

Shipping information.-(a)

What is the approximate percentage of the cost of ripe olives imported from Spain 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 ripe olives imported from Spain, from where is it shipped?
Point of importation
Storage facility (check one)

(d)

Indicate the approximate percentage of your firm’s sales of ripe olives imported from
Spain 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

Share

Within 100 miles

%

101 to 1,000 miles

%

Over 1,000 miles

%

Total (should sum to 100.0%)

0.0

%

III-10. Geographical shipments.--In which U.S. geographic market area(s) has your firm sold ripe olives
imported from subject countries since January 1, 2013 (check all that apply)?
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.

Spain

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ripe olives

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III-11. End uses.--List the end uses of the ripe olives that your firm imports. For each end-use product,
what percentage of the total cost is accounted for by ripe olives and other inputs?
Share of total cost of end-use product
accounted for by
End use product

Ripe olives

Other inputs

Total
(should sum to
100.0% across)

%

%

0.0 %

%

%

0.0 %

%

%

0.0 %

III-12. Substitutes.--Can other products be substituted for ripe olives?
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 ripe olives?
No Yes

Explanation

1.
2.
3.
III-13. Demand trends.--Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United
States (if known) for ripe olives has changed since January 1, 2013. 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

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III-14. Product changes.--Have there been any significant changes in the product range, product mix or
marketing of ripe olives since January 1, 2013?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

III-15. Conditions of competition.—
(a) Is the ripe olives market subject to business cycles (other than general economy-wide
conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to ripe olives?
Check all that apply.

Please describe.

No

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
ripe olives since January 1, 2013?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

(c) Did the California drought affect the availability and/or prices of ripe olives in the United
States?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

(d) Did drought conditions in Mediterranean area affect the availability and/or prices of ripe
olives in the United States?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

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III-16. Supply constraints.--Has your firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply ripe olives since
January 1, 2013 (examples include placing customers on allocation or “controlled order entry,”
declining to accept new customers or renew existing customers, delivering less than the
quantity promised, been unable to meet timely shipment commitments, etc.)?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

III-17. Raw materials.--How have ripe olives raw material prices changed since January 1, 2013?
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 ripe
olives.

III-18. Interchangeability.--Are ripe olives 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

Spain

Other countries

United States
Spain
For any country-pair producing ripe olives that is sometimes or never interchangeable, identify
the country-pair and explain the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable use:

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III-19. Factors other than price.--Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between ripe olives 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

Spain

Other countries

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

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III-20. Customer identification.--List the names and contact information for your firm’s 10 largest U.S.
customers for ripe olives since January 1, 2013. Indicate the share of the quantity of your firm’s
total shipments of ripe olives that each of these customers accounted for in 2016.

Customer’s name

Contact person

Email

Telephone

City

State

Share
of
2016
sales
(%)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

III-21. 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.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Ripe olives

Page 31

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 questionnaire. When you finish reporting the data then you can close the questionnaire and switch
back to Italy settings.

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HOW TO FILE YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSE
This questionnaire is available as a “fillable” form in MS Word format on the
Commission’s website at:
http://wwwadmin.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2017/ripe_olives_spain/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: RIPE

• 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.