19-4-4128 Foreign producers' / exporters' questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 19-4-4128; Expiration Date : 6/30/2020
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

FOREIGN PRODUCERS’/EXPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
Small Diameter Graphite Electrodes from China
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 review of the antidumping duty order concerning small diameter graphite electrodes from China
(Inv. No. 731-TA-1143 (Second Review)). The information requested in the questionnaire is requested under the
authority of the Tariff Act of 1930, title VII.

Name of firm
Address
Website
Has your firm produced or exported small diameter graphite electrodes (as defined on next page) at any time
since January 1, 2014?

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 Commission Drop Box by clicking on the following link:
https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/. (PIN: ELECT)
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 or reviews
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 proceeding may be disclosed to and used: (i) by the Commission, its employees and Offices, and contract
personnel (a) for developing or maintaining the records of this or a related proceeding, or (b) in internal investigations, audits,
reviews, and evaluations relating to the programs, personnel, and operations of the Commission including under 5 U.S.C.
Appendix 3; or (ii) by U.S. government employees and contract personnel, solely for cybersecurity purposes. I understand that all
contract personnel will sign appropriate nondisclosure agreements.
Name of Authorized Official

Title of Authorized Official

Date

Phone:
Signature

Email address

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Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire – Small Diameter Graphite Electrodes (Review 2)

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PART I.--GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.--On February 26, 2009, the Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) issued an
antidumping duty order on imports of small Diameter Graphite Electrodes from China. On May 1, 2019,
the Commission instituted a review pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. §
1675(c)) (the Act) to determine whether revocation of the order would be likely to lead to continuation
or recurrence of material injury to the domestic industry within a reasonably foreseeable time. If both
the Commission and Commerce make an affirmative determination, the order will remain in place. If
either the Commission or Commerce makes a negative determination, Commerce will revoke the order.
Questionnaires and other information pertinent to this proceeding are available at
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2019/small_diameter_graphite_electrodes_china/second
_review_full.htm.
Small diameter graphite electrodes covered by this review are: (A)II small diameter graphite electrodes
of any length, whether or not finished, of a kind used in furnaces, with a nominal or actual diameter of
400 millimeters (16 inches) or less, and whether or not attached to a graphite pin joining system or any
other type of joining system or hardware. The merchandise covered by the order also includes graphite
pin joining systems for small diameter graphite electrodes, of any length, whether or not finished, of a
kind used in furnaces, and whether or not the graphite pin joining system is attached to, sold with, or
sold separately from, the small diameter graphite electrodes. Small diameter graphite electrodes and
graphite pin joining systems for small diameter graphite electrodes are most commonly used in primary
melting, ladle metallurgy, and specialty furnace applications in industries including foundries, smelters,
and steel refining operations. Small diameter graphite electrodes and graphite pin joining systems for
small diameter graphite electrodes that are subject to the order are currently classified under the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) 8545.11.0010, 3801.10, and 8545.11.0020. The
HTS statistical reporting numbers are provided for convenience and customs purposes, but written
description of the scope is dispositive.
Reporting of information.--If information is not readily available from your records in exactly the form
requested, furnish carefully prepared estimates. If your firm is completing more than one questionnaire
in connection with this proceeding (i.e., a producer, importer, and/or purchaser questionnaire), you
need not respond to duplicated questions in the questionnaires.
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

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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 Nitin
Joshi (202-708-1669, [email protected]).
I-1.

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

Dollars

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

Establishments covered.--Provide the name and address of establishment(s) covered by this
questionnaire.
“Establishment”-- Each facility of a firm in China involved in the production or export of small
diameter graphite electrodes , including auxiliary facilities operated in conjunction with
(whether or not physically separate from) such facilities. Firms operating more than one
establishment in China should combine the data for all establishments into a single report.

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I-3.

Stock symbol information.-- If your firm or any of the entities reported in question I-2 are
publicly traded in the United States, please specify the stock exchange and trading symbol
(including American Depository Receipts, if applicable):
.

I-4.

External counsel.-- If your firm or parent firm is represented by external counsel in relation to
this proceeding, please specify the name of the law firm and the lead attorney(s).
Law firm:
.
Lead attorney(s):

I-5.

.

U.S. importers.--Please provide the names, contacts, email addresses, and telephone numbers
of the FIVE largest U.S. importers of your firm’s small diameter graphite electrodes in 2018.

No.

1
2
3
4
5

Importer’s name

Contact person

Email address

Share of
Area code
your firm’s
and
2018 U.S.
telephone
exports
number
(%)

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Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire – Small Diameter Graphite Electrodes (Review 2)
I-6.

U.S. or other country production.--Does your firm or any related firm produce, have the
capability to produce, or have any plans to produce small diameter graphite electrodes in the
United States or other countries?

No

I-7.

Yes

If yes--Please name the firm(s) and country(ies) below and, if U.S.
producer(s), ensure that they complete the Commission’s producer
questionnaire.

U.S. importation.--Does your firm or any related firm import or have any plans to import small
diameter graphite electrodes into the United States?

No

I-8.

Page 5

Yes

If yes--Please name the firm(s) below and ensure that they complete the
Commission’s importer questionnaire.

Business plan.--In Parts II and III of this questionnaire we request a copy of your company’s
business plan. Does your company or any related firm have a business plan or any internal
documents that describe, discuss, or analyze expected future market conditions for small
diameter graphite electrodes?

No

Yes

If yes--Please provide the requested documents. If you are not providing
the requested documents, please explain why not.

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PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Nitin Joshi (202-708-1669,
[email protected]). Supply all data requested on a calendar-year basis.
II-1.

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

II-2.

Changes in operations.--Please indicate whether your firm has experienced any of the following
changes in relation to the production of small diameter graphite electrodes since January 1,
2014.

Check as many as appropriate.
Plant openings
Plant closings
Relocations
Expansions
Acquisitions
Consolidations
Prolonged shutdowns or
production curtailments
Revised labor agreements
Other (e.g., technology)

If checked, please describe; leave blank if not
applicable.

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Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire – Small Diameter Graphite Electrodes (Review 2)
II -2b

Anticipated changes in operations.--Does your firm anticipate any changes in in the character of
its operations or organization relating to the production of small diameter graphite electrodes in
the future?

No

II-3a.

Page 7

Yes

If yes, supply details as to the time, nature, and significance of
such changes and provide underlying assumptions, along with
relevant portions of business plans or other supporting
documentations that address this issue.

Production using same machinery.--Please report your firm’s production of products made on
the same equipment, machinery, or employees as used to produce small diameter graphite
electrodes , and the combined production capacity on this shared equipment, machinery, or
employees in the periods indicated.
“Overall production capacity” or “capacity” –The level of production that your
establishment(s) could reasonably have expected to attain during the specified periods for all
products manufactured in that establishment using the same manufacturing equipment.
Assume normal operating conditions (i.e., using equipment and machinery in place and ready to
operate; normal operating levels (hours per week/weeks per year) and time for downtime,
maintenance, repair, and cleanup).
Note.--If your firm does not produce any out-of-scope merchandise on the same machinery and
equipment as scope merchandise then the "overall production capacity" numbers reported in
this question should be exactly equal to the "average production capacity" numbers reported in
question II-11. If, however, your firm does produce out-of-scope merchandise using the same
machinery and equipment as scope merchandise, then the "average production capacity"
reported in question II-11 should exclude the portion of "overall production capacity" that was
used to produce this out-of-scope merchandise.
“Production” --All production in your establishment(s) in China, including production consumed
internally within your firm.

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Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire – Small Diameter Graphite Electrodes (Review 2)
II-3a.

Page 8

Production using same machinery.—Continued
Quantity (in metric tons)
Calendar years
Item

Overall production capacity

2016

2017

January-September
2018

2018

2019

1

Production of:
Small diameter graphite
electrodes.—
Less than 14 inches in diameter
14 – 16 inches in diameter
All in-scope small diameter
graphite electrodes

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Out-of-scope production.-Large diameter graphite
electrodes less than 20 inches in
diameter
Large diameter graphite
electrodes greater than or equal
to 20 inches in diameter
Other products2
Subtotal, out-of-scope
production
Total production using same
machinery or workers
1

Data reported for capacity (first line) should be greater than data reported for total production (last line).
2
Please identify these products:
.

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Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire – Small Diameter Graphite Electrodes (Review 2)
II-3b.

Page 9

Operating parameters.--The production capacity reported in II-3a is based on the following
operating paramaters:
Hours per week

Weeks per year

II-3c.

Capacity calculation.--Please describe the methodology used to calculate overall production
capacity reported in II-3a, and explain any changes in reported capacity.

II-3d.

Production constraints.--Please describe the constraint(s) that set the limit(s) on your firm’s
production capacity.

II-3e.

Product shifting.
(i).

Is your firm able to switch production (capacity) between small diameter graphite
electrodes and other products using the same equipment and/or labor?

No

(ii).

Yes

If yes—(i.e., have produced other products or are able to produce other
products) Please identify other actual or potential products:

Please describe the factors that affect your firm’s ability to shift production capacity
between products (e.g., time, cost, relative price change, etc.), and the degree to which
these factors enhance or constrain such shifts.

II-4.

Share of sales.--What percentage of your firm’s total sales in its most recent fiscal year was
represented by sales of small diameter graphite electrodes?
percent.

II-5.

Firm's estimated share of production in country.--Please estimate the percentage of total
production of small diameter graphite electrodes in the country specified on the certification page
accounted for by your firm’s production in 2018.
percent.

II-6.

Firm's estimated share of country's exports.--Please estimate the percentage of total exports to
the United States of small diameter graphite electrodes from the country specified on the
certification page accounted for by your firm’s exports in 2018.
percent.

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II-7.

Third country trade actions.--Is the small diameter graphite electrodes exported by your firm
subject to antidumping/countervailing duty/safeguard findings, remedies, or proceedings?

No

Yes

If yes— List the products(s), countries affected, and the date of such
findings/remedies/proceedings

II-8.

Other export markets.--Identify export markets (other than the United States) that your firm
has developed or where it has increased its sales of small diameter graphite electrodes since
2014. Please identify and discuss below.

II-9.

Significance of antidumping duty order.--Describe the significance of the existing antidumping
duty order covering imports of small diameter graphite electrodes from China in terms of its
effect on your firm’s production capacity, production, home market shipments, exports to the
United States and other markets, and inventories. You may wish to compare your firm’s
operations before and after the imposition of the order.

II-10.

Likely impact of revocation.--Would your firm anticipate any changes in in the character of its
operations or organization, including its production capacity, production, U.S. shipments,
inventories, purchases, employment, revenues, costs, profits, cash flow, capital expenditures,
research and development expenditures, or asset values relating to the production of small
diameter graphite electrodes in the future if the antidumping duty order on small diameter
graphite electrodes from China were to be revoked?

No

Yes

If yes, supply details as to the time, nature, and significance of
such changes and provide underlying assumptions, along with
relevant portions of business plans or other supporting
documentations that address this issue. Include in your
response a specific projection of your firm’s capacity to
produce small diameter graphite electrodes (in metric tons) for
2019 and 2020.

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II-11.

Trade data.--Report your firm’s production capacity, production, shipments, and inventories
related to the production of small diameter graphite electrodes in your establishment(s) in
China during the specified periods. Do not include resales of small diameter graphite electrodes
that your firm did not produce in this question; those data to the degree they are exported to
the United States should only be reported in question II-12.
Do not submit data by manufacturing facility if they are in the same country. If your firm has
multiple manufacturing establishments within one country, you are required to combine data
for those establishments within one foreign producer questionnaire response.
Do not submit data on multiple countries combined. The establishments reported here should
all be located in the country of the firm’s address reported on the certification page.
Multinational companies with production in multiple subject countries should submit separate
foreign producer questionnaire responses for each subject country.
“Average production capacity” or “capacity” –The level of production that your
establishment(s) could reasonably have expected to attain during the specified periods for all
products manufactured in that establishment using the same manufacturing equipment.
Assume normal operating conditions (i.e., using equipment and machinery in place and ready to
operate; normal operating levels (hours per week/weeks per year) and time for downtime,
maintenance, repair, and cleanup; and a typical or representative product mix).
“Production” --All production in your establishment(s) in China, including production consumed
internally within your firm.
“Shipments”--Shipments of products produced in your establishment(s) in China. Quantities
reported should be net of returns. 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 in China.
“Home market commercial shipments”--Shipments, other than internal consumption and
transfers to related firms, within China.
“Home market internal consumption/transfers to related firms”--Shipments made to
related firms in China, including product consumed internally by your firm.
“Export shipments”--Shipments to destinations outside China, including shipments
to related firms.
“Inventories”--Finished goods inventory, not raw materials or work-in-progress.
Note: As requested in Part I of this questionnaire, please keep all supporting documents/records
used in the preparation of the trade data, as Commission staff may contact your firm regarding
questions on the trade data. The Commission may also request that your company submit copies
of the supporting documents/records (such as production and sales schedules, inventory records,
etc.) used to compile these data.

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II-11.

Trade data.--Continued.
Quantity (in metric tons) and Value (in 1,000 dollars)
Calendar year
Item

2016

2017

January-September
2018

2018

2019

1

Average production capacity (A)
Beginning-of-period inventories (B)
Production (C)
Home market shipments:
Internal consumption/ transfers
Quantity (D)
Value (E)
Commercial shipments
Quantity (F)
Value (G)
Export shipments:
to the United States:
Quantity (H)
Value (I)
to the European Union:2
Quantity (J)
Value (K)
to Asia:3
Quantity (L)
Value (M)
to all other markets:4
Quantity (N)
Value (O)
Total exports (Quantity) (P)

0

0

0

0

0

Total shipments (Quantity) (Q)

0

0

0

0

0

End-of-period inventories (R)
1

The production capacity reported is based on operating
hours per week,
weeks per year. Please
describe the methodology used to calculate production capacity, and explain any changes in reported capacity:
.
2
Identify your firm’s principal European Union export markets:
.
3
Identify your firm’s principal Asian export markets:
.
4
Identify your firm’s principal other export markets:
.

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II-11.

Trade data.—Continued.
RECONCILIATION OF SHIPMENTS, PRODUCTION, AND INVENTORY.--Generally, the data reported
for the end-of-period inventories (i.e., line R) should be equal to the beginning-of-period
inventories (i.e., line B), plus production (i.e., line C), less total shipments (i.e., lines D, F, H, J, L,
and N). 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 year
Item

2016

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

2017

0

January-September
2018

0

2018

0

2019

0

0

1

Explanation if the calculated fields above are returning values other than zero (i.e., “0”) but are
nonetheless accurate:
.
II-12.

Exports to the United States not produced by your firm.--Report your firm’s exports to the
United States of small diameter graphite electrodes that was produced in China but not by your
firm during the specified periods. Note these data should not be included in question II-11.
Quantity (in metric tons) and Value (in 1,000 dollars)
Calendar year
Item

2016

2017

January-September
2018

2018

2019

Exports of small diameter graphite
electrodes to the United States not
produced by your firm1.—
Quantity 1
Value
1

List the producer(s).

II-13.

Other explanations.--If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question in Part II
for which a narrative 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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PART III.--MARKET FACTORS
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from John Benedetto (202-2053270, [email protected]).
III-1.

Contact information.--Please identify the responsible individual and how Commission staff may
contact the individual regarding the confidential information submitted in part III.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone

III-2.

Contract versus spot.--Approximately what share of your firm’s sales of small diameter graphite
electrodes to U.S. customers in 2018 was on a (1) short-term contract basis, (2) annual contract
basis, (3) long-term contract basis, and (4) spot sales basis?
Type of sale
Long-term
Annual
contracts
contracts
(multiple
(multiple
deliveries for
deliveries for 12
more than 12
months)
months)

Short-term
contracts
(multiple
deliveries for
less than 12
months)
Share of your
2018 sales

%

%

%

Total
(should
sum to
100.0%)

Spot sales
(for a single
delivery)
%

0.0

%

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III-3.

Contract provisions.— Please fill out the table regarding your firm’s typical sales contracts for
China-produced small diameter graphite electrodes (or check “not applicable” if your firm does
not sell on a short-term, annual and/or long-term contract basis).

Typical sales
contract provisions

Item

Average contract
duration

No. of
days

Price renegotiation
(during contract
period)

Yes

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

Annual contracts
(multiple
deliveries for 12
months)

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

365

No
Quantity

Fixed quantity
and/or price

Price
Both
Yes

Indexed to raw
material costs1

No

Not applicable
1

Please identify the indexes used:

III-4.

Lead times.--What is your firm’s share of sales from inventory and produced to order and what
is the typical lead time between a customer’s order and the date of delivery for your firm’s sales
of small diameter graphite electrodes?

Source

Share of 2018 sales

From inventory

%

Produced to order

%

Total (should sum to 100.0%)

0.0

%

Lead time (average
number of days)

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III-5.

Raw materials.--Indicate how small diameter graphite electrodes raw materials prices have
changed since January 1, 2014, and how you expect they will change in the future.

Raw
materials
prices

Fluctuate
Explain, noting how raw material
with no
price changes have affected your
Overall
No
Overall
clear
firm’s selling prices for small diameter
increase change decrease trend
graphite electrodes.

Changes since
January 1,
2014
Anticipated
changes
III-6.

Changes in factors affecting supply.--Have any changes occurred in any other factors affecting
supply (e.g., changes in availability or prices of energy or labor; transportation conditions;
production capacity and/or methods of production; technology; export markets; or alternative
production opportunities) that affected the availability of China-produced small diameter
graphite electrodes in the U.S. market since January 1, 2014?
No

III-7.

Yes

If yes, please describe.

Availability of SUBJECT import supply.--Do you anticipate any changes in terms of the
availability of China-produced small diameter graphite electrodes in the U.S. market in the
future?
If you anticipate changes in supply, please identify the changes,
No
including the time period and the impact of such changes on
Increase change Decrease shipment volumes and prices.

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III-8.

Product shifting.--Describe how easily your firm can shift its sales of small diameter graphite
electrodes between the U.S. market and alternative country markets. In your discussion, please
describe any contracts, other sales arrangements, or other constraints (including any thirdcountry trade barriers such as tariffs, quotas, or other non-tariff barriers) that would prevent or
retard your firm from shifting small diameter graphite electrodes between the U.S. and
alternative country markets within a 12-month period.

III-9.

Product range.--Is the product range, product mix, or marketing of small diameter graphite
electrodes in your firm’s home market different from that of small diameter graphite electrodes
for export to the United States or to third-country markets?
No

Yes

If yes, please explain.

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III-10. Product changes.--Have there been any significant changes in the product range, product mix,
or marketing of small diameter graphite electrodes in your firm’s home market, for export to
the United States, or for export to third-country markets since January 1, 2014? Do you
anticipate any future changes?
Changes in
product range,
product mix, or
marketing
No Yes

Explain

Changes since
January 1, 2014
Anticipated
changes
III-11. Substitutes. --Have there been any changes in the number or types of products that can be
substituted for small diameter graphite electrodes since January 1, 2014? Do you anticipate any
future changes?
Changes in
substitutes

No Yes

Explain

Changes since
January 1, 2014
Anticipated
changes
III-12. Interchangeability.--Is the small diameter graphite electrodes produced by your firm and sold in
its home market interchangeable (i.e., can be used in the same applications) with your firm’s
small diameter graphite electrodes sold to the United States and/or to third-country markets?
Yes

No

If no, identify the market(s) and any differences in the products.

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III-13. End uses.—
(a)

Describe the end uses of the small diameter graphite electrodes that your firm
manufactures and sell to your firm’s home market. If these end uses differ from those
of the small diameter graphite electrodes your firm sells to the U.S. market or to thirdcountry markets, explain.

(b)

Have there been any changes in the end uses of small diameter graphite electrodes
since January 1, 2014? Do you anticipate any future changes?

Changes in end
uses

No

Yes

Explain

Changes since
January 1, 2014
Anticipated
changes

III-14. Demand trends.--Indicate how demand in the following markets for small diameter graphite
electrodes has changed since January 1, 2014, and how you anticipate demand will change in
the future. Explain any trends and describe the principal factors that have affected, and that
you anticipate will affect, these changes in demand.

Your firm’s Overall
market
increase

Fluctuate
No
Overall
with no
change decrease clear trend
Demand since January 1, 2014

Home
market
United
States
Other
markets
Anticipated future demand
Home
market
United
States
Other
markets

Explanation and factors

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Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire – Small Diameter Graphite Electrodes (Review 2) Page 20
III-15. Price differences.--Please compare market prices of small diameter graphite electrodes in your
firm’s home market, the United States, and third-country markets.

III-16. Description of home market.--Describe briefly your firm’s home market for small diameter
graphite electrodes, including the number of, and competition between, producers.

III-17. Import competition.--Does your firm face competition from imports of small diameter graphite
electrodes in your firm’s home market?
No

Yes

If yes, please identify the country sources of these imports.

III-18. Market studies.--Please provide as a separate attachment to this request any studies, surveys,
etc. that you are aware of that quantify and/or otherwise discuss small diameter graphite
electrodes supply (including production capacity and capacity utilization) and demand in (1) the
United States, (2) each of the other major producing/consuming countries, including China, and
(3) the world as a whole. Of particular interest is such data from 2014 to the present and
forecasts for the future.
III-19. Other explanations.--If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question in Part III
for which a narrative 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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Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire – Small Diameter Graphite Electrodes (Review 2) Page 21

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 U.S. 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 USITC foreign producer questionnaire form. When you finish reporting the data then you can close
the questionnaire and switch back to Italy settings.

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Foreign Producers’/Exporters’ Questionnaire – Small Diameter Graphite Electrodes (Review 2) Page 22

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/small_diameter_graphite_electrod
es_china/second_review_full.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: ELECT

• 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 produce or export this product, please fill out page 1, print, sign, and submit a
scanned copy to the Commission.
Parties to this proceeding.—If your firm is a party to this proceeding, it is required to serve a copy of the
completed questionnaire on parties to the proceeding that are subject to administrative protective
order (see 19 CFR § 207.7). A list of such parties may be obtained from the Commission’s Secretary (202205-1803). A certificate of service must accompany the completed questionnaire you submit (see 19 CFR
§ 207.7). Service of the questionnaire must be made in paper form.