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pdfOMB No. 3117‐0016/USITC No. 19‐1‐4034; Expiration Date: 6/30/2020
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U.S. IMPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
CERAMIC TILE FROM CHINA
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by April 24, 2019
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 investigations concerning ceramic tile products (“ceramic tile”)
from China (Inv. Nos. 701‐TA‐621 and 731‐TA‐1447 (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 ceramic tile (as defined on next page) from any country at any time since January 1,
2016?
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: TILE)
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
Signature
Phone
Email address
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire ‐ Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
Page 2
PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.‐‐This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on April 10, 2019, by the
Coalition for Fair Trade in Ceramic Tile. 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/701731/2019/ceramic_tile_products_china/preliminary.htm
Ceramic tile products (“ceramic tile”) covered by these investigations are articles containing a mixture
of minerals including clay (generally hydrous silicates of alumina or magnesium) that are treated to
develop a fired bond. The subject merchandise includes ceramic flooring tile, wall tile, paving tile, hearth
tile, porcelain tile, mosaic tile, finishing tile, and the like. All ceramic tile is subject to the scope
regardless of whether the tile is glazed or unglazed, regardless of size, regardless of the water
absorption coefficient by weight, regardless of the extent of vitrification, and regardless of whether or
not the tile is on a backing. Ceramic tile are covered by the scope regardless of end use, size, thickness,
and weight. Ceramic tile includes tile pressed as very large single pieces, up to and exceeding 5’ x 15’.
Subject merchandise includes ceramic tile produced in China that undergoes minor processing in a third
country prior to importation into the United States. Similarly, subject merchandise includes ceramic tile
produced in China that undergoes minor processing after importation into the United States. Such minor
processing includes, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: beveling, cutting, trimming,
staining, painting, polishing, finishing, or any other processing that would otherwise not remove the
merchandise from the scope of the investigation if performed in the country of manufacture of the in‐
scope product.
The scope excludes ceramic bricks currently imported under HTS US 6904.10.00.10 through
6904.90.00.00.
Ceramic tile may be provided for in any HTS subheading (8‐digit rate line) of heading 6907 and
imported/reported under any subordinate statistical reporting number of that heading.1 They may also
be imported under statistical reporting numbers 6914.10.80.00, 6914.90.80.00, 6905.10.00.00, and
6905.90.00.50. The HTSUS provisions are for convenience and customs purposes; 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 ceramic tile (as defined above) into the United States from a foreign manufacturer or through
its selling agent.
Reporting of information.‐‐If information is not readily available from your records, provide carefully
prepared estimates. If your firm is completing more than one questionnaire (i.e., a producer, importer,
and/or purchaser questionnaire), you need not respond to duplicated questions.
Confidentiality.‐‐The commercial and financial data furnished in response to this questionnaire that
reveal the individual operations of your firm will be treated as confidential by the Commission to the
extent that such data are not otherwise available to the public and will not be disclosed except as may
be required by law (see 19 U.S.C. § 1677f). Such confidential information will not be published in a
1
Prior to 2017, ceramic tile were imported under headings 6907 and 6908.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
Page 3
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
Nathanael Comly ([email protected]; 202‐205‐3174).
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 macro‐
enabled MS Excel file available for download from the Commission's generic questionnaires webpage
(https://www.usitc.gov/trade_remedy/question.htm) called the "D‐GRIDs tool." Use of this tool to help
your firm complete this questionnaire is optional. Firms opting to use the D‐GRIDs tool to populate their
data into this questionnaire will need the D‐GRIDs specification sheet PDF file specific to this proceeding
(available on the case page which is linked under the "Background" above) which includes the necessary
references relating to this questionnaire, as well as the macro‐enable MS Excel D‐GRIDs tool itself from
the generic questionnaires page. More detailed instructions on how to use the D‐GRIDs tool are
available within the D‐GRIDs tool itself.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
I‐1.
Page 4
OMB statistics.‐‐Please report below the actual number of hours required and the cost to your
firm of completing this questionnaire.
Hours
Dollars
I‐2.
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.
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 ceramic tile, including
auxiliary facilities operated in conjunction with (whether or not physically separate from) such
facilities.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
I‐3.
I‐4.
Page 5
Ownership.‐‐Is your firm owned, in whole or in part, by any other firm?
No
Yes‐‐List the following information
Firm name
Address
Extent of
ownership
(percent)
Related importers/exporters.‐‐Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or
foreign, that are engaged in importing ceramic tile from China into the United States or that are
engaged in exporting ceramic tile from China to the United States?
No
Yes‐‐List the following information.
Firm name
Country
Affiliation
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
I‐5.
I‐6.
Page 6
Related producers.‐‐Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, that are
engaged in the production of ceramic tile?
No
Yes‐‐List the following information.
Firm name
Country
Affiliation
Importing operations.‐‐Please indicate the nature of your firm’s importing operations on
ceramic tile. More than one answer may be applicable.
Importer of record
I‐7.
Takes title to the
imported product(s)
Consignee of the
imported products(s)
Customs broker or
freight forwarder
Consignee.‐‐If your firm is an importer of record of ceramic tile but is not the consignee, please
list the consignees below (firm name, address, telephone number, and individual to contact).
Firm name
Address
Contact person
and phone
number
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
I‐8.
Page 7
FTZ, TIB, or bonded warehouses.‐‐Please indicate whether your firm enters ceramic tile into, or
withdraws such merchandise from, foreign trade zones or bonded warehouses. Also indicate
whether your firm imports ceramic tile 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 designated 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
I‐9.
No
Yes
Foreign trade zones
Bonded warehouses
Temporary importation under bond
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.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
Page 8
PART II.‐‐TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Nathanael Comly
([email protected]; 202‐205‐3174). 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 ceramic tile since January 1, 2016.
(check as many as appropriate)
(If checked, please describe; leave blank if not applicable)
Office/warehouse openings
Office/warehouse closings
Relocations
Expansions
Acquisitions
Consolidations
Prolonged shutdowns or
importation curtailments
Revised labor agreements
Other (e.g., technology)
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
Page 9
II‐3a. Arranged imports.‐‐Has your firm imported or arranged for the importation of ceramic tile for
delivery after December 31, 2018?
“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 2019
Apr‐Jun 2019
Jul‐Sept 2019
Oct‐Dec 2019
Quantity (in thousands of square feet)
China
All other sources
II‐3b. Imports in the 12‐month period preceding the petition.‐‐Has your firm imported ceramic tile
from any source between April 1, 2018 and March 31, 2019? (i.e., the last nine months in 2018
and first three months in 2019 combined).
No
Yes
If yes, report the quantity of such import below by source.
Quantity (in thousands of square feet)
Source
II‐4.
April 2018 through March 2019
China
All other sources
Reasons for importing if producer.‐‐If your firm also produces ceramic tile in the United States,
please indicate the reasons for importing this product. If your firm’s reasons differ by source,
please elaborate.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
Page 10
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).
“Commercial U.S. shipments”‐‐Shipments made within the United States as a result of an arm’s
length commercial transaction in the ordinary course of business excluding sales made through
own firm's retail locations. 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 / including for own firm’s retail sales” – Product consumed internally by
your firm, which includes merchandise that your firm transferred to your own firm's retail
locations. Such transactions are valued at fair market value (i.e., not the total value of final
downstream processed merchandise (in the case of internal consumption), nor the retail sale
value (in the case of your firm owning and operating its own retail locations); rather these
transactions should be recorded at the fair market wholesale value of the merchandise used for
further processing or for retail level sale).
“Transfers to related firms”‐‐Shipments made to related firms. Such transactions are valued at
fair market value.
“Related firm”‐‐A firm that your firm solely or jointly owned, managed, or otherwise controlled;
a firm that solely or jointly owned, managed, or otherwise controlled your firm; and/or a firm
that was solely or jointly owned, managed, or otherwise controlled by a firm that also solely or
jointly owned, managed, or otherwise controlled your firm.
“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.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
Page 11
II‐5a. U.S. imports from China.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and inventories
of ceramic tile imported from China by your firm during the specified periods.
China
Quantity (in thousands of square feet), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item
2016
Beginning‐of‐period inventories (quantity)
(A)
2017
2018
1 2
Imports under HTS 6907 and 6908:
Quantity (B)
Value (C)
2 3
Imports under all other subheadings :
Quantity (D)
Value (E)
4
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity (F)
Value (G)
Internal consumption / including for
own firm's retail sales:5
Quantity (H)
5
Value (I)
Transfers to related firms:
Quantity (J)
5
Value5 (K)
6
Export shipments:
Quantity (L)
Value (M)
End‐of‐period inventories (quantity) (N)
1
Prior to 2017, ceramic tile was classifiable under HTS headings of 6907 (unglazed) and 6908 (glazed).
Please identify the foreign producers, if known: .
3
Please report the specific HTS statistical reporting numbers used for imports of ceramic tile under headings other than
6907 or 6908: .
4
If the product that was imported by your firm was in a non‐final state, did your firm conduct any finishing operations on
the products prior to re‐sale or use in the United States (e.g., cutting to smaller sizes, buffing, polishing, or glazing)? No,
Yes, if yes, please describe the nature and extent of your firm's finishing operations in the United States by responding to
questions II‐8 a‐c.
5
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.
6
Identify your firm’s principal export markets: .
2
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
Page 12
II‐5a. 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
2016
2017
0
2018
0
0
Explanation if the calculated fields above are returning values other than zero (i.e., “0”) but are nonetheless
accurate: .
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
Page 13
II‐5b. 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. If your firm, reported data in lines H and I (i.e., relating to internal
consumption, including own firm's retail sales), please classify your shipments based on your
own firm's classification as opposed to your customers' classification in this table. For example,
if your firm is a big box retailer that imports and uses its imports for sale at its own retail
locations, please report those U.S. shipments as “To Big box/ home center retailers” in this
question.
China
Calendar years
Item
2016
2017
2018
Quantity (in thousands of square feet), value (in $1,000)
Channels of distribution:
U.S. shipments:
To Distributors1
Quantity (O)
Value (P)
To Big box/home center retailers
Quantity (Q)
Value (R)
To Other retailers
Quantity (S)
Value (T)
To Contractors/builders
Quantity (U)
Value (V)
To Other end users
Quantity (W)
Value (X)
1
This category includes floor covering wholesalers.
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 quantities and values reported for U.S.
shipments (i.e., lines 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 item
Quantity: O + Q + S + U + W – F –H – J =
zero ("0"), if not revise.
Value: P + R + T + V + X – G –I – K = zero
("0"), if not revise.
2016
2017
2018
0
0
0
0
0
0
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
Page 14
II‐6a. Imports from all other sources.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and
inventories of ceramic tile imported from all other sources by your firm during the specified
periods.
All other sources
(list sources:
)
Quantity (in thousands of square feet), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item
2016
Beginning‐of‐period inventories (quantity)
(A)
2017
2018
1 2
Imports under HTS 6907 and 6908:
Quantity (B)
Value (C)
2 3
Imports under all other subheadings :
Quantity (D)
Value (E)
4
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity (F)
Value (G)
Internal consumption / including for
own firm's retail sales:5
Quantity (H)
5
Value (I)
Transfers to related firms:
Quantity (J)
5
5
Value (K)
6
Export shipments:
Quantity (L)
Value (M)
End‐of‐period inventories (quantity) (N)
1
Prior to 2017, ceramic tile was classifiable under HTS headings of 6907 (unglazed) and 6908 (glazed).
Please identify the foreign producers, if known: .
3
Please report the specific HTS statistical reporting numbers used for imports of ceramic tile under headings other than
6907 or 6908: .
4
If the product that was imported by your firm was in a non‐final state, did your firm conduct any finishing operations on
the products prior to re‐sale or use in the United States (e.g., cutting to smaller sizes, buffing, polishing, or glazing)? No,
Yes, if yes, please describe the nature and extent of your firm's finishing operations in the United States by responding to
questions II‐8 a‐c.
5
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.
6
Identify your firm’s principal export markets: .
2
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
Page 15
II‐6a. 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
2016
2017
0
2018
0
0
Explanation if the calculated fields above are returning values other than zero (i.e., “0”) but are nonetheless
accurate: .
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
Page 16
II‐6b. 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. If your firm, reported data in lines H and I (i.e.,
relating to internal consumption, including own firm's retail sales), please classify your
shipments based on your own firm's classification as opposed to your customers’ classification
in this table. For example, if your firm is big box retailer that imports and uses its imports for
sale at its own retail locations, please report those U.S. shipments as “To Big box/ home center
retailers” in this question.
All other sources
Calendar years
Item
2016
2017
2018
Quantity (in thousands of square feet), value (in $1,000)
Channels of distribution:
U.S. shipments:
To Distributors1
Quantity (O)
Value (P)
To Big box/home center retailers
Quantity (Q)
Value (R)
To Other retailers
Quantity (S)
Value (T)
To Contractors/builders
Quantity (U)
Value (V)
To Other end users
Quantity (W)
Value (X)
1
This category includes floor covering wholesalers.
RECONCILIATION OF CHANNELS.‐‐Please ensure that the quantities reported for channels of distribution
(i.e., lines O through X) in each time period equal the quantity reported for U.S. shipments (i.e., lines 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 item
Quantity: O + Q + S + U + W – F –H – J =
zero ("0"), if not revise.
Value: P + R + T + V + X – G –I – K = zero
("0"), if not revise.
2016
2017
2018
0
0
0
0
0
0
Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
II‐6c.
Page 17
U.S. import from all other sources in other HTS provisions.‐‐Report your firm’s U.S. imports of
ceramic tile imported under HTS subheadings other than 6907 and 6908 from the listed sources.
Totals reported below for all listed sources combined (lines Y + Z + AA + AB) should equal the
total of U.S. imports under all other subheadings (line D) in question II‐6a.
All other sources
Calendar years
Item
2016
2017
2018
Quantity (in thousands of square feet)
U.S. imports from sources other than
China of ceramic tile that are classified
in HTS provisions other than under
subheadings 6907 or 6908:
Mexico (Y)
0
0
0
Italy (Z)
Spain (AA)
1
Additional sources (AB)
Subtotal
1
Please identify the additional sources included in line AB, including the approximate shares that each source accounts
for of the reported data in the 2016‐18 three‐year period:
.
RECONCILIATION OF OTHER NONSUBJECT IMPORTS.‐‐Please ensure that the quantities reported for
these U.S. imports (i.e., lines Y through AB) in each time period equal the quantity reported for U.S.
imports (i.e., line D) in each time period. If the calculated fields below return values other than zero (i.e.,
“0”), the data reported must be revised prior to submission to the Commission.
Calendar years
Reconciliation item
2016
2017
2018
Y + Z + AA + AB – D = zero ("0"), if not
revise.
0
0
II‐7. Transfers to related firms.‐‐ If your firm reported transfers to related firms in any of the data
tables in part II, please identify the firm(s) and indicate the nature of the relationship between
your firm and the related firms (e.g., joint venture, wholly owned subsidiary) and whether the
transfers were priced at market value or by a non‐market formula.
0
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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
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II‐8a. Ceramic tile requiring further processing before end use.—
(i)
Please describe the similarities and differences in the physical characteristics and functions
of ceramic tile requiring further processing before end use (e.g. tile requiring cutting,
polishing, glazing) and ceramic tile not requiring further processing before end use.
(ii)
Please describe the uses and markets for your firm’s ceramic tile requiring further
processing before end use that you do not further finish into ceramic tile not requiring
further processing before end use.
II‐8b. Finishing only operations.‐‐Since January 1, 2016, has your firm imported ceramic tile requiring
further processing before end use covered by the investigations and further processed (e.g. cut
to size) those purchases into products that still match the scope definition of ceramic tile?
No
Yes
If yes—Please describe the nature and extent of the following items in
relation to your firm’s finishing processing operations in the United States.
Capital investments
Technical expertise
Value added
Employment
Quantity, type and source
of parts
Costs and activities
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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
II‐8c.
Page 19
Finishing only processing operations' complexity and importance.‐‐On a scale of 1 to 5, please
provide your firm's opinion as to the complexity, intensity, and importance of finishing only
processing activities. 1 being minimally complex, intense, and important. 5 being extremely
complex, intense, and important.
1:
Minimally complex,
intense, and
important
2
3
4
5:
Extremely complex,
intense, and
important
Please describe the reason for your rating.
II‐8d. U.S. imports by type of product.‐‐Report your firm’s U.S. imports of ceramic tile by product type
in the specified periods.
Quantity (in thousands of square feet) and value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item
U.S. imports from China.—
Ceramic tile requiring further processing
before end use.1
Quantity (AC)
Value (AD)
Ceramic tile not requiring further
processing before end use.
Quantity (AE)
Value (AF)
U.S. imports from all other sources.—
Ceramic tile requiring further processing
before end use.1
Quantity (AG)
Value (AH)
Ceramic tile not requiring further
processing before end use.
Quantity (AI)
Value (AJ)
2016
2017
2018
1 Can include tile requiring cutting, polishing, glazing or other finishing activity prior to final end use. Please described the products
you included: Please list the three leading purchasers to which your firm sold these products if your firm sold these in unfinished
form, please list your own firm if your own firm conducted the finishing operations:
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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
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RECONCILIATION OF IMPORTS BY PRODUCT TYPE.‐‐Please ensure that the quantities and values reported
for U.S. imports by product type (i.e., lines AC through AJ) in each time period equal the quantity and
value reported for commercial U.S. shipments (i.e., lines B through E) in questions II‐5a and II‐6a in each
time period. If the calculated fields below return values other than zero (i.e., “0”), the data reported
must be revised prior to submission to the Commission.
Calendar years
Reconciliation item
2016
2017
2018
Quantity: AC + AE– B – D (II‐5a) = zero
("0"), if not revise.
0
0
0
Quantity: AD + AF – C – E (II‐5a) = zero
("0"), if not revise.
0
0
0
Quantity: AG + AI – B – D (II‐6a) = zero
("0"), if not revise.
0
0
0
Quantity: AH + AJ – C – E (II‐6a) = zero
("0"), if not revise.
0
0
0
II‐9. Other explanations.‐‐If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question in Part II
for which a narrative response box was not provided, please note the question number and the
explanation in the space provided below. Please also use this space to highlight any issues your
firm had in providing the data in this section, including but not limited to technical issues with
the MS Word questionnaire.
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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
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PART III.‐‐PRICING AND MARKET FACTORS
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Andrew Knipe (202‐205‐
2390, [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, 2016 of the following products your firm imported
from China:
Product 1.‐‐Porcelain tile, rectangular, 6”–8” in width by 24”–36” in length, sold to home center
retailers
Product 2.‐‐Porcelain tile, square or rectangular, 12”–24” in width by 12”–24” in length, sold to
distributors
Product 3.‐‐Ceramic tile, square or rectangular, 12”–24” in width by 12”–24” in length, sold to
home center retailers
Product 4.‐‐Ceramic tile, square or rectangular, 3”–6” in width by 6”–12” in length, sold to other
retailers
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 2016‐December 2018, 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 tables as appropriate.
No.‐‐Skip to question III‐3.
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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
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III‐2a. Price data.‐‐Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from China
and sold by your firm.
China (price data)
Report data in square feet (not 1,000s) 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
Quantity
Value
Period of shipment
2016:
January‐March
April‐June
July‐September
October‐December
2017:
January‐March
April‐June
July‐September
October‐December
2018:
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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III‐2b. Price data checklist.‐‐Please check that the pricing data in question III‐2(a) have been correctly
reported.
Are the price data reported above:
√ if Yes
In square feet (not 1,000s of square feet)?
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‐2c. 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.
III‐3. Imports for internal use, repackaging, or retail sale.‐‐Did your firm import ceramic tile for
internal consumption, repackaging, or use for sales in your firm’s retail locations since January 1,
2016?
Yes.‐‐Please complete the following table as appropriate.
No.‐‐Skip to question III‐4.
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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
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III‐3a. Imports for internal use, repackaging, or retail sale.‐‐Report below the import purchase cost
data1 for pricing products2 imported from China and used by your own firm or sold at retail.
Please note that values should be landed, duty‐paid and should not include U.S.‐inland transportation
costs. Values should reflect the final net amount paid by your firm (i.e., should be net of all returns,
discounts, allowances, and rebates).
China (purchase cost data)
Report data in square feet (not 1,000s) and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
(Quantity in square feet, value in dollars)
Product 1
Product 2
Product 3
Landed,
Landed,
duty‐paid
duty‐paid
Landed,
(LDP)
(LDP)
duty‐paid
Quantity
value1
Quantity
value1
Quantity (LDP) value1
Product 4
Landed,
duty‐paid
(LDP) value1
Period of shipment
Quantity
2016:
January‐March
April‐June
July‐September
October‐December
2017:
January‐March
April‐June
July‐September
October‐December
2018:
January‐March
April‐June
July‐September
October‐December
1 LDP value (i.e., landed duty‐paid 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). See “Import
values” definition in Part II (Trade and Related Information – Definitions).
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 import purchase cost data.
Product 1:
Product 2:
Product 3:
Product 4:
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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
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III‐3b. Inland transportation costs for your firm’s direct imports of ceramic tile for internal use,
repackaging, or retail sale.‐‐
If your firm reported import purchase costs above (questions III‐3 and III‐3a), what is the
approximate percentage of the total cost of the ceramic tile that you directly imported from
China that is accounted for by U.S. inland transportation costs from the port of importation to
your distribution network, retail store(s), or manufacturing plant(s)?
Country
Percent
China
%
III‐3c. Additional costs for your firm’s direct imports of ceramic tile for your firm’s internal use,
repackaging, or retail sale.‐‐
(i)
If your firm reported direct import purchase costs above (questions III‐3 and III‐3a),
please identify the factors (other than U.S. inland transportation costs or costs already
included in landed duty paid values) that add to your cost of importing directly since
January 1, 2016. Estimate the ratio of these additional costs compared to the landed
duty‐paid value, and explain the specific costs associated with each category.
Factors
Logistical or supply chain management
costs (not already included in LDP value)
Estimated ratio of
additional costs to
landed duty paid
value (percent)
Explanation of specific costs
%
Warehousing/inventory carrying costs
(not already included in LDP value)
%
Insurance costs (not already included in
LDP value)
%
Other, please identify ( )
%
(ii)
To which source(s) does your firm compare costs in determining your additional
transaction costs to directly import?
U.S. importers
U.S. producers
Both
Neither
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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
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III‐3c. Additional costs for your firm’s direct imports of ceramic tile for your firm’s internal use,
repackaging, or retail sale.‐‐Continued
(iii)
(a)
Briefly identify the benefits of directly importing ceramic tile instead of
purchasing ceramic tile from a U.S. importer or from a U.S. producer.
(b)
(c)
Please provide the estimated margin saved by having directly imported ceramic
tile instead of purchasing from a U.S. importer. percent of landed duty‐
paid value.
Explain any variation in the margin saved since January 1, 2016.
III‐3d. Did your firm purchase ceramic tile from a U.S. producer?
No
Yes‐‐Please complete the Lost Sales/Lost Revenue survey (available here:
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2019/ceramic_tile_products_chin
a/preliminary.htm.)
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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
III‐4.
Page 27
Price setting.‐‐How does your firm determine the prices that it charges for sales of ceramic tile
(check all that apply)? If your firm issues price lists, please submit sample pages of a recent list.
Transaction
by
transaction
Contracts
III‐5.
Annual
total
volume
discounts
If other, describe
Other
Describe
Pricing terms.‐‐On what basis are your firm’s prices of imported ceramic tile from China usually
quoted (check one)?
F.o.b.
If f.o.b., specify point
Contract versus spot.‐‐Approximately what share of your firm’s sales of ceramic tile imported
from China in 2018 was on a (1) short‐term contract basis, (2) annual contract basis, (3) long‐
term contract basis, and (4) spot sales basis?
Item
Share of 2018
sales
No
discount
policy
Delivered
III‐7.
Other
Discount policy.‐‐Please indicate and describe your firm’s discount policies (check all that apply).
Quantity
discounts
III‐6.
Set
price
lists
Short‐term
contracts
(multiple
deliveries for
less than 12
months)
%
Type of sale
Long‐term
Annual
contracts
contracts
(multiple
(multiple
deliveries for
deliveries for 12
more than 12
months)
months)
%
%
Spot sales
(for a single
delivery)
%
Total
(should
sum to
100.0%)
0.0
%
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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
III‐8.
Page 28
Contract provisions.‐‐Please fill out the table regarding your firm’s typical sales contracts for
ceramic tile imported from China (or check “not applicable” if your firm does not sell on a short‐
term, annual and/or long‐term contract basis).
Short‐term contracts Annual contracts
(multiple
(multiple deliveries
deliveries for 12
for less than 12
months)
months)
Long‐term contracts
(multiple deliveries
for more than 12
months)
Typical sales
contract provisions
Item
Average contract
duration
No. of
days
Price renegotiation
(during contract
period)
Yes
No
Quantity
Price
Both
Yes
No
Fixed quantity
and/or price
Indexed to raw
material costs1
Not applicable
365
1
Please identify the indexes used:
III‐9.
Lead times.‐‐What is your firm’s share of sales of ceramic tile imported from China from
inventory vs. 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 ceramic tile?
Lead time
(Average number
Source
Share of 2018 sales
of days)
From your firm’s U.S. inventory
%
From foreign manufacturers’ inventory
%
Produced to order
%
Total (should sum to 100.0%)
0.0 %
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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
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III‐10. Shipping information.—
(a)
What is the approximate percentage of the cost of ceramic tile 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 ceramic tile 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 ceramic tile 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 %
III‐11. Geographical shipments.‐‐In which U.S. geographic market area(s) has your firm sold ceramic
tile imported from subject countries since January 1, 2016 (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.
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III‐12. End uses.‐‐List the end uses of the ceramic tile that your firm imports. For each end‐use product,
what percentage of the total cost is accounted for by ceramic tile vs. other inputs?
Share of total cost of end‐use product
accounted for by
Total
(should sum to
100.0% across)
Ceramic tile
Other inputs
End‐use product
%
%
0.0 %
%
%
0.0 %
%
%
0.0 %
III‐13. Substitutes.‐‐Can other products be substituted for ceramic tile?
No
Yes‐‐Please fill out the table.
End use in which this
substitute is used
Substitute
Have changes in the price of this substitute
affected the price for ceramic tile?
No Yes
Explanation
1.
2.
3.
III‐14. Demand trends.‐‐Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United
States (if known) for ceramic tile has changed since January 1, 2016. Explain any trends and
describe the principal factors that have affected these changes in demand.
Overall
No
Overall Fluctuate with
increase change decrease no clear trend
Market
Explanation and factors
Within the U.S.
Outside the U.S.
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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
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III‐15. Product changes.‐‐Have there been any significant changes in the product range, product mix or
marketing of ceramic tile since January 1, 2016?
No
Yes
If yes, please describe.
III‐16. Conditions of competition.—
(a)
Is the ceramic tile market subject to business cycles (other than general economy‐wide
conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to ceramic tile?
Check all that apply.
(b)
Please describe.
No
Skip to question III‐17.
Yes‐Business cycles (e.g.
seasonal business)
Yes‐Other distinctive
conditions of competition
If yes, have there been any changes in the business cycles or conditions of competition
for ceramic tile since January 1, 2016?
No
Yes
If yes, describe.
III‐17. Supply constraints.‐‐Has your firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply ceramic tile since
January 1, 2016 (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.
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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
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III‐18. Raw materials.‐‐How have ceramic tile raw material prices changed since January 1, 2016?
Explain, noting how raw material price changes
Fluctuate
with no have affected your firm’s selling prices for ceramic
Overall
No
Overall
tile.
increase change decrease clear trend
III‐19. Interchangeability.‐‐Is ceramic tile 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
United States
China
China
Other countries
For any country‐pair producing ceramic tile 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 – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
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III‐20. Factors other than price.‐‐Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between ceramic tile 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
United States
China
China
Other countries
For any country‐pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant
factor in your firm’s sales of ceramic tile, identify the country‐pair and report the advantages
or disadvantages imparted by such factors:
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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
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III‐21. Customer identification.‐‐List the names and contact information for your firm’s 10 largest U.S.
customers for ceramic tile since January 1, 2016. Indicate the share of the quantity of your firm’s
total shipments of ceramic tile that each of these customers accounted for in 2018.
Customer’s name
Contact person
Email
Telephone
City
State
Share of
2018 sales
(%)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
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III‐22. Impact of the section 301 investigation.‐‐This question concerns the section 301 investigation
and tariffs on ceramic tile that have been proposed and implemented by the United States in
response to Chinese trade practices.
(a)
Did the announcement in March 2018 and subsequent implementation of tariff
remedies in the section 301 investigation impact, or do you anticipate that it will impact,
your firm's ceramic tile business and/or the U.S. ceramic tile market as a whole?
Yes‐‐
Please fill out table below and answer part (b)
Don’t
know
No
Item
Response
Impact on your firm1
1
Impact on overall U.S. market
1
Please identify the magnitude and timing of any effects, and compare your firm's
operations/overall market before and after the announcement of the section 301 measures.
(b)
Assessment of specific impacts of the section 301 investigation.‐‐Please indicate the
impact of the announcement and subsequent implementation of remedies in the
section 301 investigation and tariff actions regarding ceramic tile.
Item
Fluctuate
with no
No
clear
Increase change Decrease
trend
Explanation and factors
Overall demand for
ceramic tile in the U.S.
market
Prices for ceramic tile
in the U.S. market
III‐23. Other explanations.‐‐If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question in Part III
for which a narrative response box was not provided, please note the question number and the
explanation in the space provided below. Please also use this space to highlight any issues your
firm had in providing the data in this section, including but not limited to technical issues with
the MS Word questionnaire.
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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
Page 36
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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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
Page 37
HOW TO FILE YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSE
This questionnaire is available as a “fillable” form in MS Word format on the
Commission’s website at:
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2019/ceramic_tile_products_china/preliminary.htm
Please do not attempt to modify the format or permissions of the questionnaire
document. Please submit the completed questionnaire using one of the methods noted
below. If your firm is unable to complete the MS Word questionnaire or cannot use one
of the electronic methods of submission, please contact the Commission for further
instructions.
• Upload via Secure Drop Box.—Upload the MS Word questionnaire along with a scanned copy of the
signed certification page (page 1) through the Commission’s secure upload facility:
Web address: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/
Pin: TILE
• 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 (202‐
205‐1803). A certificate of service must accompany the completed questionnaire you submit (see 19 CFR
§ 207.7). Service of the questionnaire must be made in paper form.
| File Type | application/pdf |
| File Title | Microsoft Word - US importers--Ceramic tile (P) |
| Author | nathanael.comly |
| File Modified | 2019-04-12 |
| File Created | 2019-04-12 |