18-2-3877 US importers' questionnaire

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

US importers--Glycine (P)

Glycine from China, India, Japan, and Thailand

OMB: 3117-0016

⚠️ Notice: This form may be outdated.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

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OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 18-2-3877; Expiration Date: 6/30/2020
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U.S. IMPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
GLYCINE FROM CHINA, INDIA, JAPAN AND THAILAND
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by April 11, 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 countervailing duty investigations concerning glycine and certain precursor products from
China, India, and Thailand and in connection with antidumping investigations concerning glycine and certain
precursor products from India, Japan and Thailand (Inv. No. 701-TA-603-605 and 731-TA-1413-1415
(Preliminary)). The information requested in the questionnaire is requested under the authority of the Tariff Act
of 1930, title VII. This report is mandatory and failure to reply as directed can result in a subpoena or other order
to compel the submission of records or information in your firm’s possession (19 U.S.C. § 1333(a)).

Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm produced or exported glycine and/or certain precursor products of glycine (as defined on next
page) at any time since January 1, 2015?

(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: GLYC)
CERTIFICATION
I certify that the information herein supplied in response to this questionnaire is complete and correct to the best of my
knowledge and belief and understand that the information submitted is subject to audit and verification by the Commission. By
means of this certification I also grant consent for the Commission, and its employees and contract personnel, to use the
information provided in this questionnaire and throughout this proceeding in any other import-injury proceedings conducted by
the Commission on the same or similar merchandise.
I, the undersigned, acknowledge that information submitted in response to this request for information and throughout this
proceeding or other proceedings may be disclosed to and used: (i) by the Commission, its employees and Offices, and contract
personnel (a) for developing or maintaining the records of this or a related proceeding, or (b) in internal investigations, audits,
reviews, and evaluations relating to the programs, personnel, and operations of the Commission including under 5 U.S.C.
Appendix 3; or (ii) by U.S. government employees and contract personnel, solely for cybersecurity purposes. I understand that all
contract personnel will sign appropriate nondisclosure agreements.
Name of Authorized Official

Title of Authorized Official

Date

Phone:
Signature

Email address

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Prelim)

Page 2

PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.--This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on March 28, 2018, by GEO
Specialty Chemical, Lafayette, Indiana and Chattem Chemicals, Inc., Chattanooga, Tennessee.
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 dumping. Questionnaires and other information pertinent to this
proceeding are available at:
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2018/glycine_china_india_japan_and_thailand/prelimina
ry.htm.
Glycine covered by this proceeding is glycine, which in its solid (i.e.,crystallized) form is a free-flowing
crystalline material, like salt or sugar. Glycine is produced at varying levels of purity or grades. It is used
as a sweetener/taste enhancer, buffering agent, cleaning and polishing agent, reabsorbable amino acid,
chemical intermediate, metal complexing agent, and dietary supplement. It also has other
pharmaceutical, industrial, medical and cosmetic applications. The scope of this proceeding covers
glycine in any form and at any purity level or grade, regardless of additives. Glycine's chemical
composition is C2H5NO2 and is classified, since July 1, 2017, under subheading 2922.49.43.00 of the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States ("HTSUS"); before that date, it was classified under
subheading 2922.49.40.20 of the HTSUS.
The scope of this proceeding also covers precursors of dried crystalline glycine, including, but not limited
to, glycine slurry (i.e., glycine in a non-crystallized form), sodium glycinate and a non-reacted ammoniamonochloroacetic or chloroaectic acid mix. Glycine slurry is classified under the same HTSUS as
crystallized glycine (2922.49.43.00 as of July 1, 2017, and 2922.49.40.20 before that date), sodium
glycinate is classified under HTSUS 2922.49.80.00, and the non-reacted ammonia-monochloroacetic or
chloroacetic acid mix has been classified under a number of HTS US 2922.49 subheadings.
Importer.--Any person or firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or subsidiary, in
importing glycine (as defined above) into the United States from a foreign manufacturer or through its
selling agent.
Reporting of information.--If information is not readily available from your records, provide carefully
prepared estimates. If your firm is completing more than one questionnaire (i.e., a producer, importer,
and/or purchaser questionnaire), you need not respond to duplicated questions.
Confidentiality.--The commercial and financial data furnished in response to this questionnaire that
reveal the individual operations of your firm will be treated as confidential by the Commission to the
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.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)

Page 3

Release of information.--The information provided by your firm in response to this questionnaire, as
well as any other business proprietary information submitted by your firm to the Commission in
connection with this proceeding, may become subject to, and released under, the administrative
protective order provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. § 1677f) and section 207.7 of the
Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR § 207.7). This means that certain lawyers and
other authorized individuals may temporarily be given access to the information for use in connection
with this proceeding or other import-injury proceedings conducted by the Commission on the same or
similar merchandise; those individuals would be subject to severe penalties if the information were
divulged to unauthorized individuals.
Valid number error messages.--If you are completing this form in a country that uses periods (“.”) to
delineate multiples of 1000 (e.g., one million would appear as $1.000.000 rather than $1,000,000), you
may be unable to enter in numbers greater than 999 in numeric form fields. The solution to this data
entry issue is to temporarily change your operating system’s number formatting to be consistent with
the U.S. number formatting system while you complete this form. Detailed instructions on how to
resolve this issue is provided at the end of this questionnaire and is available upon request from Abu B.
Kanu (202-205-2597, [email protected]).
D-GRIDS tool.--The Commission has a tool that firms can use to move data from their own MS Excel
compilation files into self-contained data tables within this MS Word questionnaire, thereby reducing
the amount of cell-by-cell data entry that would be required to complete this form. This tool is a macroenabled MS Excel file available for download from the Commission's generic questionnaires webpage
(https://www.usitc.gov/trade_remedy/question.htm) called the "D-GRIDs tool." Use of this tool to help
your firm complete this questionnaire is optional. Firms opting to use the D-GRIDs tool to populate their
data into this questionnaire will need the D-GRIDs specification sheet PDF file specific to this proceeding
(available on the case page which is linked under the "Background" above) which includes the necessary
references relating to this questionnaire, as well as the macro-enable MS Excel D-GRIDs tool itself from
the generic questionnaires page. More detailed instructions on how to use the D-GRIDs tool are
available within the D-GRIDs tool itself.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)
I-1.

Page 4

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

Dollars

The questions in this questionnaire have been reviewed with market participants to ensure that
issues of concern are adequately addressed and that data requests are sufficient, meaningful,
and as limited as possible. Public reporting burden for this questionnaire is estimated to average
40 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering data, and
completing and reviewing the questionnaire.
We welcome comments regarding the accuracy of this burden estimate, suggestions for
reducing the burden, and any suggestions for improving this questionnaire. Please attach such
comments to your response or send to the Office of Investigations, USITC, 500 E St. SW,
Washington, DC 20436.
I-2.

Establishments covered.--Provide the name and address of establishment(s) covered by this
questionnaire. If your firm is publicly traded, please specify the stock exchange and trading
symbol.
“Establishment”--Each facility of a firm involved in the importation of glycine, including auxiliary
facilities operated in conjunction with (whether or not physically separate from) such facilities.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)
I-3.

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

Firm name

I-4.

Page 5

Yes--List the following information

Address

Extent of
ownership
(percent)

Related importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or
foreign, that are engaged in importing glycine from China, India, Japan and Thailand into the
United States or that are engaged in exporting glycine from China, India, Japan and Thailand to
the United States?
No
Firm name

Yes--List the following information.
Country

Affiliation

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)
I-5.

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

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

I-6.

Country

Affiliation

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

I-7.

Page 6

Takes title to the
imported product(s)

Consignee of the
imported products(s)

Customs broker or
freight forwarder

Consignee.--If your firm is an importer of record of glycine but is not the consignee, please list
the consignees below (firm name, address, telephone number, and individual to contact).

Firm name

Address

Contact person
and phone
number

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)
I-8.

Page 7

FTZ, TIB, or bonded warehouses.--Please indicate whether your firm enters glycine into, or
withdraws such merchandise from, foreign trade zones or bonded warehouses. Also indicate
whether your firm imports glycine under the TIB (temporary importation under bond) program.
“Foreign trade zone” is a designated location in the United States where firms utilize special
procedures that allow delayed or reduced customs duty payments on foreign merchandise, as
well as other savings. A foreign trade zone must be designed as such pursuant to the rules and
procedures set forth in the Foreign-Trade Zones Act.
“Bonded warehouse” is a secured facility supervised by U.S. customs, where dutiable landed
imports are stored pending their re-export, or release after payment of import duties, taxes, and
other charges. A bonded warehouse must be designed as such pursuant to the rules and
procedures set forth in 19 U.S.C. § 1555.
“Temporary Importation under Bond (“TIB”) program” is a procedure whereby imported
merchandise may be entered under certain conditions for a limited time into the United States
free of duty. Under the program, an importer posts a bond for twice the amount of duty, taxes,
etc. that would otherwise be owed on the importation and agrees to export or destroy the
merchandise within a specified time or pay liquidated damages. This program is restricted to
certain categories of merchandise listed in subheadings 9813.00.05 through 9813.00.75 of the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS).
Item

Yes

Foreign trade zones
Bonded warehouses
Temporary importation under bond

I-9.

Other trade actions.--To your knowledge, have the products subject to this proceeding been the
subject of any other import relief proceedings in the United States or in any other countries?
No

Yes

If yes, Yes–Please specify.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)

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PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Abu B. Kanu (202-205-2597,
[email protected]). Supply all data requested on a calendar-year basis.
II-1.

Contact information.--Please identify the responsible individual and the manner by which
Commission staff may contact that individual regarding the confidential information submitted
in part II.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone

II-2.

Changes in operations.--Please indicate whether your firm has experienced any of the following
changes in relation to the importation of glycine since January 1, 2015.
(check as many as appropriate)
Office/warehouse openings
Office/warehouse closings
Relocations
Expansions
Acquisitions
Consolidations
Prolonged shutdowns or
importation curtailments
Revised labor agreements
Other (e.g., technology)

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

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)
II-3a.

Page 9

Arranged imports.--Has your firm imported or arranged for the importation of glycine for
delivery after December 31, 2017?
“Arranged imports” are imports for which your firm has placed an order with a foreign supplier
for subject merchandise, but delivery of those imports is not scheduled to occur until after the
date listed above.
No

Yes

If yes, fill out the table below.

Period
Source

Jan-Mar 2018

Apr-Jun 2018

Jul-Sept 2018

Oct-Dec 2018

Quantity (in 1,000 pounds)
China
India
Japan
Thailand
All other sources
II-3b.

Imports in the 12 month period preceding the petition.--Has your firm imported glycine from
any source between March 1, 2017 and February 28, 2018?
No

Yes

If yes, report the quantity of such import below by source.

Quantity (in 1,000 pounds)
Source

March 2017 through February 2018

China
India
Japan
Thailand
All other sources
II-4.

Reasons for importing if producer.--If your firm also produces glycine in the United States,
please indicate the reasons for importing this product. If your firm’s reasons differ by source,
please elaborate.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)

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Definitions
“Imports” –Those products identified for Customs purposes as imports for consumption for
which your firm was the importer of record (i.e., was responsible for paying any import duty) or
consignee (i.e., to which the merchandise was first delivered).
“Import quantities” –Quantities reported should be net of returns.
“Import values”—Values reported should be landed, duty-paid values at the U.S. port of entry,
including ocean freight and insurance costs, brokerage charges, and import duties (i.e., all
charges except inland freight in the United States).
“U.S. commercial shipments”— Shipments made within the United States as a result of an arm’s
length commercial transaction in the ordinary course of business. Report net values (i.e., gross
sales values less all discounts, allowances, rebates, prepaid freight, and the value of returned
goods) in U.S. dollars, f.o.b. your point of shipment.
“Internal consumption” –Product consumed internally by your firm. Such transactions are
valued at fair market value.
“Transfers to related firms” –Shipments made to related domestic firms. Such transactions are
valued at fair market value.
“Related firm” –A firm that your firm solely or jointly owns, manages, or otherwise controls.
“Export shipments”— Shipments to destinations outside the United States, including shipments
to related firms.
“Inventories” --Finished goods inventory, not raw materials or work in progress.
Note: As requested in Part I of this questionnaire, please keep all supporting documents/records
used in the preparation of the trade data, as Commission staff may contact your firm regarding
questions on the trade data. The Commission may also request that your company submit copies
of the supporting documents/records (such as production and sales schedules, inventory records,
etc.) used to compile these data.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)
II-5a.

Page 11

U.S. imports from China.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and inventories
of glycine imported from China by your firm during the specified periods. Please report imports
based on country-of-origin of initial glycine slurry manufacture regardless of country of final
processing (if different).

China
Quantity (in 1,000 pounds), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2015

2016

2017

Beginning-of-period inventories (quantity)
(A)
Imports:1
Quantity (B)
Value (C)
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity (D)
Value (E)
Internal consumption:2
Quantity (F)
Value2 (G)
Transfers to related firms:2
Quantity (H)
Value2 (I)
Export shipments:3
Quantity (J)
Value (K)
End-of-period inventories (quantity) (L)
1

Please identify the foreign producers, if known:
.
Internal consumption and transfers to related firms must be valued at fair market value. If your firm uses a
different basis for valuing these transactions in your records, please specify that basis (e.g., cost, cost plus, etc.):
. However, the data provided above in this table should be based on fair market value.
3
Identify your firm’s principal export markets:
.
2

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Page 12

U.S. imports from China.–Continued

RECONCILIATION OF SHIPMENTS, IMPORTS, AND INVENTORIES.--Generally, the data reported for the
end-of-period inventories (i.e., line L) should be equal to the beginning-of-period inventories (i.e., line
A), plus imports (i.e., line B), less total shipments (i.e., lines D, F, H, and J). Please ensure that any
differences are not due to data entry errors in completing this form, but rather actually reflect your
firm’s records; and also provide any likely explanations for any differences (e.g., theft, loss, damage,
record systems issues, etc.) if they exist.
Calendar years
Reconciliation

2015

2016

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

2017

Explanation if the calculated fields above are returning values other than zero (i.e., “0”) but are
nonetheless accurate:
II-5b.

Channels of distribution: China.--Report your firm’s commercial U.S. shipments by channel of
distribution.

China
Calendar years
Item

2015

2016

2017

Quantity (in 1,000 pounds)
Channels of distribution:
Commercial U.S. shipments:
To distributors (M)
To end users (N)
RECONCILIATION OF CHANNELS.--Please ensure that the quantities reported for channels of distribution
(i.e., lines K and L) in each time period equal the quantity reported for commercial U.S. shipments (i.e.,
line D) in each time period. If the calculated fields below return values other than zero (i.e., “0”), the
data reported must be revised prior to submission to the Commission.
Calendar years
Reconciliation item
M + N – D = zero ("0"), if not revise.

2015

2016
0

2017
0

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)
II-5c.

Page 13

US shipments by product type.--Report your firm’s U.S. shipments (i.e., inclusive of commercial
U.S. shipments, internal consumption, and transfers to related firms) of U.S. imports from China
by product type during the specified periods.

China
Quantity (in 1,000 pounds); Value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2015

2016

2017

U.S. shipments:
Technical grade glycine:
Quantity (O)
Value (P)
USP grade glycine:
Quantity (Q)
Value (R)
Pharmaceutical grade glycine, not injectable:
Quantity (S)
Value (T)
Pharmaceutical grade glycine, injectable:
Quantity (U)
Value (V)
1

In-scope glycine precursor products :
Quantity (W)
Value (X)
1

In-scope precursors of dried crystalline glycine include glycine slurry (i.e., glycine in a non-crystallized form),
sodium glycinate and a non-reacted ammonia-monochloroacetic or chloroaectic acid mix.

RECONCILIATION OF SHIPMENTS.--Please ensure that the quantities and values reported for US
shipments by product type (i.e., lines O through X) in each time period equal the quantities and values
reported for U.S. shipments (i.e., lines D through I) in each time period. If the calculated fields below
return values other than zero (i.e., “0”), the data reported must be revised prior to submission to the
Commission.
Calendar years

Reconciliation

2015

2016

2017

Quantity: O + Q + S + U + W – D – F – H =
zero ("0"), if not revise.

Value: P + R + T + V + X – E – G – I = zero
("0"), if not revise.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)
II-6a.

Page 14

U.S. imports from India.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and inventories
of glycine imported from India by your firm during the specified periods. Please report imports
based on country-of-origin of initial glycine slurry manufacture regardless of country of final
processing (if different).

India
Quantity (in 1,000 pounds), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2015

2016

2017

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)
II-6a.

Page 15

U.S. imports from India.–Continued

2015

2016

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

2017

Explanation if the calculated fields above are returning values other than zero (i.e., “0”) but are
nonetheless accurate:
.
II-6b.

Channels of distribution: India.--Report your firm’s commercial U.S. shipments by channel of
distribution.

India
Calendar years
Item

2015

2016

2017

2015

2016
0

2017
0

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)
II-6c.

Page 16

US shipments by product type.--Report your firm’s U.S. shipments (i.e., inclusive of commercial
U.S. shipments, internal consumption, and transfers to related firms) of U.S. imports from India
by product type during the specified periods.

India
Quantity (in 1,000 pounds); Value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2015

2016

2017

Reconciliation

2015

2016

2017

Quantity: O + Q + S + U + W – D – F – H =
zero ("0"), if not revise.

Value: P + R + T + V + X – E – G – I = zero
("0"), if not revise.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)
II-7a.

Page 17

U.S. imports from Japan.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and inventories
of glycine imported from Japan by your firm during the specified periods. Please report imports
based on country-of-origin of initial glycine slurry manufacture regardless of country of final
processing (if different).

Japan
Quantity (in 1,000 pounds), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2015

2016

2017

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)
II-7a.

Page 18

U.S. imports from Japan.–Continued

2015

2016

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

2017

Explanation if the calculated fields above are returning values other than zero (i.e., “0”) but are
nonetheless accurate:
.
II-7b.

Channels of distribution: Japan.--Report your firm’s commercial U.S. shipments by channel of
distribution.

Japan
Calendar years
Item

2015

2016

2017

2015

2016
0

2017
0

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)
II-7c.

Page 19

US shipments by product type.--Report your firm’s U.S. shipments (i.e., inclusive of commercial
U.S. shipments, internal consumption, and transfers to related firms) of imports from Japan by
product type during the specified periods.

Japan
Quantity (in 1,000 pounds); Value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2015

2016

2017

Reconciliation

2015

2016

2017

Quantity: O + Q + S + U + W – D – F – H =
zero ("0"), if not revise.

Value: P + R + T + V + X – E – G – I = zero
("0"), if not revise.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)
II-8a.

Page 20

U.S. imports from Thailand.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and
inventories of glycineimported from Thailand by your firm during the specified periods. Please
report imports based on country-of-origin of initial glycine slurry manufacture regardless of
country of final processing (if different).

Thailand
Quantity (in 1,000 pounds), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2015

2016

2017

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Page 21

U.S. imports from Thailand.–Continued

2015

2016

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

2017

Explanation if the calculated fields above are returning values other than zero (i.e., “0”) but are
nonetheless accurate:
.
II-8b.

Channels of distribution: Thailand.--Report your firm’s commercial U.S. shipments by channel of
distribution.

Thailand
Calendar years
Item

2015

2016

2017

2015

2016
0

2017
0

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)
II-8c.

Page 22

US shipments by product type.--Report your firm’s U.S. shipments (i.e., inclusive of commercial
U.S. shipments, internal consumption, and transfers to related firms) of U.S. imports from
Thailand by product type during the specified periods.

Thailand
Quantity (in 1,000 pounds)
Calendar years
Item

2015

2016

2017

Reconciliation

2015

2016

2017

Quantity: O + Q + S + U + W – D – F – H =
zero ("0"), if not revise.

Value: P + R + T + V + X – E – G – I = zero
("0"), if not revise.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)
II-9a.

Page 23

Imports from all other sources.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and
inventories of glycine imported from all other sources (i.e., sources other than China, India,
Japan, or Thailand) by your firm during the specified periods. Please report imports based on
country-of-origin of initial glycine slurry manufacture regardless of country of final processing (if
different)..

All other sources

(list sources:

)
Quantity (in 1,000 pounds), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years

Item

2015

2016

2017

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II-9a.

Page 24

Imports from all other sources.–Continued

2015

2016

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

2017

Explanation if the calculated fields above are returning values other than zero (i.e., “0”) but are
nonetheless accurate:
.
II-9b.

Channels of distribution: All other sources.--Report your firm’s commercial U.S. shipments by
channel of distribution.

All other sources
Calendar years
Item

2015

2016

2017

2015

2016
0

2017
0

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)
II-9c.

Page 25

US shipments by product type.--Report your firm’s U.S. shipments (i.e., inclusive of commercial
U.S. shipments, internal consumption, and transfers to related firms) of U.S. imports from all
other sources by product type during the specified periods.

All other sources
Quantity (in 1,000 pounds); Value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2015

2016

2017

Reconciliation

2015

2016

2017

Quantity: O + Q + S + U + W – D – F – H =
zero ("0"), if not revise.

Value: P + R + T + V + X – E – G – I = zero
("0"), if not revise.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)
II-10.

Page 26

Other explanations.--If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question in Part II
that did not provide a narrative response box, please note the question number and the
explanation in the space provided below. Please also use this space to highlight any issues your
firm had in providing the data in this section, including but not limited to technical issues with
the MS Word questionnaire.

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PART III.--PRICING AND MARKET FACTORS
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Lauren Gamache
([email protected], 202-205-3489).
III-1.

PRICE DATA
III-2.

This question requests quarterly quantity and value data for your firm’s commercial shipments
to unrelated U.S. customers since January 1, 2015 of the following products your firm imported
from China, India, Japan, and/or Thailand:
Product 1.--Pharmaceutical-grade glycine -- a white, odorless, crystalline powder with a sweet
taste, having an assay (glycine content) of 98.5 percent to 101.5 percent (dry basis),
and ≤ 7ppm chloride, ≤ 65 ppm sulfate, and ≤1 ppm heavy metals.
Product 2.--USP-grade glycine -- a white, odorless, crystalline powder with a sweet taste, having
an assay (glycine content) of 98.5 percent to 101.5 percent (dry basis) and ≤ 70 ppm
chloride, ≤ 65 ppm sulfate, ≤ 20 ppm heavy metals, and not otherwise qualifying as
pharmaceutical-grade glycine.
Product 3.--Technical-grade glycine -- a white, off-white, or slightly yellow crystalline powder,
having an assay (glycine content) of 98.5 percent to 101.5 percent (dry basis), with
maximum chlorides of 0.4 percent, and not otherwise qualifying as USP-grade
glycine.

Please note that values should be f.o.b., U.S. point of shipment and should not include U.S.-inland
transportation costs. Values should reflect the final net amount paid to your firm (i.e., should be net
of all deductions for discounts or rebates).
During January 2015-December 2017, did your firm import from China, India, Japan, and/or
Thailand and sell to unrelated U.S. customers any of the above listed products (or any products
that were competitive with these products)?
Yes.--Please complete the following pricing data tables as appropriate.
No.--Skip to question III-3.

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Page 28

III-2(a). Price data.--Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from China
and sold by your firm.

China

Report data in pounds and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
(Quantity in pounds, value in dollars)
Product 1
Product 2
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value

Product 3
Quantity
Value

Period of shipment
2015:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2016:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2017:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
1
Net values (i.e., gross sales values less all discounts, allowances, rebates, prepaid freight, and the value of returned goods),
f.o.b. your firm’s U.S. point of shipment.
2
Pricing product definitions are provided on the first page of Part III.
Note.--If your firm’s product does not exactly meet the product specifications but is competitive with the specified product, provide
a description of your firm’s product. Also, please explain any anomalies in your firm’s reported pricing data.
Product 1:
Product 2:
Product 3:

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)

Page 29

III-2(b). Price data.--Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from India
and sold by your firm.

India

Report data in pounds and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
(Quantity in pounds, value in dollars)
Product 1
Product 2
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value

Product 3
Period of shipment
Quantity
Value
2015:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2016:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2017:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
1
Net values (i.e., gross sales values less all discounts, allowances, rebates, prepaid freight, and the value of returned goods),
f.o.b. your firm’s U.S. point of shipment.
2
Pricing product definitions are provided on the first page of Part III.
Note.--If your firm’s product does not exactly meet the product specifications but is competitive with the specified product, provide
a description of your firm’s product. Also, please explain any anomalies in your firm’s reported pricing data.
Product 1:
Product 2:
Product 3:

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Page 30

III-2(c). Price data.--Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from Japan
and sold by your firm.

Japan

Report data in pounds and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
(Quantity in pounds, value in dollars)
Product 1
Product 2
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)

Page 31

III-2(d). Price data.--Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from Thailand
and sold by your firm.

Thailand

Report data in pounds and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
(Quantity in pounds, value in dollars)
Product 1
Product 2
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value

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Page 32

III-2 (e). Price data checklist.--Please check that the pricing data in question III-2(a) has been correctly
reported.
Is the price data reported above:

√ if Yes

In actual dollars (not $1,000)?
F.o.b. U.S. point of shipment (i.e., does not include U.S. transport costs)?
Net of all discounts and rebates?
Have returns credited to the quarter in which the sale occurred?
Less than reported commercial shipments in part II in each year?
III-2(f). Pricing data methodology.--Please describe the method and the kinds of documents/records
that were used to compile your price data.

Note: As requested in Part I of this questionnaire, please keep all supporting documents/records used in
the preparation of the price data, as Commission staff may contact your firm regarding questions on the
price data. The Commission may also request that your company submit copies of the supporting
documents/records (such as sales journal, invoices, etc.) used to compile these data.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)
III-3.

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

III-4.

Contracts

Other

If other, describe

Annual
total
volume
discounts

No
discount
policy

Other

Describe

Pricing terms.-(a)

What are your firm’s typical sales terms for glycine imported from China, India, Japan,
and/or Thailand?
Net 30
days

(b)

Net 60
days

2/10 net 30
days

Other

Other (specify)

On what basis are your firm’s prices of imported glycine from China, India, Japan, and/or
Thailand usually quoted (check one)?
Delivered

III-6.

Set
price
lists

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

Quantity
discounts

III-5.

Page 33

F.o.b.

If f.o.b., specify point

Contract versus spot.--Approximately what share of your firm’s sales of glycine imported from
China, India, Japan, and/or Thailand in 2017 was on a (1) long-term contract basis, (2) annual
contract basis, (3) short-term contract basis, and (4) spot sales basis?

Item
Share of 2017
sales

Long-term
contracts
(multiple
deliveries for
more than 12
months)
%

Type of sale
Short-term
Annual
contracts
contracts
(multiple
(multiple
deliveries for
deliveries for 12
less than 12
months)
months)
%

Total
(should
sum to
100.0%)

Spot sales
(for a single
delivery)
%

0.0

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)
III-7.

Page 34

Contract provisions.--Please fill out the table regarding your firm’s typical sales contracts for
glycine from China, India, Japan, and/or Thailand (or check “not applicable” if your firm does not
sell on a long-term, short-term and/or annual contract basis).

Typical sales
contract provisions

Item

Average contract
duration

No. of
days

Price renegotiation
(during contract
period)

Yes

Fixed quantity
and/or price
Meet or release
provision

Short-term
contracts
(multiple deliveries
for less than 12
months)

Annual contracts
(multiple deliveries
for 12 months)

Long-term contracts
(multiple deliveries for
more than 12 months)

365

No
Quantity
Price
Both
Yes
No

Not applicable
III-8.

Lead times.--What is your firm’s share of sales of glycine imported from China, India, Japan,
and/or Thailand from inventory and produced to order and what is the typical lead time
between a customer’s order and the date of delivery for your firm’s sales of glycine?

Source

Lead time
(Average number
Share of 2017 sales
of days)

From your firm’s U.S. inventory

From foreign manufacturers’ inventory

Produced to order

Total (should sum to 100.0%)

0.0 %

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)
III-9.

Page 35

Shipping information.—
(a)

What is the approximate percentage of the cost of glycine imported from China, India,
Japan, and/or Thailand that is accounted for by U.S. inland transportation costs?
percent.

(b)

Who generally arranges the transportation to your firm’s customers’ locations?
Your firm
Purchaser (check one)

(c)

When your firm sells glycine imported from China, India, Japan, and/or Thailand, from
where is it shipped?
Point of importation
Storage facility (check one)

(d)

Indicate the approximate percentage of your firm’s sales of glycine imported from
China, India, Japan, and/or Thailand that are delivered the following distances from your
firm’s U.S. point of shipment.
Distance from your firm’s U.S. point of shipment

Within 100 miles

101 to 1,000 miles

Over 1,000 miles

Total (should sum to 100.0%)

0.0

III-10. Geographical shipments.--In which U.S. geographic market area(s) has your firm sold glycine
imported from subject countries since January 1, 2015 (check all that apply)?
Geographic area
Northeast.–CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, and VT.
Midwest.–IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, and WI.
Southeast.–AL, DE, DC, FL, GA, KY, MD, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, and
WV.
Central Southwest.–AR, LA, OK, and TX.
Mountains.–AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, and WY.
Pacific Coast.–CA, OR, and WA.
Other.–All other markets in the United States not previously
listed, including AK, HI, PR, and VI.

China

India

Japan

Thailand

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)

Page 36

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

Glycine

Other inputs

Total
(should sum to
100.0% across)

0.0 %

III-12. Pharmaceutical-grade glycine.-(a) Did your firm sell imported pharmaceutical-grade glycine since 2015?
No

Yes--Please complete the tables below.

(b) Please describe the packaging type(s) and estimate the percentage of the total cost is
accounted for by the packaging.

Pharmaceutical packaging
type

Packaging
(percent of total cost)
%
%
%

(c) Please describe the pharmaceutical end use(s) and estimate the average price premium of
these products when compared to USP-grade glycine prices.

Pharmaceutical end use

Price premium
compared to USP-grade
(percent)
%
%
%

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)

Page 37

III-13. Substitutes.--Can other products be substituted for glycine?
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 glycine?
No Yes

Explanation

1.
2.
3.
III-14. Demand trends.--Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United
States (if known) for glycine has changed since January 1, 2015. Explain any trends and describe
the principal factors that have affected these changes in demand.
Overall
increase

Market

No
Overall Fluctuate with
change decrease no clear trend

Explanation and factors

Within the United States
Outside the United States

III-15. Product changes.--Have there been any significant changes in the product range, product mix or
marketing of glycine since January 1, 2015?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)

Page 38

III-16. Conditions of competition.—
(a) Is the glycine market subject to business cycles (other than general economy-wide
conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to glycine?
Check all that apply.

Please describe.

Skip to question III-17.

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
glycine since January 1, 2015?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

III-17. Supply constraints.--Has your firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply glycine 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-18. Raw materials.--How have glycine raw material prices changed since January 1, 2015?
Fluctuate
Overall
No
Overall
with no
Explain, noting how raw material price changes
increase change decrease clear trend have affected your firm’s selling prices for glycine.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)

Page 39

III-19. Product quality issues.--Have any of your customers returned glycine or canceled orders due to
quality issues such as product impurities or caking issues, since January 1, 2015?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

III-20. Interchangeability.--Is glycine 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

Japan

Thailand

Other
countries

United States
China
India
Japan
Thailand
For any country-pair producing glycine that is sometimes or never interchangeable, identify the
country-pair and explain the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable use:

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)

Page 40

III-21. Factors other than price.--Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between glycine produced in the
United States and in other countries a significant factor in your firm’s sales of the products?
Please indicate A, F, S, N, or 0 in the table below:
A = such differences are always significant
F = such differences are frequently significant
S = such differences are sometimes significant
N = such differences are never significant
0 = no familiarity with products from a specified country-pair

Country-pair

China

India

Japan

Thailand

Other
countries

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)

Page 41

III-22. Customer identification.--List the names and contact information for your firm’s 10 largest U.S.
customers for glycine since January 1, 2015. Indicate the share of the quantity of your firm’s
total shipments of glycine that each of these customers accounted for in 2017.

Customer’s name

Contact person

Telephone

City

State

Share of
2017 sales
(%)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

III-23. Other explanations.--If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question in Part III
that did not provide a narrative response box, please note the question number and the
explanation in the space provided below. Please also use this space to highlight any issues your
firm had in providing the data in this section, including but not limited to technical issues with
the MS Word questionnaire.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)

Page 42

Correcting Valid number error messages.--If you are completing a Commission

questionnaire in a country that uses periods (“.”) to delineate multiples of 1000 (e.g., one million would
appear as $1.000.000 instead of as $1,000,000), you may be unable to enter in numbers greater than
999 in numeric form fields. This issues stem from your computer number formatting setting (e.g., not
the MS Word document itself, but the computer from which you are opening up the document). In the
United States commas (,) delineate multiples of 1000 and periods (.) delineate fractions less than one.
Many EU countries use the reverse where multiples of 1000 are delineated with periods (.) and
fractions less than one are delineated with commas (,). The US International Trade Commission’s
questionnaires are set-up in the United States with the U.S. number formatting. When this formatting
interacts with a computer set to EU number formatting, we believe this may cause this issue.
The solution to this data entry issue is to temporarily change your operating system’s number
formatting to be consistent with the U.S. number formatting system while you complete the
questionnaire.
To temporarily change your computer’s number settings to U.S. settings, please do the following (for
Microsoft Windows Operating system):
•
•
•
•
•

START
Control Panel
Region and Language (under Clock, Language, and Region category)
Format tab
Change the Format from your existing one (e.g. “Italian (Italy)”) to “English (United States)” (see
screen shots below)

When you do this the number “twelve million dollars and thirty five cents” would change from
$12.000.000,35 (Italy format) to $12,000,000.35 (U.S. format), and then there will be no conflict with
the questionnaire. When you finish reporting the data then you can close the questionnaire and switch
back to Italy settings.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Glycine (Preliminary)

Page 43

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/701731/2018/glycine_china_india_japan_and_tha
iland/preliminary.htm.
Please do not attempt to modify the format or permissions of the questionnaire
document. Please submit the completed questionnaire using one of the methods noted
below. If your firm is unable to complete the MS Word questionnaire or cannot use one
of the electronic methods of submission, please contact the Commission for further
instructions.
• Upload via Secure Drop Box.—Upload the MS Word questionnaire along with a scanned copy of the
signed certification page (page 1) through the Commission’s secure upload facility:
Web address: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/

Pin: GLYC

• E-mail.—E-mail the MS Word questionnaire to [email protected]; include a scanned copy of the
signed certification page (page 1). Submitters are strongly encouraged to encrypt nonpublic documents
that are electronically transmitted to the Commission to protect your sensitive information from
unauthorized disclosure. The USITC secure drop-box system and the Electronic Document Information
System (EDIS) use Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 140-2 cryptographic algorithms to
encrypt data in transit. Submitting your nonpublic documents by a means that does not use these
encryption algorithms (such as by email) may subject your firm’s nonpublic information to unauthorized
disclosure during transmission. If you choose a non-encrypted method of electronic transmission, the
Commission warns you that the risk of such possible unauthorized disclosure is assumed by you and not
by the Commission.
If your firm did not import this product, please fill out page 1, print, sign, and submit a scanned copy to
the Commission.
Parties to this proceeding.—If your firm is a party to this proceeding, it is required to serve a copy of the
completed questionnaire on parties to the proceeding that are subject to administrative protective
order (see 19 CFR § 207.7). A list of such parties may be obtained from the Commission’s Secretary (202205-1803). A certificate of service must accompany the completed questionnaire you submit (see 19 CFR
§ 207.7). Service of the questionnaire must be made in paper form.

File Type	application/pdf
File Title	USITCQUESTIONNAIRE
Subject	Title 7 investigations
Author	Kanu, Abu
File Modified	2018-03-30
File Created	2018-03-30