18-2-3889 US importers' questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 18-2-3889; Expiration Date: 6/30/2020
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. IMPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
QUARTZ SURFACE PRODUCTS FROM CHINA
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by May 1, 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 antidumping and countervailing duty investigations concerning quartz surface products from China
(Inv. Nos. 701-TA-606 and 731-TA-1416 (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 imported quartz surface products (as defined on next page) from any country 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: QUARTZ)
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

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – QUARTZ SURFACE PRODUCTS

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PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.--This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on April 17, 2018, by
Cambria Company LLC, Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Countervailing and antidumping duties may be
assessed on the subject imports as a result of these proceedings if the Commission makes an affirmative
determination of injury, threat, or material retardation, and if the U.S. Department of Commerce
(“Commerce”) makes an affirmative determination of subsidization and/or dumping. Questionnaires
and other information pertinent to this proceeding are available at
https://usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2018/quartz_surface_products_china/preliminary.htm.
Quartz surface products covered by the investigations are products consisting of slabs and other
surfaces created from a mixture of materials that includes predominately silica (e.g., quartz, quartz
powder, cristobalite) as well as a resin binder (e.g., an unsaturated polyester). The incorporation of
other materials, including but not limited to pigments, cement or other additives, does not remove the
merchandise from the scope of the investigations. Quartz surface products are typically sold as slabs
with a total surface area of approximately 45 to 60 square feet and a nominal thickness of 1 centimeter,
2 centimeters, or 3 centimeters. However, the scope of these investigations includes products of all
sizes, thicknesses, and shapes. Quartz surface products are covered by the investigations whether
polished or unpolished, cut or uncut, fabricated or not fabricated, cured or uncured, edged or not
edged, finished or unfinished, thermoformed or not thermoformed, further processed or not further
processed, packaged or unpackaged, and regardless of the type of surface finish.
In addition, quartz surface products are covered by the investigations whether or not they are imported
attached to or in conjunction with non-subject merchandise such as sinks, sink bowls, vanities, cabinets,
and furniture. If quartz surface products are imported attached to or in conjunction with such nonsubject merchandise, only the quartz surface product is covered by the scope.
Excluded from the scope of the investigations are quarried stone slabs such as granite, marble,
soapstone, or quartzite.
Subject merchandise includes material matching the above description that has been finished,
packaged, or otherwise fabricated or further processed in a third country, including by cutting, polishing,
curing, edging, thermoforming, attaching to or packaging with another product, or any other finishing,
packaging, fabrication, or further processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from
the scope of the investigation if performed in the country of manufacture of the quartz surface
products.
The products subject to the scope are currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States (“HTSUS”) under subheading 6810.99.00 and are reported under statistical reporting
number 6810.99.0010. Goods of a type described in Commerce’s scope may also be imported under
subheadings 6802.91 or 6802.93 or statistical reporting numbers 6810.11.0010, 6810.11.0070,
6810.19.1200, 6810.19.1400, 6810.19.5000, 6810.91.0000, 6810.99.0010, 6810.99.0080, 6815.91.0070,
2506.10.0010, 2506.10.0050, 2506.20.0010, 2506.20.0080, 2515.11.0000, 2515.12.1000, 2515.12.2000,
2516.11.0000, 2516.20.1000, 2517.41.0000, and 2529.10.0000. The HTSUS subheadings and statistical
reporting numbers set forth above are provided for convenience and administrative purposes only. The
written description of the scope is dispositive.
Importer.--Any person or firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or subsidiary, in
importing quartz surface products (as defined above) into the United States from a foreign
manufacturer or through its selling agent.

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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. If the product reported
is attached to an out of scope finished product report just the value of the portion of the product in
scope. For the purposes of this investigation, please report country of origin as the country of original
manufacturing of the quartz surface product, regardless if further fabrication was completed in a third
country.
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.
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
Amanda Lawrence (202-205-3185, [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

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the generic questionnaires page. More detailed instructions on how to use the D-GRIDs tool are
available within the D-GRIDs tool itself.
I-1.

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

I-3.

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

Firm name

Yes--List the following information

Address

Extent of
ownership
(percent)

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
I-4.

Related importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or
foreign, that are engaged in importing quartz surface products from China into the United States
or that are engaged in exporting quartz surface products from China to the United States?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

I-5.

Country

Affiliation

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

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

I-6.

Page 5

Country

Affiliation

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

Takes title to the
imported product(s)

Consignee of the
imported products(s)

Customs broker or
freight forwarder

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
I-7.

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

Firm name

I-8.

Page 6

Contact person
and phone
number

Address

FTZ, TIB, or bonded warehouses.--Please indicate whether your firm enters quartz surface
products into, or withdraws such merchandise from, foreign trade zones or bonded warehouses.
Also indicate whether your firm imports quartz surface products 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

No

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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PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Amanda Lawrence (202-2053185, [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 quartz surface products 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 – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
II-3a.

Page 8

Arranged imports.--Has your firm imported or arranged for the importation of quartz surface
products 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 square feet)
China
Other sources
II-3b.

Imports in the 12 month period preceding the petition.--Has your firm imported quartz surface
products from any source between April 1, 2017 and March 30, 2018? (i.e., the last nine months
in 2017 and first three months in 2018 combined)
No

Yes

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

Quantity (in square feet)
Source

April 2017 through March 2018

China
Other sources
II-4.

Reasons for importing if producer.--If your firm also produces quartz surface products 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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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 – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
II-5a.

Page 10

U.S. imports from China.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and inventories
of quartz surface products imported from China by your firm during the specified periods.

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

2015

2016

2017

Beginning-of-period inventories (quantity) (A)
Imports:1
Under HTS statistical reporting number
6810.99.0010:
Quantity (B)
Value (C)
All other statistical reporting numbers:2 3
Quantity (D)
Value2 (E)
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity (F)
Value (G)
Internal consumption:4
Quantity (H)
Value2 (I)
Transfers to related firms:4
Quantity (J)
Value2 (K)
Export shipments:5
Quantity (L)
Value (M)
End-of-period inventories (quantity) (N)
1

Please identify the foreign producers, if known:
.
Please indicate the statistical reporting numbers under which your firm classified these imports of quartz surface products
for Custom's purpose:
.
3
Please describe the types of quartz surface products imported under these statistical reporting numbers:
.
4
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.
5
Identify your firm’s principal export markets:
.
2

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
II-5a.

Page 11

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 N) should be equal to the beginning-of-period inventories (i.e., line
A), plus imports (i.e., lines B and D), less total shipments (i.e., lines F, H, J, and L). 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
A + B + D – F – H – J – L – N = should equal zero
("0") or provide an explanation.1
1

2015

2016
0

2017
0

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

0

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
II-5b.

Page 12

Channels of distribution: China.--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 China by
channel of distribution.

China

Quantity (in square feet) and value (in $1,000)

Calendar years
Item

2015

2016

2017

Channels of distribution:
U.S. shipments:
To distributors.-Quantity (O)
Value (P)
To fabricators and retailers.—
Quantity (Q)
Value (R)
To contractors and builders.—
Quantity (S)
Value (T)
To manufacturers.—
Quantity (U)
Value (V)
To other end users1.—
Quantity (W)
Value (X)
1

Describe the other end users:

.

RECONCILIATION OF CHANNELS.--Please ensure that the quantities and values reported for channels of
distribution (i.e., lines O through X) in each time period equal the quantity and value reported for U.S.
shipments (i.e., line F through K) 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 – F – H – J =
zero ("0"), if not revise.

0

0

0

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

0

0

0

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
II-5c.

Page 13

US shipments by level of fabrication: China.--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 China by level of fabrication.

China
Quantity (in square feet) and value (in $1,000)

Calendar years
Item

2015

2016

2017

Level of fabrication:
U.S. shipments:
Not fabricated.-Quantity (Y)
Value (Z)
Fabricated.1-Quantity (AA)
Value (AB)
1

Indicate whether the product was imported in a fabricated state by your firm or whether your firm
conducted the fabrication operations in the United States.
RECONCILIATION OF SHIPMENTS.--Please ensure that the quantities and values reported for US
shipments in this question (i.e., lines Y through AB) in each time period equal the quantity and value
reported for U.S. shipments (i.e., line F through K) 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: Y + AA – F – H – = zero ("0"), if not
revise.

0

0

0

Value: Z + AB – G – I – K = zero ("0"), if not
revise.

0

0

0

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
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Page 14

Imports from all other sources.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and
inventories of quartz surface products imported from all other sources by your firm during the
specified periods. .

All other sources

(list sources:

)
Quantity (in square feet), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years

Item

2015

2016

2017

Beginning-of-period inventories (quantity) (A)
Imports:1
Under HTS statistical reporting number
6810.99.0010:
Quantity (B)
Value (C)
All other statistical reporting numbers:2 3
Quantity (D)
Value2 (E)
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity (F)
Value (G)
Internal consumption:4
Quantity (H)
Value2 (I)
Transfers to related firms:4
Quantity (J)
Value2 (K)
Export shipments:5
Quantity (L)
Value (M)
End-of-period inventories (quantity) (N)
1

Please identify the foreign producers, if known:
.
Please indicate the statistical reporting numbers under which your firm classified these imports of quartz surface products
for Customs purpose:
.
3
Please describe the types of quartz surface products imported under these statistical reporting numbers:
.
4
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.
5
Identify your firm’s principal export markets:
.
2

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Page 15

U.S. imports from all other sources.–Continued

RECONCILIATION OF SHIPMENTS, IMPORTS, AND INVENTORIES.--Generally, the data reported for the
end-of-period inventories (i.e., line N) should be equal to the beginning-of-period inventories (i.e., line
A), plus imports (i.e., lines B and D), less total shipments (i.e., lines F, H, J, and L). 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
A + B + D – F – H – J – L – N = should equal zero
("0") or provide an explanation.1
1

2015

2016
0

2017
0

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

0

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
II-6b.

Page 16

Channels of distribution: All other sources.--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 all other sources by channel of distribution.

All other sources
Quantity (in square feet) and value (in $1,000)

Calendar years
Item

2015

2016

2017

Channels of distribution:
U.S. shipments:
To distributors.-Quantity (O)
Value (P)
To fabricators and retailers.—
Quantity (Q)
Value (R)
To contractors and builders.—
Quantity (S)
Value (T)
To manufacturers.—
Quantity (U)
Value (V)
To other end users.1-Quantity (W)
Value (X)
1

Describe the other end users:

.

RECONCILIATION OF CHANNELS.--Please ensure that the quantities and values reported for channels of
distribution (i.e., lines O through X) in each time period equal the quantity and value reported for U.S.
shipments (i.e., line F through K) 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 – F – H – J =
zero ("0"), if not revise.

0

0

0

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

0

0

0

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
II-6c.

Page 17

US shipments by level of fabrication: All other sources.--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 all other sources by level of fabrication.

All other sources
Quantity (in square feet) and value (in $1,000)

Calendar years
Item

2015

2016

2017

Level of fabrication:
U.S. shipments:
Not fabricated.-Quantity (Y)
Value (Z)
Fabricated.1-Quantity (AA)
Value (AB)
1

Indicate whether the product was imported in a fabricated state by your firm or whether your firm
conducted the fabrication operations in the United States.
RECONCILIATION OF SHIPMENTS.--Please ensure that the quantities and values reported for US
shipments in this question (i.e., lines Y through AB) in each time period equal the quantity and value
reported for U.S. shipments (i.e., line F through K) 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: Y + AA – F – H – = zero ("0"), if not
revise.

0

0

0

Value: Z + AB – G – I – K = zero ("0"), if not
revise.

0

0

0

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
II-7.

US fabrication activities.--Did your firm conduct fabrication activities on its imports of quartz
surface products in the United States?

No

II-8.

Page 18

Yes

If yes, please describe the nature and extent of these U.S. fabrication
activities.

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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)

Page 19

PART III.--PRICING AND MARKET FACTORS
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Jon Ruder (202-205-3435,
[email protected]).
III-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 III.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone

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:
Product 1.--White quartz surface products in slab form with a nominal thickness of 2
centimeters (“cm”) without veining or movement and sold to distributors.
Product 2.--White quartz surface products in slab form with a nominal thickness of 3 cm with no
veining or movement and sold to distributors.
Product 3.--White quartz surface products in slab form with a nominal thickness of 2
centimeters (“cm”) without veining or movement and sold to firms other than
distributors.
Product 4.--White quartz surface products in slab form with a nominal thickness of 3 cm with no
veining or movement and sold to firms other than distributors.

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 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 table(s) as appropriate.
No.--Skip to question III-3.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)

Page 20

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 square feet and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
(Quantity in square feet, value in dollars)
Product 1
Product 2
Product 3
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value

Product 4
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:
Product 4:

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Page 21

III-2 (b). 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(c). 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 – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
III-3.

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

Transaction
by
transaction

III-4.

Set
price
lists

Contracts

Other

If other, describe

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

Quantity
discounts

III-5.

Page 22

Annual
total
volume
discounts

No
discount
policy

Other

Describe

Pricing terms.-(a)

What are your firm’s typical sales terms for quartz surface products imported from
China?
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 quartz surface products from China
usually quoted (check one)?
Delivered

F.o.b.

If f.o.b., specify point

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
III-6.

Contract versus spot.--Approximately what share of your firm’s sales of quartz surface products
imported from China 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
III-7.

Page 23

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

%

Contract provisions.—Please fill out the table regarding your firm’s typical sales contracts for
quartz surface products from China (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
Not applicable

No
Quantity
Price
Both
Yes
No

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

Annual contracts
(multiple deliveries
for 12 months)
365

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
III-8.

Lead times.--What is your firm’s share of sales of quartz surface products imported from China
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 quartz surface products?

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%)
III-9.

Page 24

0.0 %

Shipping information.—
(a)

What is the approximate percentage of the cost of quartz surface products imported
from China 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 quartz surface products imported from China, from where is it
shipped?
Point of importation
Storage facility (check one)

(d)

Indicate the approximate percentage of your firm’s sales of quartz surface products
imported from China 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

Share

Within 100 miles

%

101 to 1,000 miles

%

Over 1,000 miles

%

Total (should sum to 100.0%)

0.0

%

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)

Page 25

III-10. Geographical shipments.--In which U.S. geographic market area(s) has your firm sold quartz
surface products imported from China since January 1, 2015 (check all that apply)?
Geographic area

China

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

End use product

Quartz surface
products

Total
(should sum to
100.0% across)

Other inputs

%

%

0.0 %

%

%

0.0 %

%

%

0.0 %

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)

Page 26

III-12. Substitutes.—
(a) Specific substitutes.--Are these specific products considered as substitutes for quartz surface
products in the same end use(s)?

Specific substitutes

Are these
considered
Have changes in the price of this
substitutes in the
substitute affected the price for quartz
End use(s) in which
market?
surface products?
this substitute is
No
Yes
used
No
Yes
Explanation

Cultured marble
Solid surface products
Natural marble
Natural quartz
(b) Other substitutes.--Can other products not already listed in part "a" of this question be
substituted for quartz surface products?
No

Other substitutes

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 quartz surface products?
No Yes

Explanation

1.
2.
3.
III-13. Demand trends.--Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United
States (if known) for quartz surface products has changed since January 1, 2015. Explain any
trends and describe the principal factors that have affected these changes in demand.

Market
Within the United States
Outside the United States

Overall
increase

No
Overall Fluctuate with
change decrease no clear trend

Explanation and factors

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)

Page 27

III-14. Product changes.--Have there been any significant changes in the product range, product mix or
marketing of quartz surface products since January 1, 2015?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

III-15. Conditions of competition.—
(a) Is the quartz surface products market subject to business cycles (other than general
economy-wide conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to quartz
surface products?
Check all that apply.

Please describe.

No

Skip to question III-16.

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
quartz surface products since January 1, 2015?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

III-16. Supply constraints.--Has your firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply quartz surface
products 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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)

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III-17. Raw materials.--How have quartz surface products raw material prices changed since January 1,
2015?
Fluctuate
Overall
No
Overall
with no
increase change decrease clear trend

Explain, noting how raw material price changes
have affected your firm’s selling prices for quartz
surface products.

III-18. Interchangeability.-(a) Are quartz surface products 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

Other countries

United States
China
For any country-pair producing quartz surface products 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 – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)

Page 29

(b) Interchangeability by product type.--Please compare the interchangeability of various products with
quartz surface products and each other (i.e., can they be used in the same end use
applications)?
Please indicate A, F, S, N, or 0 in the table below:
A = the products being compared are always interchangeable with each other in the
same end uses
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 product-pair
Product-pair

Cultured
marble

Solid surface
products

Natural
marble

Natural
quartz

Quartz surface products
Cultured marble
Solid surface products
Natural marble
For any product comparison that is always or frequently interchangeable, identify the factors that
make them always or frequently interchangeable in the same end use applications.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)

Page 30

III-19. Factors other than price.--Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between quartz surface products
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

Other countries

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

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)

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III-20. Customer identification.--List the names and contact information for your firm’s 10 largest U.S.
customers for quartz surface products since January 1, 2015. Indicate the share of the quantity
of your firm’s total shipments of quartz surface products that each of these customers
accounted for in 2017.

Customer’s name

Distributor,
fabricator, or
other end user

Contact person

Email

Telephone

City

State

Share
of
2017
sales
(%)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

III-21. 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 – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)

Page 32

PART IV.--COMPARABILITY
IV-1.

Comparability of in-scope quartz surface products to select out-of-scope agglomerated stone
products.-- For each of the following indicate whether in-scope quartz surface products and
select out-of-scope agglomerated stone products 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.
F: fully comparable or the same, i.e., have no differentiation between them;
M: mostly comparable or similar;
S: somewhat comparable or similar;
N: never or not-at-all comparable or similar; or
0: no familiarity with products.
(a) Physical Characteristics and End Uses.--The differences and similarities in the physical
characteristics and end uses.

Product-pair

Comparison

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

In-scope quartz surface products vs
out-of-scope cultured marble
surface products
In-scope quartz surface products vs
out-of-scope solid surface products
(e.g., acrylic, other)

(b) Interchangeability.--The ability to substitute the products in the same application.

Product-pair
In-scope quartz surface products vs
out-of-scope cultured marble
surface products
In-scope quartz surface products vs
out-of-scope solid surface products
(e.g., acrylic, other)

Comparison

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)
IV-1.

Page 33

Comparability of in-scope quartz surface products to select out-of-scope agglomerated stone
products.--Continued
(c) Manufacturing facilities, production processes, and production employees.--Whether
manufactured in the same facilities, from the same inputs, on the same machinery and
equipment, and using the same employees.

Product-pair

Comparison

Please provide a narrative discussion for the
comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
manufacturing facilities, production processes, and
production employees:

In-scope quartz surface products vs
out-of-scope cultured marble
surface products
In-scope quartz surface products vs
out-of-scope solid surface products
(e.g., acrylic, other)

(d) Channels of distribution.--Channels of distribution/market situation through which the
products are sold (i.e., sold direct to end users, through wholesaler/distributors, etc.).

Product-pair
In-scope quartz surface products vs
out-of-scope cultured marble
surface products
In-scope quartz surface products vs
out-of-scope solid surface products
(e.g., acrylic, other)

Comparison

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)

IV-1.

Page 34

Comparability of in-scope quartz surface products to select out-of-scope agglomerated stone
products.--Continued
(e) Customer and producer perceptions.--Perceptions as to the differences and/or
similarities in the market (e.g., sales/marketing practices).

Product-pair

Comparison

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

In-scope quartz surface products vs
out-of-scope cultured marble
surface products
In-scope quartz surface products vs
out-of-scope solid surface products
(e.g., acrylic, other)

(f) Price.--Whether prices are comparable or differ between the products.

Product-pair
In-scope quartz surface products vs
out-of-scope cultured marble
surface products
In-scope quartz surface products vs
out-of-scope solid surface products
(e.g., acrylic, other)

Comparison

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

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Quartz Surface Products (Preliminary)

Page 35

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.

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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://usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2018/quartz_surface_products_china/prelimin
ary.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:
o
o
o

Web address: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/
Enter Investigation: Select “Quartz surface products from China” in the drop down menu
Pin: QUARTZ

• 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.