18-3-3882 US purchasers' questionnaire

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

US purchasers--SS bar

STAINLESS STEEL BAR FROM BRAZIL, INDIA, JAPAN, AND SPAIN (Inv. Nos. 731-TA-678-679 and 681-682 (Fourth Review))

OMB: 3117-0016

⚠️ Notice: This form may be outdated.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

Document [pdf]

Download: pdf | pdf

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 18-3-3882; Expiration Date: 6/30/2020
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
STAINLESS STEEL BAR FROM BRAZIL, INDIA, JAPAN, AND SPAIN
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by May 14, 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 review of the antidumping duty order concerning stainless steel bar from Brazil, India, Japan, and
Spain (Inv. Nos. 731-TA-678-679 and 681-682 (Fourth Review)). 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 Lauren Gamache (202-205-3489,
[email protected]).

Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm purchased stainless steel bar (as defined on the next page) from any source (domestic or foreign)
at any time since January 1, 2012?

(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 Commission Drop Box by clicking on the following link:
https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/. (PIN: SSBAR)
CERTIFICATION
I certify that the information herein supplied in response to this questionnaire is complete and correct to the best of my
knowledge and belief and understand that the information submitted is subject to audit and verification by the Commission. By
means of this certification I also grant consent for the Commission, and its employees and contract personnel, to use the
information provided in this questionnaire and throughout this proceeding in any other import-injury proceedings or reviews
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 – Stainless steel bar (Fourth Review)

Page 2

PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.--On February 21, 1995, the Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) issued antidumping
duty orders on imports of stainless steel bar from Brazil, India, and Japan (60 FR 9661), and
subsequently issued an antidumping duty order on imports of stainless steel bar from Spain (60 FR
11656) on March 2, 1995. On July 3, 2017, the Commission instituted reviews pursuant to section 751(c)
of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. § 1675(c)) (the Act) to determine whether revocation of the
orders would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury to the domestic industry
within a reasonably foreseeable time. If both the Commission and Commerce make affirmative
determinations, the orders will remain in place. If either the Commission or Commerce makes negative
determinations, Commerce will revoke the orders. Questionnaires and other information pertinent to
this proceeding are available at
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2017/stainless_steel_bar_brazil_india_japan_and_spain/f
ourth_review_full.htm.
Stainless steel bar covered by these reviews are articles of Stainless steel in straight lengths that have
been either hot-rolled, forged, turned, cold-drawn, cold-rolled or otherwise cold-finished, or ground,
having a uniform solid cross section along their whole length in the shape of circles, segments of circles,
ovals, rectangles (including squares), triangles, hexagons, octagons or other convex polygons. Stainless
steel bar includes cold-finished stainless steel bars that are turned or ground in straight lengths, whether
produced from hot-rolled bar or from straightened and cut rod or wire, and reinforcing bars that have
indentations, ribs, grooves, or other deformations produced during the rolling process.
Except as specified above, the term does not include Stainless steel semi-finished products, cut length
flat-rolled products (i.e., cut length rolled products which if less than 4.75 mm in thickness have a width
measuring at least 10 times the thickness, or if 4.75 mm or more in thickness having a width which
exceeds 150 mm and measures at least twice the thickness), wire (i.e., cold-formed products in coils, of
any uniform solid cross section along their whole length, which do not conform to the definition of flatrolled products), and angles, shapes and sections.
Exclusions for Japan: Effective for entries entered, or withdrawn for warehouse, for consumption on or
after February 1, 2010, the term does not include one stainless steel bar product under Grade 304 and
two types of stainless steel bar products under Grade 440C.
(1) The Grade 304 product meets the following descriptions: round cross-section, cold finished,
chrome plated (plating thickness 10 microns or greater), hardness of plating a minimum 750 HV
on the Vickers Scale, maximum roundness deviation of 0.020 mm (based on circularity tolerance
described in JIS B 0021 (1984)), in actual (measured) lengths from 2000 mm to 3005 mm, in
nominal outside diameters ranging from 6 mm to 30 mm (diameter tolerance for any size from
minus 0.010 mm to minus 0.053 mm). Tolerance can be defined as the specified permissible
deviation from a specified nominal dimension; for example if the nominal outside diameter of
the product entering is 6 mm, then the actual measured sizes should fall within 5.947 mm to
5.990 mm;
(2) The first Grade 440C product meets the following descriptions: round cross-section, cold
finished, heat treated through induction hardening, minimum Rockwell hardness of 56 Hardness
of 56 HRC, maximum roundness deviation of 0.007 mm (based on circularity tolerance described
in JIS B 0021 (1984)), in actual (measured) lengths from 500 mm to 3005 mm, in nominal outside
diameters ranging from 3 mm to 38.10 mm (diameter tolerance for any size from 0.00 mm to
minus 0.150 mm). Tolerance can be defined as the specified permissible deviation from a

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Stainless steel bar (Fourth Review)

Page 3

specified nominal dimension; for example if the nominal outside diameter of the product
entering is 3 mm, then the actual measured sizes should fall within 2.850 mm to 3.000 mm;
(3) The second Grade 440C product meets the following descriptions: round cross-section, cold
finished, chrome plated (plating thickness 5 microns or greater), heat treated through induction
hardening, minimum Rockwell Hardness of 56 HRC, maximum roundness deviation of 0.007 mm
(based on circularity tolerance described in JIS B 0021 (1984)), in actual (measured) lengths from
2000 mm to minus 3005 mm, (diameter tolerance for any size from minus 0.004 mm to minus
0.020 mm). Tolerance can be defined as the specified permissible deviation from a specified
nominal dimension; for example if the nominal outside diameter of the product entering is 6
mm, then the actual measured sizes should fall within 5.980 mm to 5.996 mm. Except as
specified above, the term does not include Stainless steel semi-finished products, cut length flatrolled products (i.e., cut-length rolled products which if less than 4.75 mm in thickness have a
width measuring at least 10 times the thickness, or if 4.75 mm or more in thickness having a
width which exceeds 150 mm and measures at least twice the thickness), wire (i.e., cold-formed
products in coils, of any uniform solid cross section along their whole length, which do not
conform to the definition of flat-rolled products), and angles, shapes and sections.
Stainless steel bar is currently imported under statistical reporting numbers 7222.10.00, 7222.11.00,
7222.19.00, 7222.20.00, and 7222.30.00 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
(HTSUS). The HTSUS provisions are for convenience and customs purposes; the written description of
the scope is dispositive.
Purchaser.--Any firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or subsidiary, in purchasing
stainless steel bar from another firm that produces, imports, or otherwise distributes stainless steel bar.
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 in connection with this
proceeding (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 of your 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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Stainless steel bar (Fourth Review)

Page 4

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 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 bar, including
auxiliary facilities operated in conjunction with (whether or not physically separate from) such
facilities.

I-2.

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

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

I-3.

Address

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

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

I-4.

Extent of ownership
(percent)

Country

Affiliation

Related producers.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, that
produce stainless steel bar?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name and country

Country

Affiliation

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Stainless steel bar (Fourth Review)
I-5.

Page 5

Business plan.--Does your company or any related firm have a business plan or any internal
documents that describe, discuss, or analyze expected market conditions for stainless steel bar?

Yes

If yes, please provide these documents. If you are not providing the
requested documents, please explain why not.

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
II-1.

Purchases.—
(a)

Please estimate your firm’s total U.S. purchases of stainless steel bar in 2017. (Do not
include imports for which your firm was the importer of record; such imports should be
reported in your U.S. importer’s questionnaire.)
Quantity (short tons)

(b)

Estimate the percentage of the quantity of your firm’s purchases of stainless steel bar in
2017 that were produced in each of the specified countries.
Stainless steel bar produced in:

Share of quantity of 2017 purchases

United States

Brazil

India

Japan

Spain

All other countries:1

Sources unknown

Total (should sum to 100.0%)
1

Please identify these countries:

0.0

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Stainless steel bar (Fourth Review)

Page 6

Changes in purchasing patterns.--Please indicate how the shares of your firm’s purchases of
stainless steel bar from different sources have changed since January 1, 2012.

II-3.

Did not
Source of purchases purchase Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated

Explanation for trend

United States
Brazil
India
Japan
Spain
All other countries
Sources unknown
II-4.

Country knowledge.--Please indicate the countries of origin with which your firm has
experience or information in the stainless steel bar market.

United
States

II-5.

Brazil

India

Japan

Spain

Other
countries

Other countries (specify)

Supplier identification.--Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers for stainless steel bar since
January 1, 2012. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s total purchases of
stainless steel bar that each of these suppliers accounted for in 2017.

No.

Supplier’s name

City and state

Share of quantity of
2017 purchases

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Stainless steel bar (Fourth Review)

Page 7

PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES
III-1.

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

Distributor

Finisher/
fabricator

Other

Describe other

If your firm is a distributor of stainless steel bar, please answer questions III-2 and III-3.
III-2.

Competition for sales.--Do you compete for sales to your customers with the manufacturers or
importers from which you purchase stainless steel bar?
No

III-3.

Yes

If yes, please describe.

Types of customers.--What are the major types of consumers to which you sell stainless steel
bar?

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Stainless steel bar (Fourth Review)

Page 8

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

End uses.—
(a)

List the top 3 products you make using stainless steel bar and estimate the percent of
your total production cost that is accounted for by stainless steel bar 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

(b)

Stainless steel bar

Total
(should
sum to
100.0%
across)

Other inputs
% +

0.0 %

% +

0.0 %

% +

0.0 %

Have there been any changes in the end uses of stainless steel bar since January 1,
2012? Do you anticipate any future changes?

Changes in end uses

Yes

Explain

Changes since
January 1, 2012
Anticipated changes
III-5.

Demand for end use products.-(a)

Has the demand for your firm’s final products incorporating stainless steel bar changed
since January 1, 2012?
Increased

(b)

No change

Decreased

Fluctuated

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

Yes

Explain

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Stainless steel bar (Fourth Review)
III-6.

Page 9

Substitutes.-(a)

Can other products be substituted for stainless steel bar?
No

Substitute

Yes--Please fill out the table.

End use in which this
substitute is used

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

Explanation

1.
2.
3.
(b)

Have there been any changes in the number or types of products that can be
substituted for stainless steel bar since January 1, 2012? Do you anticipate any future
changes?

Changes in substitutes No Yes
Changes since January
1, 2012
Anticipated changes

Explain

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Stainless steel bar (Fourth Review)
III-7.

Page 10

Demand trends.-- Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United
States (if known) for stainless steel bar has changed since January 1, 2012, and how you
anticipate demand will change in the future. Explain any trends and describe the principal
factors that have affected, and that you anticipate will affect, these changes in demand.
Fluctuate
Overall
No
Overall
with no
increase change decrease clear trend

Market

Explanation and factors

Demand since January 1, 2012
Within the United
States
Outside the United
States
Anticipated future demand
Within the United
States
Outside the United
States
III-8.

Market studies.--Please provide as a separate attachment to this request any studies, surveys,
etc. that you are aware of that quantify and/or otherwise discuss stainless steel bar supply
(including production capacity and capacity utilization) and demand in (1) the United States, (2)
each of the other major producing/consuming countries, including Brazil, India, Japan, and
Spain, and (3) the world as a whole. Of particular interest is such data from 2012 to the present
and forecasts for the future.

III-9.

Country preferences.--Do you or your customers ever specifically order stainless steel bar 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 – Stainless steel bar (Fourth Review)

Page 11

III-10. Importance of purchasing domestic product.--Please fill out the table below, estimating the
percentage of your firm’s total 2017 purchases of stainless steel bar that required stainless steel
bar 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 bar
%
%
%
%
0.0 %

III-11. Conditions of competition.-(a) Is the stainless steel bar market subject to business cycles (other than general economywide conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to stainless steel bar?
Check all that apply.

Please describe.

Skip to question III-12.

Yes-Business cycles (e.g.
seasonal business)
Yes-Other distinctive
conditions of competition
(b) If yes, have there been any changes in the business cycles or conditions of competition for
stainless steel bar since January 1, 2012?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Stainless steel bar (Fourth Review)

Page 12

III-12. Decisions based on producer and country-of-origin.--How often does your firm, and if you
know, do your customers, make purchasing decisions involving stainless steel bar based on its
producer or country of origin?
Item

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. Availability of supply.--Has the availability of stainless steel bar in the U.S. market changed since
January 1, 2012? Do you anticipate any future changes?
Availability in the U.S.
market

Please explain, noting the countries and reasons for the
No Yes changes.
Changes since January 1, 2012:

U.S.-produced product
Imports from Brazil,
India, Japan, and/or
Spain
Imports from all other
countries
Anticipated changes:
U.S.-produced product
Imports from Brazil,
India, Japan, and/or
Spain
Imports from all other
countries

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Stainless steel bar (Fourth Review)

Page 13

III-15. Availability of specific product types.--Are certain grades/types/sizes of stainless steel bar only
available from certain country sources?
No

Yes

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

III-16. Supply constraints.--Has any firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply your firm with
stainless steel bar since January 1, 2012 (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-17. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

How frequently do you make purchases of stainless steel bar (check one)?
Daily

(b)

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Annually

Other

If other, specify

Do you expect this purchasing frequency to change in the next two years?
No

Yes

If yes, explain.

III-18. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers do you generally contact before making a
purchase? Between
and
firms.
III-19. Supplier negotiations.--Do your firm’s purchases of stainless steel bar usually involve
negotiations between supplier and purchaser?

Yes

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Stainless steel bar (Fourth Review)

Page 14

III-20. Change in suppliers.--Has your firm changed suppliers since January 1, 2012?

Yes

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

III-21. New suppliers.-(a)

Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have entered the
market since January 1, 2012?
No

(b)

Yes

If yes, please identify the firms.

Do you expect new stainless steel bar suppliers to enter the U.S. market?
No

Yes

If yes, please explain.

III-22. Supplier qualification.--Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified
to sell stainless steel bar 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.).

Yes

Number
of days Process and factors

III-23. Failure to certify.--Since January 1, 2012, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their
attempts to certify or qualify their stainless steel bar with your firm or have any producers lost
their approved status?

Yes

If yes, please identify these firms, the countries where they are located, and
the reasons why they failed the certification/qualification.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Stainless steel bar (Fourth Review)

Page 15

III-24. Major purchasing factors.-- Please list, in order of their importance, the three major factors
your firm considers in deciding from whom to purchase stainless steel bar (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-25. Purchasing factors.--Please rate the importance of the following factors in your firm’s
purchasing decisions for stainless steel bar.

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

Very
important

Somewhat
important

Not
important

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Stainless steel bar (Fourth Review)

Page 16

III-26. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of stainless steel bar?

III-27. Minimum quality.--How often does stainless steel bar 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
Brazil
India
Japan
Spain
All other sources
III-28. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the stainless steel
bar that is offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

III-29. 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 bar market
since January 1, 2012.
Firm(s)

Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Stainless steel bar (Fourth Review)

Page 17

III-30. Changes in U.S. industry.-(a)

Please identify and discuss any improvements/changes in the U.S. stainless steel bar
industry since January 1, 2012 and explain the factors, including the order(s) under
review, that were responsible for each improvement/change.

(b)

Please discuss any improvements/changes that you anticipate in the future in the U.S.
stainless steel bar industry. Identify the time period and causes for these
improvements/changes.

III-31. Effect of revocation of orders.-- What do you think will be the effects on your firm and on the
U.S. market of any revocation of the antidumping duty orders on imports of stainless steel bar
from Brazil, India, Japan, and Spain?

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Stainless steel bar (Fourth Review)

Page 18

III-32. Effect of 232 investigation of steel on conditions of competition.-(a) Are you familiar with the 232 investigation or the imposition of tariffs on imported steel
products?
No (skip to III-33)

Yes (complete parts b through c)

(b) Did the announcement of the 232 investigation in April 2017 or the imposition of tariffs on
imported steel products in March 2018 impact on the conditions of competition for stainless
steel bar?
No

Yes If yes, describe.

Announcement of the 232 investigation in
April 2017
Imposition of tariffs on imported steel
products in March 2018
(c) How has the imposition of tariffs on imported steel products affect your sourcing decisions
for stainless steel bar?

Source
United States
Brazil
India
Japan
Spain

Explain how tariffs have affected or will affect your firm’s sourcing
decisions

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Stainless steel bar (Fourth Review)

Page 19

PART IV.--PRODUCT COMPARISIONS
Interchangeability.--Is stainless steel bar produced in the United States and in other countries
interchangeable (i.e., can they physically be used in the same applications)?

IV-1.

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

Brazil

India

Japan

Spain

Other
countries

United States
Brazil
India
Japan
Spain
For any country-pair producing stainless steel bar that is sometimes or never interchangeable, identify
the country-pair and explain the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable use:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Stainless steel bar (Fourth Review)

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 bar
produced in the United States and in other countries a significant factor in your firm’s purchases
of the products?

IV-2.

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

Brazil

India

Japan

Spain

Other
countries

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Stainless steel bar (Fourth Review)
IV-3.

Page 21

Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how stainless steel bar
produced in each country you identified in your response to the first question in Part IV
compares with stainless steel bar 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
United States
compared to
product from
Japan

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
Brazil

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 – Stainless steel bar (Fourth Review)
IV-3.

Page 22

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

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
Brazil
compared to
product from
Japan

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
Brazil
compared to
product from
India

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Spain

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 – Stainless steel bar (Fourth Review)
IV-3.

Page 23

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

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
India
compared to
product from
Spain

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
India
compared to
product from
Japan

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
Brazil
compared to
product from
Spain

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 – Stainless steel bar (Fourth Review)
IV-3.

Page 24

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

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
Brazil
compared to
product from
Nonsubject
sources

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Nonsubject
sources

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
Japan
compared to
product from
Spain

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 – Stainless steel bar (Fourth Review)
IV-3.

Page 25

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

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
Spain
compared to
product from
Nonsubject
sources

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
Japan
compared to
product from
Nonsubject
sources

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
India
compared to
product from
Nonsubject
sources

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 – Stainless steel bar (Fourth Review)
IV-4.

Page 26

Change in price.-(a)

Since January 1, 2012, has there been a change in the price of stainless steel bar? If so,
has the price of U.S.-produced stainless steel bar changed more or less than the price of
imported stainless steel bar from Brazil, India, Japan, and Spain?
No change in price.
Prices have changed by the same amount.
Price of U.S.-produced stainless steel bar has changed relative to the price
of stainless steel bar from Brazil.
Price of U.S.-produced stainless steel bar has changed relative to the price
of stainless steel bar from India.
Price of U.S.-produced stainless steel bar has changed relative to the price
of stainless steel bar from Japan.
Price of U.S.-produced stainless steel bar has changed relative to the price
of stainless steel bar from Spain.

(b)

If the price of U.S.-produced stainless steel bar has changed relative to the price of
stainless steel bar from Brazil, India, Japan, and/or Spain, the price of U.S.-produced
stainless steel bar is now relatively
Higher

Lower
than those from Brazil.
than those from India.
than those from Japan.
than those from Spain.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Stainless steel bar (Fourth Review)

Page 27

PART V.—ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
V-1.

Other explanations.-(a) 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.

(b) If your firm’s responses are substantially different for a subset of years since January 2012,
please describe below.

V-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
40 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering data, and
completing and reviewing the questionnaire.
We welcome comments regarding the accuracy of this burden estimate, suggestions for
reducing the burden, and any suggestions for improving this questionnaire. Please attach such
comments to your response or send to the Office of Investigations, USITC, 500 E St. SW,
Washington, DC 20436.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Stainless steel bar (Fourth Review)

Page 28

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/stainless_steel_bar_brazil_india_ja
pan_and_spain/fourth_review_full.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: SSBAR

• 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 you submit (see 19 CFR
§ 207.7). Service of the questionnaire must be made in paper form.

File Type	application/pdf
File Title	Importers questionnaire - sunset
Author	Duncan, Russell
File Modified	2018-04-03
File Created	2018-04-03