18-3-3990 US purchasers' questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 18-3-3990; Expiration Date: 6/30/2020
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
STEEL WHEELS FROM CHINA
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by November 26, 2018
See last page for filing instructions.
The information called for in this questionnaire is for use by the United States International Trade Commission in
connection with its countervailing duty and antidumping duty investigations concerning steel wheels from China (Inv.
Nos. 701-TA-602 and 731-TA-1412 (Final)). The information requested in the questionnaire is requested under the
authority of the Tariff Act of 1930, title VII. This report is mandatory and failure to reply as directed can result in a
subpoena or other order to compel the submission of records or information in your possession (19 U.S.C. § 1333(a)).
Further information on this questionnaire can be obtained from Emily Burke (202-205-3191, [email protected]).

Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

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

NO

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

YES

(Complete all parts of the questionnaire, and return the entire questionnaire to the Commission)

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

Title of Authorized Official

Date

Signature

Phone

Email address

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Steel wheels

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PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.--This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on March 27, 2018, by
Accuride Corporation, Evansville, Indiana, and Maxion Wheels Akron LLC, Akron, Ohio. Countervailing
and/or 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://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2018/steel_wheels_china/final.htm.
Steel wheels covered by these investigations are certain on-the-road steel wheels, discs, and rims for
tubeless tires, with a nominal rim diameter of 22.5 inches and 24.5 inches, regardless of width. Certain
on-the-road steel wheels with a nominal wheel diameter of 22.5 inches and 24.5 inches are generally for
Class 6, 7, and 8 commercial vehicles (as classified by the Federal Highway Administration Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating system), including tractors, semi-trailers, dump trucks, garbage trucks, concrete mixers,
and buses, and are the current standard wheel diameters for such applications. The standard widths of
certain on-the-road steel wheels are 7.5 inches, 8.25 inches, and 9.0 inches, but all certain on-the-road
steel wheels, regardless of width, are covered by the scope. While 22.5 inches and 24.5 inches are
standard wheel sizes used by Class 6, 7, and 8 commercial vehicles, the scope covers sizes that may be
adopted in the future for Class 6, 7, and 8 commercial vehicles.
The scope includes certain on-the-road steel wheels with either a “hub-piloted” or “stud-piloted”
mounting configuration, and includes rims and discs for such wheels, whether imported as an assembly
or separately. The scope includes certain on-the-road steel wheels, discs, and rims, of carbon and/or
alloy steel composition, whether cladded or not cladded, whether finished or not finished, and whether
coated or uncoated. All on-the-road wheels sold in the United States are subject to the requirements of
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and bear markings, such as the “DOT” symbol,
indicating compliance with applicable motor vehicle standards. See 49 CFR 571.120. The scope includes
certain on- the-road steel wheels imported with or without the required markings. Certain on-the-road
steel wheels imported as an assembly with a tire mounted on the wheel and/or with a valve stem
attached are included. However, if the certain on-the-road steel wheel is imported as an assembly with
a tire mounted on the wheel and/or with a valve stem attached, the certain on- the-road steel wheel is
covered by the scope, but the tire and/or valve stem is not covered by the scope.
Excluded from the scope are:
(1) steel wheels for tube-type tires that require a removable side ring;
(2) aluminum wheels;
(3) wheels where steel represents less than fifty percent of the product by weight; and
(4) steel wheels that do not meet National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requirements, other
than the rim marking requirements found in 49 CFR 571.120S5.2.
Imports of the subject merchandise are currently classified under the following Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheadings: 8708.70.4530, 8708.70.4560, 8708.70.6030,
8708.70.6060, 8716.90.5045, and 8716.90.5059. Merchandise meeting the scope description may also

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enter under the following HTSUS subheadings: 4011.20.1015, 4011.20.5020, and 8708.99.4850. While
HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the
subject merchandise is dispositive.
Purchaser.--Any firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or subsidiary, in purchasing
steel wheels from another firm that produces, imports, or otherwise distributes steel wheels.
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.
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.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Steel wheels
I-1.

Page 4

Establishments covered.-- Provide the name and address of your U.S. establishment(s) covered
by this questionnaire, if different from that listed on the cover page. Firms operating more than
one establishment should combine the data for all establishments into a single response.
“Establishment”--Each facility of a firm involved in the purchase of steel wheels, including
auxiliary facilities operated in conjunction with (whether or not physically separate from) such
facilities.

I-2.

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

I-3.

Address

Extent of ownership
(percent)

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

I-4.

Yes--List the following information.

Yes--List the following information.
Country

Affiliation

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

Yes--List the following information.
Country

Affiliation

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PART II.--PURCHASES
Contact information.-- Please identify the responsible individual and the manner by which Commission
staff may contact that individual regarding the confidential information submitted in this questionnaire.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
II-1 (a). Purchases and imports (OEM).-- Report your firm’s domestic purchases and imports of steel
wheels intended for use in your own firm’s OEM operations or for distribution/resale by your
firm to OEM operators. Report separately for purchases and imports.
“Purchase” – Purchase from a U.S. entity such as a U.S. producer, a U.S. importer, or other U.S.
firm.
“Import” – Purchase directly from a foreign supplier and your firm is the importer of record.

PURCHASES AND IMPORTS: OEM
2015

2016

Item

JanuarySeptember 2018

2017

Quantity (in number of wheels)

Purchases of steel wheels
produced in-United States
China
All other countries1
Sources unknown2
Total purchases

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Imports of steel wheels from-China
All other countries1
Total imports
1
2

Please identify these countries:
Please identify the suppliers:

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II-1 (b). Purchases and imports (aftermarket).--Report your firm’s domestic purchases and imports of
steel wheels intended for use in your own firm’s aftermarket operations or for distribution/ resale by your firm to aftermarket operators including OES. Report separately for purchases and
imports.
“Purchase” – Purchase from a U.S. entity such as a U.S. producer, a U.S. importer, or other U.S.
firm.
“Import” – Purchase directly from a foreign supplier and your firm is the importer of record.

PURCHASES AND IMPORTS: AFTERMARKET
2015

2016

Item

JanuarySeptember 2018

2017

Quantity (in number of wheels)

Purchases of steel wheels
produced in—
United States
China
All other countries1
Sources unknown2
Total purchases

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Imports of steel wheels from—
China
All other countries1
Total imports
1
2

Please identify these countries:
Please identify the suppliers:
Note: If you reported imports in question II-1 (a) or (b), please also complete the U.S.
Importers’ Questionnaire, available at
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2018/steel_wheels_china/final.htm.

II-2.

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

Source of
purchases
United States
China
All other countries
Sources unknown

Did not
purchase Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated

Explanation for trend

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Steel wheels
II-3.

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

II-4.

Page 7

Other
countries

China

Other countries (specify)

Supplier identification.—
(a) Please list your firm’s TEN largest suppliers for steel wheels since January 1, 2015. Also, provide
the share of the quantity of your firm’s total purchases of steel wheels that each of these
suppliers accounted for in 2017.

No. Supplier’s name

City and state

Email of
contact
person

Share of
quantity of
2017
purchases

1

%

2

%

3

%

4

%

5

%

6

%

7

%

8

%

9

%

10

%

If supplier was not
the producer of the
steel wheels, list the
name and location of
the manufacturer

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(b) Did your firm purchase steel wheels from any suppliers of Chinese steel wheels other than those
listed in II-4 (a) during January 2015-September 2018?

No

Yes

If yes, please list the names of these suppliers and the names of the
manufacturers in China.

(c) Did any other suppliers of Chinese steel wheels offer to sell steel wheels to your firm but your
firm did not purchase from them during January 2015-September 2018?

No

Yes

If yes, please list the names of these suppliers and the names of the
manufacturers in China, and the reason for not purchasing from them.

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

Firm type.—
(a) Which of the following describes your firm as a purchaser of certain steel wheels (check all
that apply)?
Original
Original
equipment
Other
equipment
Distributor/
Describe
service/repair service/repair
Other
manufacturer
reseller
other
provider
provider
(OEM)
(OES)

(b) If you checked OEM above, please indicate the type(s) of vehicles your firm manufactures
that use steel wheels (check all that apply).
Truck

Trailer

Bus

Other

Describe other

(c) If you checked both OEM and OES above, please answer the following questions.
Item

No

Yes Explain

Does your firm negotiate steel
wheels prices and quantities for its
OEM and OES businesses at the
same time?
Do the prices your firm pays for its
OEM purchases of steel wheels
affect the prices paid for your
firm’s OES purchases?
(d) Is your firm a member of a buying group for steel wheels?
If yes, please explain how your buying group affiliation has affected
your purchases of steel wheels. Also, identify the suppliers of steel
No
Yes wheels approved by the buying group.

(e) During January 2015-September 2018, did your firm sell steel wheels to any OEMs?
No
Yes If yes, list the names of these OEMs.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Steel wheels
III-5.

Page 10

Demand for end use products and service.--Has the demand for your firm’s products or services
incorporating steel wheels changed since January 1, 2015?
Product/
service

Increased

No
change

Decreased Fluctuated

Explain

Trucks
Trailers
Buses
Repairs/service
III-6.

Aluminum wheels.—
(a) Can aluminum wheels be substituted for steel wheels?
No

Yes

Explain

(b) Since January 1, 2015, have changes in the price of aluminum wheels affected the price for
steel wheels?
No

Yes

Explain

(c) Since January 1, 2015, have changes in demand for aluminum wheels impacted demand for
steel wheels in the U.S. market?
No

Yes

Explain

(d) Since January 1, 2015, has the quantity of your firm’s purchases of aluminum wheels
increased relative to your firm’s purchases of steel wheels?
No

Yes

Explain

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Steel wheels
III-7.

Page 11

Demand trends.—

(a) Indicate how overall demand within the United States and outside of the United States (if
known) for steel wheels 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
change

Fluctuate
Overall
with no
decrease clear trend

Explanation and factors

Within the United States
Outside the United States
(b) Indicate how demand within the United States for steel wheels has changed since January 1,
2015 for the uses specified below.

U.S. demand for steel
wheels for:

Overall
increase

No
change

Fluctuate
Overall
with no
decrease clear trend

Explanation and factors

Truck OEM
Trailer OEM
Bus OEM
Service/repair
III-8.

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

Yes

If yes, identify the countries and explain.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Steel wheels
III-9.

Page 12

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

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

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

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

Is the market for steel wheels subject to business cycles (other than general economywide conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to steel wheels?

Check all that apply.

Please describe.

No

Skip to question III-11.

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

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

Yes

If yes, describe.

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III-11. Decisions based on producer and country-of-origin.--How often does your firm, and if known,
do your customers, make purchasing decisions involving steel wheels based on its producer or
country of origin?
Item

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

If at least sometimes, explain.

Decision based on producer
Your firm
Your
customers
Decision based on country of origin
Your firm
Your
customers
III-12. Availability of supply.--Has the availability of steel wheels in the U.S. market changed since
January 1, 2015?
Availability in the U.S.
Please explain, noting the countries and reasons for the
market
No Yes changes.
U.S.-produced product
Subject imports
Nonsubject imports
III-13. Supply constraints.--Has any firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply your firm with
steel wheels since January 1, 2015 (examples include placing customers on allocation or
“controlled order entry,” declining to accept new customers or renew existing customers,
delivering less than the quantity promised, being unable to meet timely shipment commitments,
etc.)?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

III-14. Availability of specific product types.--Are certain types, sizes, or coatings of steel wheels only
available from certain country sources?
No

Yes

If yes, please identify the countries and the type or size.

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III-15. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

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

(b)

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Annually

Other

If other, specify

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

Yes

If yes, please describe.

III-16. Raw material prices.—
(a)

Is your firm familiar with the prices for raw materials used in the production of steel
wheels?
No

(b)

Yes – please answer (b)

Has information on raw material prices affected your firm’s negotiations or contracts to
purchase steel wheels since 2015?

No

Explain, including whether the section 232 steel tariffs imposed in
Yes March 2018 have affected your firm’s negotiations or contracts.

III-17. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers does your firm generally contact before
making a purchase? Between
and
firms.

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III-18. Supplier negotiations.--Do your firm’s purchases of steel wheels usually involve negotiations
between supplier and purchaser?

No

Yes

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

III-19. Change in suppliers.--Has your firm changed suppliers since January 1, 2015?

No

Yes

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

III-20. New suppliers.--Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have
entered the market since January 1, 2015?
No

Yes

If yes, please identify the firms.

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III-21. Supplier qualification.—
(a) Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified to sell steel wheels to
your firm?
If yes, provide the following information.
 The number of days to qualify a new supplier.
 A general description of the certification or qualification process. Also, a brief
description of the factors that you consider when qualifying a new supplier (e.g., quality
of product, reliability of supplier, etc.).

No

Yes

Number
of days Process and factors

(b) If your firm is an OEM, has your firm qualified Chinese steel wheels for its OEM production?
No

Names of
qualified
Chinese
producers

Yes—fill out table below.

Date
qualified

Has your firm purchased
Chinese steel wheels from
these producers for its
If no, please explain why your firm
vehicle manufacturing?
has not purchased from these
Yes
No
qualified producers.

III-22. Failure to certify.--Since January 1, 2015, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their
attempts to certify or qualify their steel wheels with your firm or have any producers lost their
approved status?

No

Yes

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

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III-23. Major purchasing factors.--Please list, in order of their importance, the main factors your firm
considers in deciding from whom to purchase steel wheels (examples include availability,
extension of credit, contracts, price, quality, range of supplier’s product line, traditional supplier,
etc.).
1.
2.
3.
Please list any other factors that are very important in your purchase decisions:
III-24. Purchasing factors.--Please rate the importance of the following factors in your firm’s
purchasing decisions for steel wheels.

Factor
Availability
Coating type
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs
Wheel weight

Very
important

Somewhat
important

Not
important

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III-25. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of steel wheels?

III-26. Minimum quality.--How often do steel wheels from the following countries meet minimum
quality specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?

Source

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or
never

Don’t
know

United States
China
Other
III-27. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the steel wheels
that are offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

III-28. Price leaders.--A price leader is defined as (1) one or more firms that initiate a price change,
either upward or downward, that is followed by other firms, or (2) one or more firms that have a
significant impact on prices. A price leader is not necessarily the lowest-priced supplier.
Please list the names of any firms you considered price leaders in the steel wheels market since
January 1, 2015.
Firm(s)

Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership

III-29. Supplier commitment.--Since January 1, 2015, do you believe that any foreign or domestic
producer has increased or decreased its commitment to the segment of the market in which you
make purchases of steel wheels?
No

Yes

If yes, please explain how, including identifying the supplier and any
effects on your purchase decisions.

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III-30. Purchasing subject imports rather than domestic products.—
(a)

Since January 2015, did your firm purchase imports of steel wheels from China instead
of U.S.-produced steel wheels?
Source

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

No
(If “No”, skip to next question)

China
(b)

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

Yes

No

China
(c)

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

Source

Yes

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

No

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

China
III-31. U.S. producers and import competition.—
(a)

Since January 1, 2015, in connection with a sale or offer to sell steel wheels to your firm,
did U.S. producers reduce their prices of domestically produced steel wheels in order to
compete with lower-priced imports of steel wheels from China?
Source

Yes (also respond to
question part (b))

No (If “No”, skip to next
question)

Don’t know

China
(b)

If your firm responded “yes”, please provide an estimate of the reduction in U.S.
producers’ prices, and any additional explanations, such as timing (e.g., months/years),
frequency of price reductions, or other market/competitive factors.

Source
China

Estimated
reduction in U.S.
prices
(percent)
%

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

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III-32. Price competition.—
(a) Has your firm received price quotes for Chinese wheels since January 1, 2015?
Yes (also respond to
question part (b))

No (If “No”, skip to next
question)

(b) Were these price quotes lower than the price quotes you received for domestic wheels?
Yes

No

(c) Do your contracts with domestic steel wheels producers require you to meet prices offered
by other suppliers?
No

Yes

Explain.

(d) Did your firm use prices for Chinese wheels in negotiations with domestic suppliers to
obtain price reductions, rebates, or other benefits?
No

Yes

If yes, explain.

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III-33. Impact of the section 301 investigation.--This question concerns the section 301 investigation
and subsequent announcement on additional tariffs that include steel wheels proposed and
implemented by the United States in response to Chinese trade practices. On September 17,
2018, the White House announced the placement of an additional 10 percent tariff on steel
wheels imported from China under HTS subheadings 4011.20.10, 4011.20.50, 8708.70.45,
8708.70.60, 8708.99.48, and 8716.90.50, that took effect on September 24, 2018. Effective
January 1, 2019, these tariffs will rise to 25 percent. (See
https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/granule/FR-2018-07-17/2018-15090 and
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/statement-from-the-president-4/)
(a)

Did the imposition of the additional 10 percent tariffs and/or announcement of the
future increase in these tariffs impact, or do you anticipate that they will impact, your
firm's steel wheels business and/or the U.S. steel wheels market as a whole?
Yes

(b)

No

Don’t know

If yes, please explain.

Assessment of specific impacts of the section 301 investigation.--Please indicate the
impact of the announcements and subsequent implementation of remedies in the
section 301 investigation and tariff actions regarding steel wheels.

Item
Overall
demand/anticipated
demand for steel
wheels in the U.S.
market
Prices/anticipated
prices for steel wheels
in the U.S. market

Fluctuate
with no
No
clear
Increase change Decrease
trend

Explanation and factors

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Steel wheels

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PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS
IV-1.

Interchangeability.--Are the steel wheels 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

Mexico

Other countries

United States
China
Mexico
For any country-pair producing steel wheels that is sometimes or never interchangeable, identify
the country-pair and explain the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable use:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Steel wheels
IV-2.

Page 23

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

China

Mexico

Other countries

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Steel wheels
IV-3.

Page 24

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

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

Availability
Coating type
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Extension of credit
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
Wheel weight
1

A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has lower
prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
China compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
China

Product from
United States
compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Steel wheels

Page 25

PART V.—ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
V-1.

Other explanations.--If your firm would like to further explain a response to any question for
which a narrative response box was not provided, please note the question number and the
explanation in the space provided below.

V-2.

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

Dollars

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Steel wheels

Page 26

HOW TO FILE YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSE
This questionnaire is available as a “fillable” form in MS Word format on the
Commission’s website at: LINK
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: WHEEL

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