18-3-3830 US purchasers' questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 18-3-3830; Expiration Date: 6/30/2020
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

LOST SALES AND LOST REVENUE SURVEY
CAST IRON SOIL PIPE FROM CHINA
This survey must be received by the Commission by February 9, 2018
See last page for filing instructions.
The information called for in this survey is for use by the United States International Trade Commission in connection
with its countervailing duty and antidumping investigations concerning cast iron soil pipe from China (Inv. Nos. 701-TA597 and 731-TA-1407 (Preliminary)). The information requested in the survey is requested under the authority of the
Tariff Act of 1930, title VII. This report is mandatory and failure to reply as directed can result in a subpoena or other
order to compel the submission of records or information in your possession (19 U.S.C. § 1333(a)). Further information
on this survey can be obtained from Amelia Preece (202-205-3250, [email protected]).

Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm purchased cast iron soil pipe (as defined on next page) at any time since January 1, 2015?

NO

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

YES

(Complete all parts of the survey, and return the entire survey 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: CISP)
CERTIFICATION
I certify that the information herein supplied in this survey 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 survey
and throughout this proceeding in any other import-injury proceedings conducted by the Commission on the same or similar
merchandise.
I, the undersigned, acknowledge that information submitted in response to this request for information and throughout this
investigation or other proceeding may be disclosed to and used: (i) by the Commission, its employees and Offices, and contract
personnel (a) for developing or maintaining the records of this or a related proceeding, or (b) in internal investigations, audits,
reviews, and evaluations relating to the programs, personnel, and operations of the Commission including under 5 U.S.C.
Appendix 3; or (ii) by U.S. government employees and contract personnel, solely for cybersecurity purposes. I understand that all
contract personnel will sign appropriate nondisclosure agreements.
Name of Authorized Official

Title of Authorized Official

Date

Signature

Phone

Email address

Business Proprietary
Lost Sales and Lost Revenue Survey- Cast Iron Soil Pipe

Page 2

GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.-- This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on January 26, 2018, by Cast
Iron Soil Pipe Institute (“CISPI”), Mundelein, IL. Countervailing and antidumping duties may be assessed
on the subject imports as a result of these proceedings if the Commission makes an affirmative
determination of injury, threat, or material retardation, and if the U.S. Department of Commerce
(“Commerce”) makes an affirmative determination of subsidization and/or dumping. U.S. producers of
cast iron soil pipe have provided the USITC with allegations about sales or revenue that they have lost
due to competition from imports of cast iron soil pipe from #countries. One or more domestic
producer(s) have named your firm in such an allegation.
Cast iron soil pipe covered by these investigations is cast iron soil pipe, whether finished or unfinished,
regardless of industry or proprietary specifications, and regardless of wall thickness, length, diameter,
surface finish, end finish, or stenciling. Both hubless and hub and spigot cast iron soil pipe are included
in the scope of this investigation. Cast iron soil pipe is nonmalleable iron pipe of various designs and
sizes. Cast iron soil pipe is generally distinguished from other types of nonmalleable cast iron pipe by the
manner in which it is connected to cast iron soil pipe fittings.
Cast iron soil pipe is classified into two major types – hubless and hub and spigot. Hubless cast iron soil
pipe is manufactured without a hub, generally in compliance with Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute (“CISPI”)
specification 301 and/or American Society for Testing and Materials (“ASTM”) specification A888. Hub
and spigot pipe has one or more hubs into which the spigot (plain end) of a fitting is inserted. All pipe
meeting the physical description set forth above is covered by the scope of this investigation, whether
or not produced according to a particular standard.
The subject imports are currently classified in statistical reporting number 7303.00.0030 of the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS): Cast iron soil pipe. The HTSUS subheading and
specifications are provided for convenience and customs purposes only; the written description of the
scope of these investigations is dispositive.
Reporting of information.-- If information is not readily available from your records, provide carefully
prepared estimates.
Confidentiality.--The data furnished in response to this survey 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.
Release of information.--The information provided by your firm in response to this survey, 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

Business Proprietary
Lost Sales and Lost Revenue Survey- Cast Iron Soil Pipe

Page 3

merchandise; those individuals would be subject to severe penalties if the information were divulged to
unauthorized individuals. Please also retain a copy of the final document that you submit.
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 survey. This
may or may not be the person whose signature is at the bottom of page 1.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
Firms operating more than one establishment should combine the data for all establishments into a
single response.
PURCHASE INFORMATION
Purchases and imports.--Report separately your firm’s domestic purchases and imports of cast
iron soil pipe.

II-1.

“Purchase” – Purchase from a U.S. entity such as a U.S. producer, a U.S. importer, or other U.S.
firm.
“Import” – Purchase directly from a foreign supplier and your firm is the importer of record.
2015
Item

2016

2017

Quantity (in short tons)

Purchases of cast iron soil pipe
produced in—
United States
China
All other countries1
Sources unknown
Total purchases

0

0

0

0

0

0

Imports of cast iron soil pipe from—
China
All other countries1
Total imports
1

Please identify these countries:

Business Proprietary
Lost Sales and Lost Revenue Survey- Cast Iron Soil Pipe

Page 4

2. Changes in purchasing patterns.--Please indicate how the shares of your firm’s purchases of cast
iron soil pipe from different sources have changed since January 1, 2015.
Source of
purchases

Did not
purchase

Decreased Increased

Constant

Fluctuated

Explanation for trend

United States

China

All other
countries
Sources
unknown

3. Major purchasing factors.--Please list, in order of their importance, the main factors your firm
considers in deciding from whom to purchase cast iron soil pipe.
1.
2.
3.
Please list any other factors that are very important in your purchase decisions:

Business Proprietary
Lost Sales and Lost Revenue Survey- Cast Iron Soil Pipe

Page 5

4. Purchasing subject imports rather than domestic products.—
(a)

Since January 2015, did your firm purchase imports of cast iron soil pipe from China
instead of U.S.-produced cast iron soil pipe?
Source

Yes
(also respond to parts (b) and (c))

No
(If “No” skip to next question)

China
(b)

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

Yes

No

China
(c)

If you responded “Yes” to part (a), was price a primary reason for purchasing subject
imports rather than domestic product?

Source

China

Yes

If Yes, estimate the quantity
of imports purchased instead
of domestic product since
January 2015
(in short tons)

No

If No, please indicate the
reason your firm purchased
imports instead of domestic
product

Business Proprietary
Lost Sales and Lost Revenue Survey- Cast Iron Soil Pipe
5.

Page 6

U.S. producers and import competition.—
(a)

Since January 1, 2015, in connection with a sale or offer to sell cast iron soil pipe to your
firm, did U.S. producers reduce their prices of domestically produced cast iron soil pipe
in order to compete with lower-priced imports of cast iron soil pipe from the subject
countries?
Source

Yes (also respond to
question part (b))

No (If “No” skip to next
question)

Don’t know

China
(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
China

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

%

6. Method of purchase--Please provide a general description of your firm’s method(s) of purchase
(e.g., individual purchase, contract, bids, Internet purchases, etc.) for cast iron soil pipe.

7. Other explanations--Please provide any additional comments in this box.

Business Proprietary
Lost Sales and Lost Revenue Survey- Cast Iron Soil Pipe

Page 7

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

Dollars

The questions in this survey 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 survey is estimated to average 4 hours per response,
including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering data, and completing and reviewing the
survey.
We welcome comments regarding the accuracy of this burden estimate, suggestions for reducing
the burden, and any suggestions for improving this survey. Please attach such comments to your
response or send to the Office of Investigations, USITC, 500 E St. SW, Washington, DC 20436.

HOW TO FILE YOUR SURVEY RESPONSE
Please do not attempt to modify the format or permissions of the survey document.
Please submit the completed survey using one of the methods noted below. If your firm
is unable to complete the MS Word survey 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 survey along with a scanned copy of the signed
certification page (page 1) through the Commission’s secure upload facility:
o
o
o

Web address: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/
Enter Investigation: Select “Soil pipe from China” in the drop down menu
Pin: CISP

• E-mail.—E-mail the MS Word survey 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 purchase this product, please fill out page 1, print, sign, and submit a scanned copy
to the Commission.