18-3-3838 US purchasers' questionnaire

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

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
STAINLESS STEEL FLANGES FROM CHINA AND INDIA
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by March 5, 2018
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 duty investigations concerning stainless steel (SS) flanges from
China and India (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-585-586 and 731-TA-1383-1384 (Final)). The information requested in the
questionnaire is requested under the authority of the Tariff Act of 1930, title VII. This report is mandatory and failure to
reply as directed can result in a subpoena or other order to compel the submission of records or information in your
possession (19 U.S.C. § 1333(a)). Further information on this questionnaire can be obtained from Andrew Knipe (202205-2390, [email protected])

Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm purchased stainless steel flanges (as defined on next page) from any source (domestic or foreign)
at any time since January 1, 2015?

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: SSF)
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

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - stainless steel flanges

Page 2

PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.--This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on August 16, 2017, by Core
Pipe Products, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois and Maass Flange Corporation, Houston, Texas. Antidumping
and Countervailing 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 dumping and
subsidization. Questionnaires and other information pertinent to this proceeding are available at
http://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2018/stainless_steel_flanges_china_and_india/final.htm.
Stainless steel flanges covered by these investigations are certain forged stainless steel flanges, whether
unfinished, semi-finished, or finished, generally manufactured to the material specification of
ASTM/ASME A/SA182, and made in alloys such as, but not limited to, 304, 304L, 316, and 316L (or
combinations thereof). The scope includes six general types of flanges. They are: (1) weld neck, used in
butt-weld line connection; (2) threaded, used for threaded line connections; (3) slip-on, used to slide
over pipe; (4) lap joint, used with stub-ends/butt-weld line connections; (5) socket weld, used to fit pipe
into a machine recession; and (6) blind, used to seal off a line. The sizes and descriptions of the flanges
within the scope include all pressure classes of ASME B16.5 and range from one-half inch to twenty-four
inches nominal pipe size (NPS). Specifically excluded from the scope of these orders are cast stainless
steel flanges. Cast stainless steel flanges generally are manufactured to specification ASTM A351.
Unfinished stainless steel flanges possess the approximate shape of finished stainless steel flanges and
have not yet been machined to final specification after the initial casting, forging, or like operations.
These machining processes may include boring, facing, spot facing, drilling, tapering, threading,
beveling, heating, or compressing.
The country of origin for certain forged stainless steel flanges, whether unfinished, semi-finished, or
finished is the country where the flange was forged. Subject merchandise includes stainless steel flanges
as defined above that have been further processed in a third country, including but not limited to
processing such as boring, facing, spot facing, drilling, tapering, threading, beveling, heating, or
compressing, or any other processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope
of the investigations if performed in the country of manufacture of the stainless steel flanges.
Merchandise subject to the investigations is typically imported under subheadings 7307.21.1000 and
7307.21.5000 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS). While HTS subheadings are
provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope is dispositive.
Stainless steel flanges excluded by NPS have a NPS less than 0.5 inches or greater than 24 inches but
otherwise meet the definition of stainless steel flanges in the scope.
Purchaser.--Any firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or subsidiary, in purchasing
stainless steel flanges from another firm that produces, imports, or otherwise distributes stainless steel
flanges.
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.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless steel flanges

Page 3

Confidentiality.--The commercial and financial data furnished in response to this questionnaire that
reveal the individual operations of your firm will be treated as confidential by the Commission to the
extent that such data are not otherwise available to the public and will not be disclosed except as may
be required by law (see 19 U.S.C. 1677f). Such confidential information will not be published in a manner
that will reveal the individual operations of your firm; however, general characterizations of numerical
business proprietary information (such as discussion of trends) will be treated as confidential business
information only at the request of the submitter for good cause shown.
Verification.-- The information submitted in this questionnaire is subject to audit and verification by the
Commission. To facilitate possible verification of data, please keep all files, worksheets, and supporting
documents used in the preparation of the questionnaire response. Please also retain a copy of the final
document that you submit.
Release of information.--The information provided by your firm in response to this questionnaire, as
well as any other business proprietary information submitted by your firm to the Commission in
connection with this proceeding, may become subject to, and released under, the administrative
protective order provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. § 1677f) and section 207.7 of the
Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR § 207.7). This means that certain lawyers and
other authorized individuals may temporarily be given access to the information for use in connection
with this proceeding or other import-injury proceedings conducted by the Commission on the same or
similar merchandise; those individuals would be subject to severe penalties if the information were
divulged to unauthorized individuals.
I-1.

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 response.
“Establishment”--Each facility of a firm involved in the purchase of stainless steel flanges,
including auxiliary facilities operated in conjunction with (whether or not physically separate
from) such facilities.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless steel flanges
I-2.

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

I-3.

Yes--List the following information.
Address

Extent of ownership
(percent)

Related importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or
foreign, which import stainless steel flanges into the United States or which export stainless
steel flanges to the United States?
No
Firm name

I-4.

Page 4

Yes--List the following information.
Country

Affiliation

Related producers.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, which
produce stainless steel flanges?
No
Firm name

Yes--List the following information.
Country

Affiliation

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless steel flanges

Page 5

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
Purchases and imports.--Report separately your firm’s domestic purchases and imports of
stainless steel flanges.

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 1,000 pounds)

Purchases of stainless steel flanges
produced in—
United States
China
India
Philippines
All other countries1
Sources unknown
Total purchases

0

0

0

0

0

0

Imports of stainless steel flanges
from—
China
India
Philippines
All other countries1
Total imports
1

Please identify these countries:

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless steel flanges
II-2.

Page 6

Changes in purchasing patterns.--Please indicate how the shares of your firm’s purchases of
stainless steel flanges from different sources have changed since January 1, 2015.

Did not
Source of purchases purchase Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated

Explanation for trend

United States
China
India
Philippines
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 stainless steel flanges market.

United
States

II-4.

China

India

Philippines

Other
countries

Other countries (specify)

Supplier identification.--Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers for stainless steel flanges
since January 1, 2015. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s total purchases of
stainless steel flanges that each of these suppliers accounted for in 2017.

No.

Supplier’s name

City and state

Share of quantity of
2017 purchases

1

%

2

%

3

%

4

%

5

%

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless steel flanges

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES
In responding to the questions in part III, if your firm’s responses would differ based on the level of
processing (e.g., between finished and unfinished SS flanges), please indicate the difference in the
narrative field of the question to which it applies, or in question V-1 for other explanations.
III-1.

Firm type.--Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of stainless steel
flanges (check all that apply)?
End user
(oil & gas
sector)

End user
(other
sectors)

Distributor

Other

Describe other

If your firm is a distributor of stainless steel flanges, 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 stainless steel flanges?
No

III-3.

Yes

If yes, please describe.

Types of customers.--What are the major types of consumers to which your firm sells stainless
steel flanges?

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless steel flanges

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If your firm is an end user of stainless steel flanges, please answer questions III-4 and III-5.
III-4.

End uses.--List the top 3 products your firm makes using stainless steel flanges and estimate the
percent of your total production cost that is accounted for by stainless steel flanges and by other
inputs (such as labor, energy, and other raw materials).
Share of total cost in each of the product(s) your
firm produces accounted for by
Product(s) your firm
produces

III-5.

Stainless steel flanges

Total
(should
sum to
100.0%
across)

Other inputs

% +

%

=

0.0 %

% +

%

=

0.0 %

% +

%

=

0.0 %

Demand for end use products.-(a)

Has the demand for your firm’s final products incorporating stainless steel flanges
changed since January 1, 2015?
Increased

(b)

No change

Decreased

Fluctuated

Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for stainless steel flanges?
No

Yes

Explain

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless steel flanges
III-6.

Page 9

Substitutes.--Can other products be substituted for stainless steel flanges?
No

Yes--Please fill out the table.

End use in which this
substitute is used

Substitute

Have changes in the price of this substitute
affected the price for stainless steel flanges?
No Yes

Explanation

1.
2.
3.
III-7.

Demand trends.—
(a)

Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United States (if
known) for stainless steel flanges has changed since January 1, 2015. Explain any trends
and describe the principal factors that have affected these changes in demand.
January 1, 2015-December 31, 2016
Overall
increase

Market

No change

Overall
decrease

Since January 1, 2016
Overall
increase

No change

Overall
decrease

Within the United States
for the Oil and Gas
Sector
Within the United States
for all other sectors1
Outside the United States
for the Oil and Gas
Sector
Outside the United States
for all other sectors1
Explanation and factors:
1

Please describe the "other" sectors:

(b)

Have any changes in raw material costs affected your firm’s price negotiations and/or
purchasing prices (including surcharges) since January 1, 2015? If there are relevant
surcharges, please identify them specifically.
No

Yes

Please explain.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless steel flanges
III-8.

Country preferences.--Do you or your customers ever specifically order stainless steel flanges
from one country in particular over other possible sources of supply?
No

III-9.

Page 10

Yes

If yes, identify the countries and explain.

Importance of purchasing domestic product.--Please fill out the table below, estimating the
percentage of your firm’s total 2017 purchases of stainless steel flanges that required stainless
steel flanges produced in the United States.

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

Estimated percentage of
your firm’s total 2017
purchases of stainless
steel flanges
%
%
%
%
0.0 %

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless steel flanges

Page 11

III-10. Conditions of competition.-(a)

Is the stainless steel flanges market subject to business cycles (other than general
economy-wide conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to
stainless steel flanges?

Check all that apply.

Please describe.

No

Skip to question III-11.

Yes-Business cycles (e.g.
seasonal business)
Yes-Other distinctive
conditions of competition
(b)

Have there been any changes in the business cycles or conditions of competition for
stainless steel flanges since January 1, 2015?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

(c) Have the there been any changes in your firm’s purchases of stainless steel flanges as a
result of the issuance of the exclusion order on Viraj (May 25, 2016)? If yes, please describe.
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless steel flanges

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III-11. Decisions based on producer and country-of-origin.--How often does your firm, and if known,
do your customers, make purchasing decisions involving stainless steel flanges 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-12. Availability of supply.--Has the availability of stainless steel flanges in the U.S. market changed
since January 1, 2015?
Availability in the U.S.
Please explain, noting the countries and reasons for the
market
No Yes changes.
U.S.-produced product
Imports from China
Imports from India
Imports from other
countries

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless steel flanges

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III-13. Supply constraints.--Has any firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply your firm with
stainless steel flanges since January 1, 2015 (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.

III-14. Availability of specific product types.--Are certain grades/types/sizes of stainless steel flanges
only available from certain country sources?
No

Yes

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

III-15. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

How frequently does your firm make purchases of stainless steel flanges (check one)?
Daily

(b)

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Annually

Other

If other, specify

Has this purchasing frequency changed since January 1, 2015?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

III-16. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers does your firm generally contact before
making a purchase? Between
and
firms
III-17. Supplier negotiations.--Do your firm’s purchases of stainless steel flanges usually involve
negotiations between supplier and purchaser?

No

Yes

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

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless steel flanges

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III-18. Change in suppliers.--Has your firm changed suppliers since January 1, 2015?

No

Yes

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

III-19. New suppliers.--Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have
entered the market since January 1, 2015?
No

Yes

If yes, please identify the firms.

III-20. Supplier qualification.--Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified
to sell stainless steel flanges 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-21. Failure to certify.--Since January 1, 2015, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their
attempts to certify or qualify their stainless steel flanges 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.

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III-22. Major purchasing factors.--Please list, in order of their importance, the main factors your firm
considers in deciding from whom to purchase stainless steel flanges (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:
III-23. Purchasing factors.--Please rate the importance of the following factors in your firm’s
purchasing decisions for stainless steel flanges.

Factor
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
Other1
1

Please identify the “other” factors:

Very
important

Somewhat
important

Not
important

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless steel flanges

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III-24. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of stainless steel flanges?

III-25. Minimum quality.--How often does stainless steel flanges from the following countries meet
minimum quality specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?

Source

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or
never

Don’t
know

United States
China
India
Philippines
Other:
III-26. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the stainless steel
flanges that is offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

III-27. 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 stainless steel flanges
market since January 1, 2015.
Firm(s)

Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership

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III-28. Pricing factors.—Rate and describe the effect of the following factors on the prices your firm
pays for stainless steel flanges.
Rating of the factor
Minimal effect
Factor

1

Substantial effect
2

3

4

5

No role

Demand in oil and gas sector
Demand in other sectors
(please identify sector):
Raw material costs for the
production of stainless steel
flanges
Other:
Please describe:

III-29. Purchasing subject imports rather than domestic products.—
(a)

Since January 2015, did your firm purchase imports of stainless steel flanges from China
and/or India instead of U.S.-produced stainless steel flanges? Respond for each subject
country.

Source

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

No
(If “No” for all countries, skip to next
question)

China
India
(b)

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

Yes

No

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless steel flanges
(c)

Page 18

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

Source

Yes

If Yes, estimate the quantity
of imports purchased instead
of domestic product since
January 2015
(in 1,000 pounds)

No

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

China
India
III-30. U.S. producers and import competition.—
(a)

Since January 1, 2015, in connection with a sale or offer to sell stainless steel flanges to
your firm, did U.S. producers reduce their prices of domestically produced stainless steel
flanges in order to compete with lower-priced imports of stainless steel flanges from the
subject countries? Respond for each subject country.
Source
China

Yes (also respond to
question part (b))

No (If “No” for all countries,
skip to next question)

Don’t know

India
(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)

China

%

India

%

Additional explanation, including such information as
timing (e.g., months/years), frequency of price
reductions, or other market/competitive factors

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless steel flanges

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PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS
IV-1.

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

China

India

Philippines

Other countries

United States
China
India
Philippines
For any country-pair producing stainless steel flanges which is sometimes or never
interchangeable, please identify the country-pair and explain the factors that limit or preclude
interchangeable use:

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless steel flanges
IV-2.

Page 20

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

China

India

Philippines

Other countries

United States
China
India
Philippines
For any country-pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant
factor in your firm’s purchases of stainless steel flanges, identify the country-pair and report
the advantages or disadvantages imparted by such factors:

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless steel flanges
IV-3.

Page 21

Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how stainless steel
flanges produced in each country you identified in your response to the first question in Part IV
compares with stainless steel flanges produced in each of the other countries you identified.

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

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
China compared to
product from
India

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
India

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
China

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
Other2
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.
2

Please identify the “other” factors:

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless steel flanges
IV-3.

Page 22

Continued.

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

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
Product from
China compared to India compared to
product from
product from
all nonsubject
all nonsubject
sources
sources

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
all nonsubject
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
Other2
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.
2

Please identify the “other” factors:

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless steel flanges

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PART V.—Alternative Product
Stainless steel flanges excluded by NPS have an NPS less than 0.5 inches or greater than 24 inches but
otherwise meet the definition of stainless steel flanges in the scope.
V-1.

Comparability of stainless steel flanges vs stainless steel flanges excluded by NPS.--For each of
the following indicate whether stainless steel flanges and stainless steel flanges excluded by NPS
are: fully comparable or the same, i.e., have no differentiation between them; mostly
comparable or similar; somewhat comparable or similar; never or not-at-all comparable or
similar; or no familiarity with products.
(a)

Characteristics and Uses.--The differences and similarities in the physical
characteristics and end uses between stainless steel flanges and stainless steel flanges
excluded by NPS.

Fully comparable

Mostly
comparable

Somewhat
comparable

Not at all
comparable

NA/no familiarity

Please provide a narrative discussion for the comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
characteristics and uses:

(b) Interchangeability.--The ability to substitute stainless steel flanges and stainless steel
flanges excluded by NPS in the same application.
Fully
interchangeable

Mostly
interchangeable

Somewhat
interchangeable

Not at all
interchangeable

NA/no
familiarity

Please provide a narrative discussion for the comparability ratings you provided in terms of
their interchangeability:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless steel flanges
V-1.

Page 24

Comparability of bulk tissue paper and consumer tissue paper.--Continued
(c) Manufacturing facilities, production processes, and production employees.-- Whether
stainless steel flanges and stainless steel flanges excluded by NPS are manufactured in the
same facilities, from the same inputs, on the same machinery and equipment, and using
the same employees.

Fully the same

Mostly the same

Somewhat the
same

Not at all the
same

NA/no familiarity

Please provide a narrative discussion for the comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
manufacturing processes:

(d) Channels of distribution.--Channels of distribution/market situation through which
stainless steel flanges and stainless steel flanges excluded by NPS are sold (i.e., sold direct
to end users, through distributors, etc.).

Fully comparable

Mostly
comparable

Somewhat
comparable

Not at all
comparable

NA/no familiarity

Please provide a narrative discussion for the comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
channels of distribution:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless steel flanges
V-1.

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Comparability of stainless steel flanges and stainless steel flanges excluded by NPS.-Continued
(e) Customer and producer perceptions.--Perceptions as to the differences and/or similarities
in stainless steel flanges and stainless steel flanges excluded by NPS in the market (e.g.,
sales/marketing practices).

Fully comparable

Mostly
comparable

Somewhat
comparable

Not at all
comparable

NA/no familiarity

Please provide a narrative discussion for the comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
customer and producer perceptions:

(f)

Price.--Whether prices are comparable or differ between stainless steel flanges and
stainless steel flanges excluded by NPS.

Fully comparable

Mostly
comparable

Somewhat
comparable

Not at all
comparable

NA/no familiarity

Please provide a narrative discussion for the comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
prices:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless steel flanges

Page 26

PART VI.—ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
VI-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.

VI-2.

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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Stainless steel flanges

Page 27

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://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2018/stainless_steel_flanges_china_and_i
ndia/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: SSF

• 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 (202205-1803). 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.