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pdfOMB No. 3117‐0016/USITC No. 19‐3‐4115; Expiration Date: 6/30/2020
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U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
FABRICATED STRUCTURAL STEEL FROM CANADA, CHINA, AND MEXICO
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by November 8, 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 fabricated structural steel from
Canada, China, and Mexico (Inv. Nos. 701‐TA‐615‐617 and 731‐TA‐1432‐1434 (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 Lauren Gamache
([email protected], 202‐205‐3489).
Name of firm
Address
City
State
Zip Code
Website
Has your firm purchased fabricated structural steel (as defined on next page) from any source (domestic or
foreign) 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: FABS)
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
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
Page 2
PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.‐‐This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on February 4, 2019, by the
American Institute of Steel Construction LLC, Chicago, IL. 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/fabricated_structural_steel_canada_china_and/fina
l.htm.
Fabricated structural steel covered by these investigations is carbon and alloy fabricated structural
steel. Fabricated structural steel is made from steel in which: (1) iron predominates, by weight, over
each of the other contained elements; and (2) the carbon content is two percent or less by weight.
Fabricated structural steel products are steel products that have been fabricated for erection or
assembly into structures, including, but not limited to, buildings (commercial, office, institutional, and
multi‐family residential); industrial and utility projects; parking decks; arenas and convention centers;
medical facilities; and ports, transportation and infrastructure facilities. Fabricated structural steel is
manufactured from carbon and alloy (including stainless) steel products such as angles, columns, beams,
girders, plates, flange shapes (including manufactured structural shapes utilizing welded plates as a
substitute for rolled wide flange sections), channels, hollow structural section (HSS) shapes, base plates,
and plate‐work components. Fabrication includes, but is not limited to cutting, drilling, welding, joining,
bolting, bending, punching, pressure fitting, molding, grooving, adhesion, beveling, and riveting and may
include items such as fasteners, nuts, bolts, rivets, screws, hinges, or joints.
The inclusion, attachment, joining, or assembly of non‐steel components with fabricated structural steel
does not remove the fabricated structural steel from the scope.
Fabricated structural steel is covered by the scope of the investigation regardless of whether it is
painted, varnished, or coated with plastics or other metallic or non‐metallic substances and regardless
of whether it is assembled or partially assembled, such as into modules, modularized construction units,
or sub‐assemblies of fabricated structural steel.
Subject merchandise includes fabricated structural steel that has been assembled or further processed
in the subject country or a third country, including but not limited to painting, varnishing, trimming,
cutting, drilling, welding, joining, bolting, punching, bending, beveling, riveting, galvanizing, coating,
and/or slitting or any other processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the
scope of the investigation if performed in the country of manufacture of the fabricated structural steel.
All products that meet the written physical description of the merchandise covered by the investigation
are within the scope of the investigation unless specifically excluded or covered by the scope of an
existing countervailing duty order.
Specifically excluded from the scope of the investigation are:
1. Fabricated steel concrete reinforcing bar (rebar) if: (i) it is a unitary piece of fabricated rebar, not
joined, welded, or otherwise connected with any other steel product or part; or (ii) it is joined, welded,
or otherwise connected only to other rebar.
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
Page 3
2. Fabricated structural steel for bridges and bridge sections that meets American Association of State
and Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) bridge construction requirements or any state or
local derivatives of the AASHTO bridge construction requirements.
3. Pre‐engineered metal building systems, which are defined as complete metal buildings that integrate
steel framing, roofing and walls to form one, pre‐engineered building system, that meet Metal Building
Manufacturers Association guide specifications. Pre‐engineered metal building systems are typically
limited in height to no more than 60 feet or two stories.
4. Steel roof and floor decking systems that meet Steel Deck Institute standards.
5. Open web steel bar joists and joist girders that meet Steel Joist Institute specifications.
6. Also excluded from the scope of the investigation is scaffolding, and parts and accessories thereof,
that comply with ANSI/ASSE A10.8—2011—Scaffolding Safety Requirements, and/or Occupational
Safety and Health Administration regulations at 29 CFR part 1926 subpart L—Scaffolds. The outside
diameter of the scaffold tubing covered by this exclusion ranges from 25mm to 150mm.
7. Excluded from the scope of the investigation are access flooring systems panels and accessories,
where such panels have a total thickness ranging from 0.75 inches to 1.75 inches and consist of
concrete, wood, other non‐steel materials, or hollow space permanently attached to a top and bottom
layer of galvanized or painted steel sheet or formed coil steel, the whole of which has been formed into
a square or rectangle having a measurement of 24 inches on each side +/‐ 0.1 inch; 24 inches by 30
inches +/‐ 0.1 inch; or 24 by 36 inches +/‐ 0.1 inch.
8. Excluded from the investigation are the following types of steel poles, segments of steel poles, and
steel components of those poles:
• Steel Electric Transmission Poles, or segments of such poles, that meet (1) the American Society of
Civil Engineers (ASCE) – Design of Steel Transmission Pole Structures, ASCE/SEI 48 or (2) the USDA RUS
bulletin 1724E‐214 Guide specification for standard class Steel Transmission Poles. The exclusion for
steel electric transmission poles also encompasses the following components thereof: transmission
arms which attach to poles; pole bases; angles that do not exceed 8” x 8” x 0.75”; steel vangs, steel
brackets, steel flanges, and steel caps; safety climbing cables; ladders; and steel templates.
• Steel Electric Substation Poles, or segments of such poles, that meet the American Society of Civil
Engineers (ASCE) ‐ Manuals and Reports on Engineering Practice No. 113. The exclusion for steel electric
substation poles also encompasses the following components thereof: substation dead end poles;
substation bus stands; substation mast poles, arms, and cross‐arms; steel brackets, steel flanges, and
steel caps; pole bases; safety climbing cables; ladders; and steel templates.
• Steel Electric Distribution Poles, or segments of such poles, that meet (1) American Society of Civil
Engineers (ASCE) – Design of Steel Transmission Pole Structures, ASCE/SEI 48, (2) USDA RUS bulletin
1724E‐204 Guide specification for steel single pole and H‐frame structures, or (3) ANSI 05.1 height and
class requirements for steel poles. The exclusion for steel electric distribution poles also encompasses
the following components thereof: distribution arms and cross‐arms; pole bases; angles that do not
exceed 8” x 8” x 0.75”; steel vangs, steel brackets, steel flanges, and steel caps; safety climbing cables;
ladders; and steel templates.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
Page 4
• Steel Traffic Signal Poles, Steel Roadway Lighting Poles, Steel Parking Lot Lighting Poles, and Steel
Sports Lighting Poles, or segments of such poles, that meet (1) the American Association of State
Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) – Specifications for Structural Supports for Highway
Signs, Luminaires, and Traffic Signals, (2) any state or local derivatives of the AASHTO highway sign,
luminaries, and traffic signals requirements, or (3) American National Standard Institute (ANSI) C136 ‐
American National Standard for Roadway and Area Lighting Equipment standards. The exclusion for
steel traffic signal poles, steel roadway lighting poles, steel parking lot lighting poles, and steel sports
lighting poles also encompasses the following components thereof: luminaire arms; hand hole rims;
hand hole covers; base plates that connect to either the shaft or the arms; mast arm clamps ; mast arm
tie rods; transformer base boxes; formed full base covers that hide anchor bolts; step lugs; internal cable
guides; lighting cross arms; lighting service platforms; angles that do not exceed 8” x 8” x 0.75”; stainless
steel hand hole door hinges and wind restraints; steel brackets, steel flanges, and steel caps; safety
climbing cables; ladders; and steel templates.
• Communication Poles, or segments of such poles, that meet (1) Telecommunications Industry
Association (TIA) ANSI/TIA‐222 Structural Standards for Steel Antenna Towers and Antenna Supporting
Structures, or (2) American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) –
Specifications for Structural Supports for Highway Signs, Luminaires, and Traffic Signals. The exclusion
for communication poles also encompasses the following components thereof: luminaire arms; hand
hole rims; hand hole covers; base plate that connects the pole to the foundation or arm to the pole;
safety climbing cables; ladders; service ground platforms; step lugs; pole steps; steel brackets, steel
flanges, and steel caps; angles that do not exceed 8” x 8” x 0.75”, coax, and safety brackets;
subcomponent kits for antenna mounts weighing 80 lbs. or less; service platforms; ice bridges; stainless
steel hand hole door hinges and wind restraints; and steel templates.
• OEM Round or Polygonal Tapered Steel Poles, segments or shaft components of such poles, that meet
the (1) ASCE 48 or AASHTO, (2) ANSI/TIA 222, (3) ANSI 05.1, (4) RUS bulletin 1724E‐204, or (5) RUS
bulletin 1724E‐214. The exclusion for OEM round or polygonal tapered steel poles also encompasses
the following components thereof: subcomponent kits for antenna mounts weighing 80 lbs. or less;
mounts and platforms; steel brackets, steel flanges, and steel caps; angles that do not exceed 8” x 8” x
0.75”; bridge kits; safety climbing cables; ladders; and steel templates.
The inclusion or attachment of one or more of the above‐referenced steel poles in a structure
containing fabricated structural steel (FSS) does not remove the FSS from the scope of the investigation.
No language included in this exclusion should be read or understood to have applicability to any other
aspect of this scope or to have applicability to or to exclude any product, part, or component other than
those specifically identified in the exclusion.
9. Also excluded from the scope of the investigation are Shuttering, Formworks, Propping and Shoring
and parts and accessories thereof that comply with ANSI/ASSE A10.9—Safety Requirements for
Concrete and Masonry Work and ACI‐347—Recommended Practice for Concrete Formwork. For Shoring
and propping made from tube, the outside diameter of the tubing covered by this exclusion ranges from
48mm to 250mm. For Shuttering and Formworks, the panel sizes covered by this exclusion range from
25mm x 600mm to 3000mm x 3000mm.
The products subject to the investigation are currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of
the United States (HTSUS) under subheadings: 7308.90.3000, 7308.90.6000, and 7308.90.9590.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
Page 5
The products subject to the investigation may also enter under the following HTSUS subheadings:
7216.91.0010, 7216.91.0090, 7216.99.0010, 7216.99.0090, 7222.40.6000, 7228.70.6000, 7301.10.0000,
7301.20.1000, 7301.20.5000, 7308.40.0000, 7308.90.9530, and 9406.90.0030.
The HTSUS subheadings above are provided for convenience and customs purposes only. The written
description of the scope of the investigation is dispositive.
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.
Purchaser.‐‐Any firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or subsidiary, in purchasing
fabricated structural steel from another firm that produces, imports, or otherwise distributes fabricated
structural steel.
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.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
I‐1.
Page 6
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 fabricated structural steel,
including auxiliary facilities operated in conjunction with (whether or not physically separate
from) such facilities.
I‐2.
I‐3.
I‐4.
Ownership.‐‐Is your firm owned, in whole or in part, by any other firm?
No
Yes‐‐List the following information.
Address
Extent of ownership
(percent)
Related importers/exporters.‐‐Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or
foreign, which import fabricated structural steel into the United States or which export
fabricated structural steel to the United States?
No
Yes‐‐List the following information.
Firm name
Country
Affiliation
Related producers.‐‐Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, which
produce fabricated structural steel?
No
Yes‐‐List the following information.
Firm name
Firm name
Country
Affiliation
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
Page 7
PART II.‐‐PURCHASES
Contact information.‐‐ Please identify the responsible individual and the manner by which Commission
staff may contact that individual regarding the confidential information submitted in this questionnaire.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
II‐1. Purchases and imports.— Report separately your firm’s domestic purchases and imports of
fabricated structural steel.
“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.
2016
2017
2018
Jan‐Sept 2019
Item
Purchases of fabricated structural
steel produced in—
United States
Quantity (in short tons)
Canada
China
Mexico
All other countries1
Sources unknown
0
0
0
0
China
Mexico
0
0
0
0
Total purchases
Imports of fabricated structural
steel from—
Canada
All other countries1
2
Total imports
1
Please identify these countries:
If your firm imported fabricated structural steel at any time since January 1, 2016, please also
complete and return a U.S. importers' questionnaire in this proceeding.
2
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
II‐2.
Changes in purchasing patterns.‐‐Please indicate how the shares of your firm’s purchases of
fabricated structural steel from different sources have changed since January 1, 2016.
Source of
purchases
II‐3.
Page 8
Did not
purchase Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated
Explanation for trend
United States
Canada
China
Mexico
All other countries
Sources unknown
Country knowledge.‐‐ Please indicate the countries of origin with which your firm has
experience or information in the fabricated structural steel market.
United
States
II‐4.
Canada
China
Mexico
Other
countries
Other countries (specify)
Supplier identification.‐‐Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers for fabricated structural
steel since January 1, 2016. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s total purchases
of fabricated structural steel that each of these suppliers accounted for in 2018.
No.
Supplier’s name
City and state
Share of quantity of
2018 purchases
1
%
2
%
3
%
4
%
5
%
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
Page 9
PART III.‐‐MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES
III‐1. Firm type.—Which of the following describes your firm as a purchaser of fabricated structural
steel (check all that apply)?
Other
(please describe
General
Construction
Developer/
below)
contractor
manager
Subcontractor
Distributor
Owner
Other (please describe):
III‐2. Applications.—Does your firm purchase the following forms of fabricated structural steel?
Have changes in the price of this substitute affected the price for
fabricated structural steel?
No
Yes
If yes, please provide the quantity purchased in
2018
(short tons)
Parts for pre‐engineered
buildings1
Process plant modules2
Solar steel beams3
Application
1
This category includes in‐scope FSS parts which are used in pre‐engineered metal building systems.
Process plant modules includes: (1) process plant modules containing pipes, cable trays and/or equipment for
the transmission and/or processing of gas, liquids or chemicals and/or petrochemicals; and (2) carbon or alloy steel
pipes which are cut, welded, punched or drilled for the purpose of transmitting or processing gas, liquids or
chemicals and/or petrochemicals.
3
Solar steel beams includes fabricated steel beams designed for the exclusive use of supporting solar panels
and related components.
2
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
Page 10
If your firm is an end user of fabricated structural steel, please answer questions III‐3 and III‐4.
III‐3. End uses.—
(a) Please indicate the end uses for which your firm purchased fabricated structural steel (select all
that apply).
High‐rise construction (commercial or residential, >20 stories)
Residential (<20 stories)
Commercial and office (<20 stories)
Industrial
Sports/Entertainment
All other uses (please describe: )
(b) What percentage of the total cost of building construction is accounted for by fabricated
structural steel versus other inputs (such as labor, energy, and other raw materials)?
Share of total cost of end‐use product accounted for by
Types of building
construction
III‐4.
Fabricated
structural steel
Erection and
installation
services
Other inputs
Total
(should sum
to 100.0%
across)
%
%
%
0.0 %
%
%
%
0.0 %
%
%
%
0.0 %
Demand for end‐use products.‐‐
(a)
Has the demand for your firm’s final products incorporating fabricated structural steel
changed since January 1, 2016?
Increased
No change
Decreased
Fluctuated
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
III‐4.
III‐5.
Page 11
Demand for end‐use products.—(continued)
(b)
Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for fabricated structural steel?
No
Yes
Explain
Substitutes.‐‐Can other products be substituted for fabricated structural steel?
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 fabricated structural steel?
No Yes
Explanation
1.
2.
3.
III‐6. Demand trends.—
(a) Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United States (if known) for
fabricated structural steel has changed since January 1, 2016. Explain any trends and describe
the principal factors that have affected these changes in demand.
Overall
increase
Market
No
change
Overall
decrease
Fluctuate with
no clear trend
Explanation and factors
Within the
United States
Outside the
United States
(b) Have demand trends varied by application (e.g., solar steel beams, pre‐engineered buildings,
process plant modules, high‐rise construction, residential construction, commercial and office
construction, industrial construction, sports/entertainment construction, etc.) of fabricated
structural steel since January 1, 2016?
No
Yes
If yes, please describe.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
III‐7.
III‐8.
Page 12
Country preferences.‐‐Do you or your customers ever specifically order fabricated structural
steel from one country in particular over other possible sources of supply?
No
Yes
If yes, identify the countries and explain.
Importance of purchasing domestic product.‐‐Please fill out the table below, estimating the
percentage of your firm’s total 2018 purchases of fabricated structural steel that required
fabricated structural steel 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%)
III‐9.
Estimated percentage of
your firm’s total 2018
purchases of fabricated
structural steel
%
%
%
%
0.0 %
Conditions of competition.‐‐
(a)
Is the fabricated structural steel market subject to business cycles (other than general
economy‐wide conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to
fabricated structural steel?
Check all that apply.
Please describe.
No
Skip to question III‐10.
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
fabricated structural steel since January 1, 2016?
No
Yes
If yes, describe.
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
Page 13
III‐10. Decisions based on producer and country‐of‐origin.‐‐How often does your firm, and if known,
do your customers, make purchasing decisions involving fabricated structural steel 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‐11. Availability of supply.‐‐Has the availability of fabricated structural steel in the U.S. market
changed since January 1, 2016?
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‐12. Supply constraints.‐‐Has any firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply your firm with
fabricated structural steel since January 1, 2016 (examples include placing customers on
allocation or “controlled order entry,” declining to accept new customers or renew existing
customers, refusing/declining to accept business under a tolling or subcontracting arrangement,
delivering less than the quantity promised, being unable to meet timely shipment commitments,
etc.)?
No
Yes
If yes, please describe.
III‐13. Availability of specific product types.‐‐Are certain grades/types/sizes of fabricated structural
steel only available from certain country sources?
No
Yes
If yes, please identify the countries and the grade/type/size.
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
Page 14
III‐14. Purchasing frequency.‐‐
(a)
How frequently does your firm make purchases of fabricated structural steel (check
one)?
Daily Weekly
Monthly
Quarterly Annually
Other If other, specify
(b)
Has this purchasing frequency changed since January 1, 2016?
No
Yes If yes, please describe.
III‐15. Raw material prices.—
(a)
Is your firm familiar with the prices for raw materials used in the production of fabricated
structural steel?
No
Yes – please answer (b)
(b)
Do changes in raw material prices affect your firm’s negotiations or contracts to purchase
fabricated structural steel since 2016?
No
Yes Explain
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
Page 15
III‐15. Raw material prices.—(continued)
(c)
Effect of 232 duties on raw material prices.‐‐Did the announcement of the 232
investigation in April 2017 or the subsequent imposition of tariffs on imported steel
products beginning in March 2018 have an impact on the raw material prices for
fabricated structural steel?
Yes—Please indicate the impact in
the table below.
No
Don’t know
Fluctuate
with no
clear
No
trend
Increase change Decrease
Item
Explanation and factors
Raw material costs for
fabricated structural
steel in the U.S.
market
Prices for fabricated
structural steel in the
U.S. market
III‐16. Change in suppliers.‐‐Has your firm changed suppliers since January 1, 2016?
No
Yes
If yes, please list the supplier(s), whether the firm was added or dropped,
and the reasons for the change.
III‐17. New suppliers.‐‐Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have
entered the market since January 1, 2016?
No
Yes
If yes, please identify the firms.
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
Page 16
III‐18. Supplier qualification.—
(a) Do you require your suppliers to be AISC certified or to become certified to sell fabricated
structural steel to your firm?
No
If yes, report the number of days to become
Yes ASIC certified.
(b) Do you require your suppliers to be certified or to become certified other than AISC
certification or qualified to sell fabricated structural steel to your firm? If yes, report the
number of days to qualify a new supplier and a general description of the certification or
qualification process.
Provide a brief description of the factors that you consider when qualifying a new supplier
(e.g., quality of product, reliability of supplier, in‐house engineering capabilities, experience
with relevant projects, erection safety record, financial stability/ability to offer performance
bonds, supply chain efficiency, etc.).
Certification
type
Number Please describe when this certification is required,
of days and describe the process and factors
No
Yes
IAS AC472
Other:
Other:
(c) Please identify any factors that would disqualify a potential supplier to your firm.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
Page 17
III‐19. Failure to certify.‐‐Since January 1, 2016, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their
attempts to certify or qualify their fabricated structural steel 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.
III‐20. Major purchasing factors.‐‐Please list, in order of their importance, the main factors your firm
considers in deciding from whom to purchase fabricated structural steel (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:
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
Page 18
III‐21. Purchasing factors.‐‐Please rate the importance of the following factors in your firm’s
purchasing decisions for fabricated structural steel.
Factor
Very
important
Somewhat
important
Not
important
Availability
Delivery terms
Certainty of delivery time
Erection safety record
Experience with supplier
Financial stability/ offer performance bonds
Logistics/supply chain efficiency
Minimize installation time
Payment terms
Price of installation
Price of fabricated structural steel
Price of contract overall
Product consistency
Product range
Quality of FSS meets industry standards
Quality of FSS exceeds industry standards
Quality of installation meets industry standards
Quality of installation exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Supplier’s engineering skills
Supplier experience in a similar projects
Supplier’s local experience
Supplier’s available production capacity
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
Page 19
III‐22. Quality characteristics.—
(a) What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the quality of fabricated
structural steel?
(b) What characteristics does your firm consider when evaluating multiple contract offers for
fabricated structural steel (e.g., quality/nature of financing, engineering, additional services,
etc.)?
III‐23. Minimum quality.‐‐How often does fabricated structural steel from the following countries
meet minimum quality specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?
Rarely or
Don’t
Source
Always
Usually
Sometimes
never
know
United States
Canada
China
Mexico
Other:
III‐24. Frequency of decisions based on price.‐‐How often does your firm purchase the fabricated
structural steel that is offered at the lowest price?
Always
Usually
Sometimes
Never
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
Page 20
III‐25. 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 fabricated structural steel
market since January 1, 2016.
Firm(s)
Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership
III‐26. Impact of section 301 duties.‐‐This question concerns the section 301 investigation and
subsequent announcement of additional tariffs that include fabricated structural steel proposed
and implemented by the United States in response to Chinese trade practices.
(a) Did the announcement of the 301 investigation in June 2018 or the subsequent imposition
of tariffs on Chinese‐origin products have an impact on the fabricated structural steel
market?
Yes— Please indicate the impact in
the table below.
No
Don’t know
(b) Please indicate the impact of the announcements and subsequent imposition of duties
under the section 301 investigation.
Item
Explanation
Fluctuate
Overall
No
Overall with no clear and factors
trend
increase change decrease
Overall demand/anticipated demand
for fabricated structural steel in the
U.S. market
Supply/anticipated supply of fabricated
structural steel in the U.S. market
Prices/anticipated prices for fabricated
structural steel in the U.S. market
Raw material costs/anticipated raw
material costs for fabricated structural
steel in the U.S. market
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
Page 21
III‐27. Purchasing subject imports rather than domestic products.—
(a)
Since January 2016, did your firm import and/or purchase imports of fabricated
structural steel from Canada, China, and Mexico instead of purchasing U.S.‐produced
fabricated structural steel? Respond for each subject country.
No
Yes
(If “No” for all countries, skip to next
Source
(also respond to parts (b) and (c))
question)
Canada
China
Mexico
(b)
If you responded “Yes” to part (a), was the imported product priced lower than the
domestic product?
Source
Yes
No
Canada
China
Mexico
(c)
If you responded “Yes” to part (a), was price a primary reason for importing and/or
purchasing subject imports rather than domestic product?
Source
Yes
If Yes, estimate the quantity
of imports purchased and/or
imported instead of domestic
product since January 2016
(in short tons)
Canada
China
Mexico
No
If No, please indicate the
reason your firm imported
and/or purchased imports
instead of domestic product
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
Page 22
III‐28. U.S. producers and import competition.—
(a)
Since January 1, 2016, in connection with a sale or offer to sell fabricated structural steel
to your firm, did U.S. producers reduce their prices of domestically produced fabricated
structural steel in order to compete with lower‐priced imports of fabricated structural
steel from the subject countries? Respond for each subject country.
Yes (also respond to
No (If “No” for all countries,
Source
question part (b))
skip to next question)
Don’t know
(b)
Canada
China
Mexico
If your firm responded “yes” to any of the above countries, 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
Estimated
reduction in U.S.
prices
(percent)
Canada
%
China
%
Mexico
%
Additional explanation, including such information as
timing (e.g., months/years), frequency of price
reductions, or other market/competitive factors
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
Page 23
PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS
IV‐1. Interchangeability.‐‐Is fabricated structural steel 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
Canada
China
Mexico
Other countries
United States
Canada
China
Mexico
For any country‐pair producing fabricated structural steel which is sometimes or never
interchangeable, please identify the country‐pair and explain the factors that limit or preclude
interchangeable use:
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
IV‐2.
Page 24
Factors other than price.‐‐Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between fabricated structural
steel 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
Canada
China
Mexico
Other countries
United States
Canada
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 fabricated structural steel, identify the country‐pair and
report the advantages or disadvantages imparted by such factors:
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
IV‐3.
Page 25
Factor country comparisons.‐‐For the factors listed below, please rate how fabricated structural
steel produced in each country you identified in your response to the first question in Part IV
compares with fabricated structural steel 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.
Comparable
Inferior
Superior
Comparable
Inferior
Product from
United States
compared to product from
China
Superior
Product from
United States
compared to product from
Canada
Availability
Delivery terms
Certainty of delivery time
Erection safety record
Experience with supplier
Financial stability/ offer performance bonds
Logistics/supply chain efficiency
Minimize installation time
Payment terms
Price of installation
Price of fabricated structural steel
Price of contract overall
Product consistency
Product range
Quality of FSS meets industry standards
Quality of FSS exceeds industry standards
Quality of installation meets industry standards
Quality of installation exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Supplier’s engineering skills
Supplier experience in a similar projects
Supplier’s local experience
Supplier’s available production capacity
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs
Factor
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
Page 26
IV‐3. Factor country comparisons.‐‐Continued.
If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.
Comparable
Inferior
Superior
Comparable
Inferior
Availability
Delivery terms
Certainty of delivery time
Erection safety record
Experience with supplier
Financial stability/ offer performance bonds
Logistics/supply chain efficiency
Minimize installation time
Payment terms
Price of installation
Price of fabricated structural steel
Price of contract overall
Product consistency
Product range
Quality of FSS meets industry standards
Quality of FSS exceeds industry standards
Quality of installation meets industry standards
Quality of installation exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Supplier’s engineering skills
Supplier experience in a similar projects
Supplier’s local experience
Supplier’s available production capacity
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs
Factor
Product from
United States
compared to product from
All other countries
Superior
Product from
United States
compared to product from
Mexico
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
Page 27
PART V.—BIDS‐‐
V‐1. Bidding process.‐‐Does your firm purchase fabricated structural steel using a bidding process?
V‐2.
No
Yes
If yes, please explain the factors your firm generally uses to evaluate
potential bidding firms. If no, skip to question VI‐1.
Bidder selection.‐‐How does your firm determine the list of suppliers from whom you solicit bids
for a particular project?
V‐3.
Bid Opportunities.‐‐How often do you allow/request sellers more than one chance to revise
their bid on a particular sales agreement?
Always
Frequently
V‐4.
Sometimes
Rarely/Never
Bid Competition.‐‐How often do you discuss with your suppliers the bids of competing firms
(whether or not you disclose who the competition is) in order to get a lower bid price?
Always
Frequently
V‐5.
Rarely/Never
Bid negotiations.‐‐
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
Sometimes
Once your firm sends out a request for proposal, how long do suppliers have to submit
their initial bid? days
Once your firm sends out a request for proposal, how long do suppliers have to submit
their final bid? days
Generally how many rounds of bids occur on a project? rounds
How many fabricated structural steel suppliers does your firm typically contact for bids?
suppliers
Did all firms that provided initial bids provide bids in the final round?
No
Yes
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
V‐6.
Page 28
Bid Requirements.—
(a)
Do suppliers itemize the cost of the fabricated structural steel in their bid proposal?
No
Yes
Explain
(b)
Does your firm always provide completed specifications when you start a request for
bids?
No
Yes
If no, please report what factors are incomplete and explain why these
specifications are incomplete.
(c) What factors do you consider when evaluating bids that offer to supply a different
combination of fabricated structural steel specifications for the same project?
(d)
How often do you change the size, quantity, and/or grade requested for a project after
the project has been awarded?
Always
Frequently
Sometimes
Rarely/Never
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
V‐7.
Page 29
Bid information—Please fill out the following table with respect to projects that you put up for
bid involving fabricated structural steel since January 1, 2016.
Total number of projects for bid
Number of projects involving bids by domestic fabricated structural steel
producers only
Number of projects involving bids by suppliers of fabricated structural steel
from both the United States and Canada only
Number of projects involving bids by suppliers of fabricated structural steel
from both the United States and China only
Number of projects involving bids by suppliers of fabricated structural steel
from both the United States and Mexico only
Number of projects involving bids by suppliers of fabricated structural steel
from all three the United States, Canada, and Mexico only
Number of projects involving bids by suppliers of fabricated structural steel
from the United States, China, and either Canada, and/or Mexico
Number of projects involving bids by suppliers of fabricated structural steel
from the subject countries China, Canada, and/or Mexico only
V‐8.
Number
Bid data.—Please fill out the table below for each of your firm’s five largest purchases of
fabricated structural steel since January 1, 2016 for which your firm received at least one bid
from a supplier of domestic fabricated structural steel and at least one bid from a supplier of
fabricated structural steel produced in Canada, China, or Mexico.
Please list all bids for each purchase. The total delivered cost quotes (“bid”) reported below
should include amounts for any services proposed, such as installation or engineering, that were
included in the requests for quotation (RFQs), and should not account for any changes or
revisions after the bid was won.
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
V‐8.
Page 30
Bid data.—Continued.
1st largest purchase
Basic description
of bid requirements
Details
Bid end year
Total short tons of fabricated
structural steel
short tons
Additional services provided
Type of project/sector
Name of project (if applicable)
Delivery location(s)
Other
Price of the
Country of
Final total
fabricated
fabricated
delivered structural steel Winning bid
cost
(Check if yes,
structural Final total quantity
steel
of FSS
quote
Don’t including Reason bid accepted
Bidding firm name produced
(short tons)
($1,000s) ($1,000s) Know split/partial
or rejected
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
V‐8.
Page 31
Bid data.—Continued.
2nd largest purchase
Basic description
of bid requirements
Details
Bid end year
Total short tons of fabricated
structural steel
short tons
Additional services provided
Type of project/sector
Name of project (if applicable)
Delivery location(s)
Other
Price of the
Country of
fabricated
fabricated
Final total structural steel Winning bid
structural Final total quantity
cost
(Check if yes,
steel
of FSS
quote
Don’t including Reason bid accepted
Bidding firm name produced
(short tons)
($1,000s) ($1,000s) Know split/partial
or rejected
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
V‐8.
Page 32
Bid data.—Continued.
3rd largest purchase
Basic description
of bid requirements
Details
Bid end year
Total short tons of fabricated
structural steel
short tons
Additional services provided
Type of project/sector
Name of project (if applicable)
Delivery location(s)
Other
Price of the
Country of
fabricated
fabricated
Final total structural steel Winning bid
structural Final total quantity
cost
(Check if yes,
steel
of FSS
quote
Don’t including Reason bid accepted
Bidding firm name produced
(short tons)
($1,000s) ($1,000s) Know split/partial
or rejected
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
V‐8.
Page 33
Bid data.—Continued.
4th largest purchase
Basic description
of bid requirements
Details
Bid end year
Total short tons of fabricated
structural steel
short tons
Additional services provided
Type of project/sector
Name of project (if applicable)
Delivery location(s)
Other
Price of the
Country of
fabricated
fabricated
Final total structural steel Winning bid
structural Final total quantity
cost
(Check if yes,
steel
of FSS
quote
Don’t including Reason bid accepted
Bidding firm name produced
(short tons)
($1,000s) ($1,000s) Know split/partial
or rejected
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
V‐8.
Page 34
Bid data.—Continued.
5th largest purchase
Basic description
of bid requirements
Details
Bid end year
Total short tons of fabricated
structural steel
short tons
Additional services provided
Type of project/sector
Name of project (if applicable)
Delivery location(s)
Other
Price of the
Country of
fabricated
fabricated
Final total structural steel Winning bid
structural Final total quantity
cost
(Check if yes,
steel
of FSS
quote
Don’t including Reason bid accepted
Bidding firm name produced
(short tons)
($1,000s) ($1,000s) Know split/partial
or rejected
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire ‐ Fabricated structural steel
Page 35
PART VI.—ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
VI‐1. Other explanations.‐‐If your firm would like to further explain a response to any question that
for which a narrative response box was not provided, please note the question number and the
explanation in the space provided below.
VI‐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 ‐ Fabricated structural steel
Page 36
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/fabricated_structural_steel_canada
_china_and/final.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: FABS
• E‐mail.—E‐mail the MS Word questionnaire to Lauren Gamache ([email protected], 202‐205‐
3489); 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 (202‐
205‐1803). 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.
| File Type | application/pdf |
| File Title | Microsoft Word - US purchaser questionnaire |
| Author | jordan.harriman |
| File Modified | 2019-09-19 |
| File Created | 2019-09-19 |