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pdfOMB No. 3117‐0016/USITC No. 17‐3‐3763; Expiration Date: 6/30/2020
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U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
COLD‐DRAWN MECHANICAL TUBING OF CARBON AND ALLOY STEEL FROM
CHINA, GERMANY, INDIA, ITALY, KOREA, AND SWITZERLAND
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by October 16, 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 and antidumping duty investigations concerning certain cold‐drawn mechanical
tubing of carbon and alloy steel (“cold‐drawn mechanical tubing”) from China, Germany, India, Italy, Korea, and
Switzerland (Inv. Nos. 701‐TA‐576‐577 and 731‐TA‐1362‐1367 (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)). Further information on this questionnaire can be obtained from Lauren Gamache
(202‐205‐3489, [email protected]).
Name of firm
Address
City
State
Zip Code
Website
Has your firm purchased cold‐drawn mechanical tubing (as defined on next page) from any source (domestic or
foreign) at any time since January 1, 2014?
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: CDMT)
CERTIFICATION
I certify that the information herein supplied in response to this questionnaire is complete and correct to the best of my
knowledge and belief and understand that the information submitted is subject to audit and verification by the Commission. By
submitting this certification I also grant consent for the Commission, and its employees and contract personnel, to use the
information provided in this questionnaire and throughout this proceeding in any other import‐injury proceedings conducted by
the Commission on the same or similar merchandise.
I, the undersigned, acknowledge that information submitted in response to this request for information and throughout this
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
Email address
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
Page 2
PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.‐‐This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on April 19, 2017, by
ArcelorMittal Tubular Products, Shelby, Ohio; Michigan Seamless Tube, LLC, South Lyon, Michigan; PTC
Alliance Corp., Wexford, Pennsylvania; Webco Industries, Inc., Sand Springs, Oklahoma; and Zekelman
Industries, Inc., Farrell, Pennsylvania. 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
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2017/cold_drawn_mechanical_tubing_china_germany_in
dia/preliminary.htm.
Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing covered by these investigations is cold‐drawn mechanical tubing of
carbon and alloy steel, of circular cross‐section, 304.8 mm or more in length, in actual diameters less
than 13 inches (less than 331 mm), and regardless of wall thickness, surface finish, end finish or industry
specification. The subject cold‐drawn mechanical tubing is a tubular product with a circular cross‐
sectional shape that has been cold‐drawn or otherwise cold‐finished after the initial tube formation in a
manner that involves a change in the diameter or wall thickness of the tubing, or both. The subject cold‐
drawn mechanical tubing may be produced from either welded (e.g., electric resistance welded,
continuous welded, etc.) or seamless (e.g., pierced, pilgered or extruded, etc.) carbon or alloy steel
tubular products. It may also be heat treated after cold working (annealed, normalized, quenched and
tempered, stress relieved or finish annealed). Typical cold‐drawing methods for subject merchandise
include, but are not limited to, drawing over mandrel, rod drawing, and sink drawing. Other cold‐
finishing operations that may be used to produce subject merchandise include cold‐rolling and cold‐
sizing the tubing.1
Subject cold‐drawn mechanical tubing is typically certified to meet industry specifications for cold‐drawn
tubing including but not limited to: (1) American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or American
Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) specifications ASTM A‐512, ASTM A‐513 Type 3 (ASME SA513
Type 3), ASTM A‐513 Type 4 (ASME SA513 Type 4), ASTM A‐513 Type 5 (ASME SA513 Type 5), ASTM A‐
513 Type 6 (ASME SA513 Type 6), ASTM A‐519 (cold‐finished); (2) SAE International (Society of
Automotive Engineers) specifications SAE J524, SAE J525, SAE J2833, SAE J2614, SAE J2467, SAE J2435,
SAE J2613; (3) Aerospace Material Specification (AMS) AMS T‐6736 (AMS 6736), AMS 6371, AMS 5050,
AMS 5075, AMS 5062, AMS 6360, AMS 6361, AMS 6362, AMS 6371, AMS 6372, AMS 6374, AMS 6381,
AMS 6415; (4) United States Military Standards (MIL) MIL ‐T‐5066 and MIL‐T‐6736; (5) foreign standards
equivalent to one of the previously listed ASTM, ASME, SAE, AMS or MIL specifications including but not
limited to: (a) German Institute for Standardization (DIN) specifications DIN 2391‐2, DIN 2393‐2, DIN
2394‐2; (b) European Standards (EN) EN 10305‐1, EN 10305‐2, EN 10305‐4, EN 10305‐6 and European
national variations on those standards (e.g., British Standard (BS EN), Irish Standard (IS EN) and German
Standard (DIN EN) variations, etc.); (c) Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) JIS G 3441 and JIS G 3445; and
(6) proprietary standards that are based on one of the above listed standards. The subject cold‐drawn
mechanical tubing may also be dual or multiple certified to more than one standard.
Steel products included in the scope of these investigations are products in which: (1) iron
predominates, by weight, over each of the other contained elements; and (2) the carbon content is 2
1
The language in bold is pending the results of a scope clarification request at the Department of Commerce.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
Page 3
percent or less by weight. For purposes of this scope, the place of cold‐drawing determines the country
of origin of the subject merchandise. Subject merchandise that is subject to minor working in a third
country that occurs after drawing in one of the subject countries including, but not limited to, heat
treatment, cutting to length, straightening, nondestruction testing, deburring or chamfering, remains
within the scope of the investigation. All products that meet the written physical description are within
the scope of these investigations unless specifically excluded or covered by the scope of an existing
order. Merchandise that meets the physical description of cold‐drawn mechanical tubing above is within
the scope of the investigations even if it is also dual‐ or multiple‐certified to an otherwise excluded
specification listed below.
The following products are outside of, and/or specifically excluded from, the scope of these
investigations: ( 1) cold‐drawn stainless steel tubing, containing 10.5 percent or more of chromium by
weight and not more than 1.2 percent of carbon by weight; (2) products certified to one or more of the
following ASTM, ASME or American Petroleum Institute (API) specifications listed below: ASTM A‐53;
ASTM A‐106; ASTM A‐179 (ASME SA 179); ASTM A‐192 (ASME SA 192); ASTM A‐209 (ASME SA 209);
ASTM A‐210 (ASME SA 210); ASTM A‐213 (ASME SA 213); ASTM A‐334 (ASME SA 334); ASTM A‐423
(ASME SA 423); ASTM A‐498; ASTM A‐496 (ASME SA 496); ASTM A‐199; ASTM A‐500; ASTM A‐556;
ASTM A‐565; API SL; and API 5CT; except that any cold‐drawn tubing product certified to one of the
above excluded specifications will not be excluded from the scope if it is also dual‐ or multiple‐certified
to any other specification that otherwise would fall within the scope of these investigations.
The products subject to the investigations are currently imported under the following Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) statistical reporting numbers: 7304.31.3000, 7304.31.6050,
7304.51.1000, 7304.51.5005, 7304.51.5060, 7306.30.5015, 7306.30.5020, and 7306.50.5030. The HTSUS
provisions above are provided for convenience and customs purposes only. The written description of
the scope of the investigations is dispositive.
Purchaser.‐‐Any firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or subsidiary, in purchasing
cold‐drawn mechanical tubing from another firm that produces, imports, or otherwise distributes cold‐
drawn mechanical tubing.
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.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
Page 4
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. In addition, if your firm is a U.S. producer, the information you
provide on your production and imports of cold‐drawn mechanical tubing and your responses to the
questions in Part I of the producer questionnaire will be provided to the U.S. Department of Commerce,
upon its request, for use in connection with (and only in connection with) its requirement pursuant to
section 702(c)(4)/732(c)(4) of the Act (19 U.S.C. § 1671a(c)(4)/1673a(c)(4)) to make a determination
concerning the extent of industry support for the petition requesting this proceeding. Any information
provided to Commerce will be transmitted under the confidentiality and release guidelines set forth
above. Your response to these questions constitutes your consent that such information be provided to
Commerce under the conditions described above.
I‐1.
OMB statistics.‐‐Please report the actual number of hours required and the cost to your firm of
completing this questionnaire.
Hours
Dollars
The questions in this questionnaire have been reviewed with market participants to ensure that
issues of concern are adequately addressed and that data requests are sufficient, meaningful,
and as limited as possible. Public reporting burden for this questionnaire is estimated to average
25 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering data, and
completing and reviewing the questionnaire.
We welcome comments regarding the accuracy of this burden estimate, suggestions for
reducing the burden, and any suggestions for improving this questionnaire. Please attach such
comments to your response or send to the Office of Investigations, USITC, 500 E St. SW,
Washington, DC 20436.
I‐2.
Establishments covered.‐‐Provide the name and address of your U.S. establishment(s) covered
by this questionnaire, if different from that listed on the cover page. Firms operating more than
one establishment should combine the data for all establishments into a single report.
“Establishment”‐‐Each facility of a firm involved in the purchase of cold‐drawn mechanical
tubing, including auxiliary facilities operated in conjunction with (whether or not physically
separate from) such facilities.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
I‐3.
Ownership.‐‐Is your firm owned, in whole or in part, by any other firm?
No
Yes‐‐List the following information.
I‐4.
I‐5.
Firm name
Address
Extent of ownership
(percent)
Page 5
Related importers/exporters.‐‐Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or
foreign, which import cold‐drawn mechanical tubing into the United States or which export
cold‐drawn mechanical tubing to the United States?
No
Yes‐‐List the following information.
Firm name
Country
Affiliation
Related producers.‐‐Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, which
produce cold‐drawn mechanical tubing?
No
Yes‐‐List the following information.
Firm name
Country
Affiliation
PART II.‐‐PURCHASES
Contact information.‐‐Please identify the responsible individual and the manner by which Commission
staff may contact that individual regarding the confidential information submitted in this questionnaire.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
Page 6
II‐1. Purchases and imports.—
(a)
Report your firm’s total domestic purchases and direct imports of cold‐drawn
mechanical tubing.
Please report separately your domestic purchases and your direct imports (where your firm was
the importer of record).
“Domestic Purchase” – Purchase from a U.S. entity such as a U.S. producer, a U.S. distributor, or
a U.S. firm.
“Direct Import” – Purchase directly from a foreign supplier and your firm is the importer of
record.
2014
2015
2016
Country
Purchases of cold‐drawn mechanical
tubing produced in—
United States
China
Germany
India
Italy
Korea
All other countries
Sources unknown
Switzerland
1
Total purchases
Imports of cold‐drawn mechanical
tubing from—
China
0
0
0
Germany
India
Italy
Korea
Switzerland
1
All other countries
Total imports
1
Please identify these countries:
Quantity (in short tons)
0
0
0
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
II‐1. Purchases and imports.— Continued.
Page 7
(b)
Did you firm also purchase out‐of‐scope cold‐drawn mechanical tubing less than 12
inches (304.8 mm) in length during since January 1, 2014?
No
Yes
If yes, please estimate quantity (in short tons) purchased in 2016.
II‐2.
Changes in purchasing patterns.‐‐
(a)
Please indicate how the shares of your firm’s purchases of cold‐drawn mechanical
tubing from different sources have changed since January 1, 2014.
Did not
Source of purchases purchase Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated
Explanation for trend
United States
China
Germany
India
Italy
Korea
Switzerland
All other
countries
Sources
unknown
II‐3.
Country knowledge.‐‐Please indicate the countries of origin with which your firm has
experience or information in the cold‐drawn mechanical tubing market.
United
States
1
China
Germany
Please identify these countries:
India
Italy
Korea
Other
Switzerland countries1
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
Page 8
II‐4. Supplier identification.‐‐Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers for cold‐drawn mechanical
tubing since January 1, 2014. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s total
purchases of cold‐drawn mechanical tubing that each of these suppliers accounted for in 2016.
No.
Supplier’s name
Share of quantity of
2016 purchases
City and state
1
%
2
%
3
%
4
%
5
%
PART III.‐‐MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES
III‐1. Firm type.‐‐Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of cold‐drawn
mechanical tubing (check all that apply)?
End user
(Heavy
End user
machinery/
End user (oil
End user
End user
(other1)
industrial)
and gas)
Distributor
(Agriculture)
(Automotive)
1
Please describe “other”:
If your firm is a distributor of cold‐drawn mechanical tubing, please answer questions III‐2 and III‐3.
III‐2. Competition for sales.‐‐Does your firm compete for sales to customers with the manufacturers
or importers from which your firm purchases cold‐drawn mechanical tubing?
No
Yes If yes, please describe.
III‐3.
Types of customers.‐‐What are the major types of consumers to which your firm sells cold‐
drawn mechanical tubing?
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
Page 9
If your firm is an end user of cold‐drawn mechanical tubing, please answer questions III‐4 and III‐5.
III‐4. End uses.‐‐List the top 3 products your firm makes using cold‐drawn mechanical tubing and
estimate the percent of your total production cost that is accounted for by cold‐drawn
mechanical tubing and by other inputs (such as labor, energy, and other raw materials).
Share of total cost in each of the product(s) your
Total
firm produces accounted for by
(should
sum to
100.0%
Product(s) your firm
Cold‐drawn
across)
produces
mechanical tubing
Other inputs
III‐5.
%
+
% =
0.0 %
%
+
% =
0.0 %
%
+
% =
0.0 %
Demand for end use products.‐‐
(a)
Has the demand for your firm’s final products incorporating cold‐drawn mechanical
tubing changed since January 1, 2014?
Increased
No change
Decreased
Fluctuated
(b)
III‐6.
Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for cold‐drawn mechanical tubing?
No
Yes
Explain
Differences in end uses.‐‐ Do your firm’s responses to questions III‐4 through III‐6 differ for cold‐
drawn mechanical tubing that is less than 12 inches (304.8 mm) in length and cold‐drawn
mechanical tubing that is greater than 12 inches in length?
No
Yes
If yes, describe.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
III‐7. Substitutes.‐‐
(a)
Can other products be substituted for cold‐drawn mechanical tubing?
No
Yes‐‐Please fill out the table.
End use in which this
substitute is used
Substitute
Page 10
Have changes in the price of this substitute
affected the price for cold‐drawn mechanical
tubing?
No Yes
1.
2.
3.
Explanation
(b)
Do substitutes for cold‐drawn mechanical tubing less than 12 inches (304.8 mm) in
length differ significantly from cold‐drawn mechanical tubing greater than 12 inches in
length?
No
Yes
If yes, describe.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
Page 11
III‐8. Demand trends.‐‐
(a)
Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United States (if
known) for cold‐drawn mechanical tubing has changed since January 1, 2014. Explain
any trends and describe the principal factors that have affected these changes in
demand.
Overall
increase
Market
Fluctuate
with no
No
Overall
clear
change decrease
trend
Explanation and factors
Within the United States:
Overall demand
Agricultural sector
Automotive sector
Heavy machinery/industrial sector
Oil and gas sector
1
Other sectors
Outside the United States
1
Please describe the "other" sectors:
(b)
Do demand trends for cold‐drawn mechanical tubing that is less than 12 inches (304.8
mm) in length differ significantly from cold‐drawn mechanical tubing that is greater than
12 inches in length?
III‐9.
No
Yes
If yes, describe.
Country preferences.‐‐Do you or your customers ever specifically order cold‐drawn mechanical
tubing from one country in particular over other possible sources of supply?
No
Yes
If yes, identify the countries and explain.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
Page 12
III‐10. Importance of purchasing domestic product.‐‐Please fill out the table below, estimating the
percentage of your firm’s total 2016 purchases of cold‐drawn mechanical tubing that required
cold‐drawn mechanical tubing produced in the United States.
Estimated percentage of
your firm’s total 2016
purchases of cold‐drawn
mechanical tubing
Purchases that did not require domestic product
%
Purchases that were required by law or regulation to be domestic product
(e.g., government purchases under “Buy American” provisions)
%
Purchases that were not required by law or regulation, but were required by
your customers to be domestic product
%
Purchases that were required to be domestic product for other reasons
(explain: )
%
Total (should sum to 100.0%)
0.0 %
III‐11. Conditions of competition.‐‐
(a)
Is the cold‐drawn mechanical tubing market subject to business cycles (other than
general economy‐wide conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to
cold‐drawn mechanical tubing?
Check all that apply.
Please describe.
No
Skip to question III‐12.
Yes‐Business cycles (e.g.
seasonal business)
Yes‐Other distinctive
conditions of competition
(b)
Have there been any changes in the business cycles or conditions of competition for
cold‐drawn mechanical tubing since January 1, 2014?
No
Yes
If yes, describe.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
Page 13
III‐12. Decisions based on producer and country‐of‐origin.‐‐How often does your firm, and if known,
do your customers, make purchasing decisions involving cold‐drawn mechanical tubing based on
its producer or country of origin?
Always
Usually
Sometimes
Never
If at least sometimes, explain.
Decision based on producer
Your firm
Your
customers
Decision based on country of origin
Your firm
Your
customers
III‐13. Differences in country preference.‐‐ Do your firm’s responses to questions III‐9 through III‐12
differ for cold‐drawn mechanical tubing that is less than 12 inches (304.8 mm) in length and
cold‐drawn mechanical tubing that is greater than 12 inches in length?
No
Yes
If yes, describe.
III‐14. Availability of supply.‐‐Has the availability of cold‐drawn mechanical tubing in the U.S. market
changed since January 1, 2014?
Availability in the U.S.
Please explain, noting the countries and reasons for the
market
No Yes changes.
U.S.‐produced product
Subject imports
Nonsubject imports
III‐15. Supply constraints.‐‐Has any firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply your firm with
cold‐drawn mechanical tubing 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, being unable to meet timely shipment
commitments, etc.)?
No
Yes
If yes, please describe.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
Page 14
III‐16. Availability of specific product types.‐‐Are certain grades/types/sizes of cold‐drawn mechanical
tubing (e.g., CDMT with particular diameters and wall thickness, or customer‐specific models)
only available from certain country sources?
No
Yes‐‐Please fill out the table.
Product
End use
Estimated 2016
purchases of this
product
(short tons)
Country source
III‐17. Differences in availability.‐‐ Do your firm’s responses to questions III‐14 through III‐16 differ for
cold‐drawn mechanical tubing that is less than 12 inches (304.8 mm) in length and cold‐drawn
mechanical tubing that is greater than 12 inches in length?
No
Yes
If yes, describe.
III‐18. Purchasing frequency.‐‐
(a)
How frequently does your firm make purchases of cold‐drawn mechanical tubing (check
one)?
Daily
Weekly
Monthly Quarterly Annually Other
If other, specify
(b)
Has this purchasing frequency changed since January 1, 2014?
No
Yes If yes, please describe.
III‐19. Number of suppliers contacted.‐‐How many suppliers does your firm generally contact before
making a purchase? Between and firms
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
Page 15
III‐20. Supplier negotiations.‐‐
(a) Do your firm’s purchases of cold‐drawn mechanical tubing usually involve negotiations
between supplier and purchaser?
If yes, explain the factors your firm generally negotiates and note
Yes whether your firm quotes competing prices during negotiations.
No
(b) Are your firm’s purchases of cold‐drawn mechanical tubing under contracts that were
negotiated outside of the United States?
Share of
2016
purchases
(percent)
Source
China
Germany
India
Italy
Korea
Switzerland
Description (negotiations,
provisions of the contracts, etc.)
End use applications
(c)
Do your firm’s responses to parts (a) and (b) differ for cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
that is less than 12 inches (304.8 mm) in length and cold‐drawn mechanical tubing that is
greater than 12 inches in length?
No
Yes
If yes, describe.
III‐21. Change in suppliers.‐‐Has your firm changed suppliers since January 1, 2014?
If yes, please list the supplier(s), whether the firm was added or
Yes dropped, and the reasons for the change.
No
III‐22. New suppliers.‐‐Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have
entered the market since January 1, 2014?
No
Yes
If yes, please identify the firms.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
Page 16
III‐23. Supplier qualification.‐‐Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified
to sell cold‐drawn mechanical tubing to your firm?
If yes, provide the following information.
The number of days to qualify a new supplier.
A general description of the certification or qualification process. Also, a brief
description of the factors that you consider when qualifying a new supplier (e.g., quality
of product, reliability of supplier, etc.).
No
Yes
Number
of days Process and factors
III‐24. Failure to certify.‐‐Since January 1, 2014, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their
attempts to certify or qualify their cold‐drawn mechanical tubing with your firm or have any
producers lost their approved status?
No
Yes
If yes, please identify these firms, the countries where they are located,
and the reasons why they failed the certification/qualification.
III‐25. Differences in suppliers and qualifications.‐‐ Do your firm’s responses to questions III‐21
through III‐24 differ for cold‐drawn mechanical tubing that is less than 12 inches (304.8 mm) in
length and cold‐drawn mechanical tubing that is greater than 12 inches in length?
No
Yes
If yes, describe.
III‐26. Major purchasing factors.‐‐Please list, in order of their importance, the main factors your firm
considers in deciding from whom to purchase cold‐drawn mechanical tubing (examples include
availability, extension of credit, contracts, price, quality, range of supplier’s product line,
traditional supplier, etc.).
1.
2.
3.
Please list any other factors that are very important in your purchase decisions:
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
III‐27. Purchasing factors.‐‐Please rate the importance of the following factors in your firm’s
purchasing decisions for cold‐drawn mechanical tubing.
Very
important
Factor
Somewhat
important
Page 17
Not
important
Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs
III‐28. Quality characteristics.‐‐What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of cold‐drawn mechanical tubing?
III‐29. Differences in purchasing factors and quality.‐‐ Do your firm’s responses to questions III‐26
through III‐28 differ for cold‐drawn mechanical tubing that is less than 12 inches (304.8 mm) in
length and cold‐drawn mechanical tubing that is greater than 12 inches in length?
No
Yes
If yes, describe.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
Page 18
III‐30. Minimum quality.‐‐How often does cold‐drawn mechanical tubing from the following countries
meet minimum quality specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?
Rarely or
Don’t
Source
Always
Usually
Sometimes
never
know
United States
China
Germany
India
Italy
Korea
Switzerland
Other:
III‐31. Frequency of decisions based on price.‐‐How often does your firm purchase the cold‐drawn
mechanical tubing that is offered at the lowest price?
Always
Usually
Sometimes
Never
III‐32. Price leaders.— A price leader is defined as (1) one or more firms that initiate a price change,
either upward or downward, that is followed by other firms, or (2) one or more firms that have a
significant impact on prices. A price leader is not necessarily the lowest‐priced supplier.
Please list the names of any firms you considered price leaders in the cold‐drawn mechanical
tubing market since January 1, 2014.
Firm(s)
Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
Page 19
III‐33. Purchasing subject imports rather than domestic products.—
(a)
Since January 2014, did your firm purchase imports of cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
from China, Germany, India, Italy, Korea, and/or Switzerland instead of U.S.‐produced
cold‐drawn mechanical tubing? Respond for each subject country.
No
(If “No” for all countries, skip to next
Yes
Source
(also respond to parts (b) and (c))
question)
China
Germany
India
Italy
Korea
Switzerland
(b)
If you responded “Yes” to part (a), was the imported product priced lower than the
domestic product?
Source
Yes
No
China
Germany
India
Italy
Korea
Switzerland
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
Page 20
III‐34. Purchasing subject imports rather than domestic products.—Continued
(c)
If you responded “Yes” to part (a), was price a primary reason for purchasing subject
imports rather than domestic product?
If Yes, estimate the quantity
If No, please indicate the
of imports purchased instead
reason your firm purchased
Source
Yes
of domestic product since
No
imports instead of domestic
January 2014
product
(in short tons)
China
Germany
India
Italy
Korea
Switzerland
III‐35. U.S. producers and import competition.—
(a)
Since January 1, 2014, in connection with a sale or offer to sell cold‐drawn mechanical
tubing to your firm, did U.S. producers reduce their prices of domestically produced
cold‐drawn mechanical tubing in order to compete with lower‐priced imports of cold‐
drawn mechanical tubing from the subject countries? Respond for each subject
country.
Yes (also respond to
No (If “No” for all countries,
Source
question part (b))
skip to next question)
Don’t know
China
Germany
India
Italy
Korea
Switzerland
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
Page 21
III‐35. U.S. producers and import competition.—Continued.
(b)
If your firm responded “yes” to any of the above countries, please provide an estimate
of the reduction in U.S. producers’ prices, and any additional explanations, such as
timing (e.g., months/years), frequency of price reductions, or other market/competitive
factors.
Source
Estimated
reduction in U.S.
prices
(percent)
Additional explanation, including such information as
timing (e.g., months/years), frequency of price
reductions, or other market/competitive factors
China
%
Germany
%
India
%
Italy
%
Korea
%
Switzerland
%
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
Page 22
PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS
IV‐1. Interchangeability.‐‐Is cold‐drawn mechanical tubing 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
United States
China
Germany
India
Italy
Korea
Switzerland
Other
countries
China
Germany
India
Italy
Korea
Switzerland
For any country‐pair producing cold‐drawn mechanical tubing which is sometimes or never
interchangeable, please identify the country‐pair and explain the factors that limit or preclude
interchangeable use:
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
Page 23
IV‐2. Factors other than price.‐‐Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between cold‐drawn mechanical
tubing produced in the United States and in other countries a significant factor in your firm’s
purchases of the products?
Please indicate A, F, S, N, or 0 in the table below:
A = such differences are always significant
F = such differences are frequently significant
S = such differences are sometimes significant
N = such differences are never significant
0 = no familiarity with products from a specified country‐pair
Country‐pair
United States
China
Germany
India
Italy
Korea
Switzerland
Other
countries
China
Germany
India
Italy
Korea
Switzerland
For any country‐pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant factor in
your firm’s purchases of cold‐drawn mechanical tubing, identify the country‐pair and report the
advantages or disadvantages imparted by such factors:
IV‐3.
Differences in interchangeability and factors other than price.‐‐ Do your firm’s responses to
questions IV‐1 through IV‐2 differ for cold‐drawn mechanical tubing that is less than 12 inches
(304.8 mm) in length and cold‐drawn mechanical tubing that is greater than 12 inches in length?
No
Yes
If yes, describe.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
Page 24
IV‐4. Factor country comparisons.‐‐For the factors listed below, please rate how cold‐drawn
mechanical tubing produced in each country you identified in your response to the first question
in Part IV compares with cold‐drawn mechanical tubing produced in each of the other countries
you identified.
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Factor
Inferior
Superior
Comparable
If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.
Product from
Product from
Product from
United States
United States
United States
compared to
compared to
compared to
product from
product from
product from
China
Germany
India
Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
1
U.S. transportation costs
1
A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has lower
prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Inferior
Superior
Factor
Comparable
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
Page 25
IV‐4. Continued.
If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.
Product from
Product from
Product from
United States
United States
United States
compared to
compared to
compared to
product from
product from
product from
Italy
Korea
all other sources
Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
1
A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has lower
prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Inferior
Superior
Factor
Comparable
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
Page 26
IV‐4. Continued.
If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.
Product from
Product from
Product from
China
China
China
compared to
compared to
compared to
product from
product from
product from
Germany
India
Italy
Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
1
A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has lower
prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Inferior
Superior
Factor
Comparable
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
Page 27
IV‐4. Continued.
If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.
Product from
Product from
Product from
China
China
Germany
compared to
compared to
compared to
product from
product from
product from
Korea
all other sources
India
Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
1
A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has lower
prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Inferior
Superior
Factor
Comparable
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
Page 28
IV‐4. Continued.
If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.
Product from
Product from
Product from
Germany
Germany
Germany
compared to
compared to
compared to
product from
product from
product from
Italy
Korea
all other sources
Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
1
A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has lower
prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Inferior
Superior
Factor
Comparable
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
Page 29
IV‐4. Continued.
If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.
Product from
Product from
Product from
India
India
India
compared to
compared to
compared to
product from
product from
product from
Italy
Korea
all other sources
Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
1
A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has lower
prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Inferior
Superior
Factor
Comparable
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
Page 30
IV‐4. Continued.
If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.
Product from
Product from
Product from
Germany
Germany
Germany
compared to
compared to
compared to
product from
product from
product from
Italy
Korea
all other sources
Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
1
A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has lower
prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Inferior
Superior
Factor
Comparable
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
Page 31
IV‐4. Continued.
If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.
Product from
Product from
Product from
India
India
India
compared to
compared to
compared to
product from
product from
product from
Italy
Korea
all other sources
Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
1
A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has lower
prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Inferior
Superior
Factor
Comparable
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
Page 32
IV‐4. Continued.
If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.
Product from
Product from
Product from
Italy
Italy
Italy
compared to
compared to
compared to
product from
product from
product from
Korea
Switzerland
all other sources
Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
1
A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has lower
prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Inferior
Comparable
Superior
Inferior
Superior
Factor
Comparable
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
Page 33
IV‐4. Continued.
If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.
Product from
Product from
Product from
Korea
Korea
Switzerland
compared to
compared to
compared to
product from
product from
product from
Switzerland
all other sources all other sources
Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
1
A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has lower
prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
Page 34
PART V.—ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
V‐1. Other explanations.‐‐If your firm would like to further explain a response to any question that
did not provide a narrative response box, please note the question number and the explanation
in the space provided below.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Cold‐drawn mechanical tubing
Page 35
HOW TO FILE YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSE
This questionnaire is available as a “fillable” form in MS Word format on the
Commission’s website at:
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2017/cold_drawn_mechanical_tubing_ch
ina_germany_india/final.htm
Please do not attempt to modify the format or permissions of the questionnaire
document. Please submit the completed questionnaire using one of the methods noted
below. If your firm is unable to complete the MS Word questionnaire or cannot use one
of the electronic methods of submission, please contact the Commission for further
instructions.
• Upload via Secure Drop Box.—Upload the MS Word questionnaire along with a scanned copy of the
signed certification page (page 1) through the Commission’s secure upload facility:
Web address: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/
Pin: CDMT
• E‐mail.—E‐mail the MS Word questionnaire to [email protected]; include a scanned copy of
the signed certification page (page 1). Submitters are strongly encouraged to encrypt nonpublic
documents that are electronically transmitted to the Commission to protect your sensitive information
from unauthorized disclosure. The USITC secure drop‐box system and the Electronic Document
Information System (EDIS) use Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 140‐2 cryptographic
algorithms to encrypt data in transit. Submitting your nonpublic documents by a means that does not
use these encryption algorithms (such as by email) may subject your firm’s nonpublic information to
unauthorized disclosure during transmission. If you choose a non‐encrypted method of electronic
transmission, the Commission warns you that the risk of such possible unauthorized disclosure is
assumed by you and not by the Commission.
If your firm does not purchase this product, please fill out page 1, print, sign, and submit a scanned
copy to the Commission.
Parties to this proceeding.—If your firm is a party to this proceeding, it is required to serve a copy of the
completed questionnaire on parties to the proceeding that are subject to administrative protective
order (see 19 CFR § 207.7). A list of such parties may be obtained from the Commission’s Secretary (202‐
205‐1803). A certificate of service must accompany the completed questionnaire your firm submits (see
19 CFR § 207.7). Service of the questionnaire must be made in paper form.
| File Type | application/pdf |
| File Title | Microsoft Word - US purchasers--Cold Drawn Mechanical Tubing (F) |
| Author | keysha.martinez |
| File Modified | 2017-09-21 |
| File Created | 2017-09-21 |