19-3-4035 US purchasers' questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 19-1-4035; Expiration Date: 6/30/2020
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

LOST SALES AND LOST REVENUE SURVEY
CERAMIC TILE FROM CHINA
This survey must be received by the Commission by April

24, 2019

See last page for filing instructions.
The information called for in this survey is for use by the United States International Trade Commission in connection
with its countervailing duty and antidumping investigations concerning ceramic tile products (“ceramic tile”) from China
(Inv. Nos. 701-TA-621 and 731-TA-1447 (Preliminary)). The information requested in the survey 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 survey can be obtained from Andrew Knipe (202-205-2390, [email protected]).
Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm purchased or imported for own use or retail sale ceramic tile (as defined on next page) at any time
since January 1, 2016?

NO

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

YES

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

Return questionnaire via the U.S. International Trade Commission Drop Box by clicking on the
following link: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/. (PIN: TILE)
CERTIFICATION
I certify that the information herein supplied in this survey 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 survey
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
investigation 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

Signature

Phone

Email address

Business Proprietary
Lost Sales and Lost Revenue Survey - Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)

Page 2

GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.--This proceeding was instituted in response to a petition filed on April 10, 2019, by the
Coalition for Fair Trade in Ceramic Tile. Countervailing and/or antidumping duties may be assessed on
the subject imports as a result of these proceedings if the Commission makes an affirmative
determination of injury, threat, or material retardation, and if the U.S. Department of Commerce
(“Commerce”) makes an affirmative determination of subsidization and/or dumping. Questionnaires
and other information pertinent to this proceeding are available at
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2019/ceramic_tile_products_china/preliminary.htm
Ceramic tile products (“ceramic tile”) covered by these investigations are articles containing a mixture
of minerals including clay (generally hydrous silicates of alumina or magnesium) that are treated to
develop a fired bond. The subject merchandise includes ceramic flooring tile, wall tile, paving tile, hearth
tile, porcelain tile, mosaic tile, finishing tile, and the like. All ceramic tile is subject to the scope
regardless of whether the tile is glazed or unglazed, regardless of size, regardless of the water
absorption coefficient by weight, regardless of the extent of vitrification, and regardless of whether or
not the tile is on a backing. Ceramic tile are covered by the scope regardless of end use, size, thickness,
and weight. Ceramic tile includes tiles pressed as very large single pieces, up to and exceeding 5’ x 15’.
Subject merchandise includes ceramic tile produced in China that undergoes minor processing in a third
country prior to importation into the United States. Similarly, subject merchandise includes ceramic tile
produced in China that undergoes minor processing after importation into the United States. Such minor
processing includes, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: beveling, cutting, trimming,
staining, painting, polishing, finishing, or any other processing that would otherwise not remove the
merchandise from the scope of the investigation if performed in the country of manufacture of the inscope product.
The scope excludes ceramic bricks currently imported under HTS US 6904.10.00.10 through
6904.90.00.00.
Ceramic tile may be provided for in any HTS subheading (8-digit rate line) of heading 6907 and
imported/reported under any subordinate statistical reporting number of that heading.1 They may also
be imported under statistical reporting numbers 6914.10.80.00, 6914.90.80.00, 6905.10.00.00, and
6905.90.00.50. The HTSUS provisions are for convenience and customs purposes; the written
description of the scope is dispositive.
Reporting of information.--If information is not readily available from your records, provide carefully
prepared estimates.

1

Prior to 2017, ceramic tile were imported under headings 6907 and 6908.

Business Proprietary
Lost Sales and Lost Revenue Survey - Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)

Page 3

Confidentiality.--The data furnished in response to this survey 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.
Release of information.--The information provided by your firm in response to this survey, 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. Please also retain a copy of the final document that you submit.
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 survey. This
may or may not be the person whose signature is at the bottom of page 1.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
Firms operating more than one establishment should combine the data for all establishments into a
single response.

Business Proprietary
Lost Sales and Lost Revenue Survey - Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)

Page 4

PURCHASE INFORMATION
Purchases and imports.--Report separately your firm’s domestic purchases and imports of
ceramic tile products.

1.

“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
Item

2017

2018

Quantity (in thousands of square feet)

Purchases of ceramic tile products
produced in—
United States
China
All other countries1
Sources unknown
Total purchases

0

0

0

0

0

0

Imports of ceramic tile products from—
China
All other countries1
Total imports2

Please identify these countries:
If your firm imported ceramic tile products at any time since January 1, 2016, please also complete and
return a U.S. importers' questionnaire in this proceeding.
1

2

Business Proprietary
Lost Sales and Lost Revenue Survey - Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)

Page 5

2. Changes in purchasing patterns.--Please indicate how the shares of your firm’s purchases of ceramic
tile products from different sources have changed since January 1, 2016.
Source of Did not
purchases purchase Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated

Explanation for trend

United
States
China
All other
countries
Sources
unknown
3. Major purchasing factors.--Please list, in order of their importance, the main factors your firm
considers in deciding from whom to purchase ceramic tile products.
1.
2.
3.
Please list any other factors that are very important in your purchase decisions:

Business Proprietary
Lost Sales and Lost Revenue Survey - Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)

Page 6

4. Purchasing subject imports rather than domestic products.-(a)

Since January 2016, did your firm import and/or purchase imports of ceramic tile
products from China instead of purchasing U.S.-produced ceramic tile products?
Yes
(also respond to parts (b) and (c))

(b)

No
(If “No” skip to next question)

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

(c)

Yes

No

If you responded “Yes” to part (a), was price a primary reason for importing and/or
purchasing subject imports from China rather than domestic product?
If Yes, estimate the quantity of imports
purchased and/or imported from China
instead of domestic product since
January 2016 (in thousands of square
feet)

No

If No, please indicate the reason
your firm imported and/or
purchased imports instead of
domestic product

Business Proprietary
Lost Sales and Lost Revenue Survey - Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)
5.

Page 7

U.S. producers and import competition.-(a)

Since January 1, 2016, in connection with a sale or offer to sell ceramic tile products to
your firm, did U.S. producers reduce their prices of domestically produced ceramic tile
products in order to compete with lower-priced imports of ceramic tile products from
China?

Yes
(also respond to question part (b))

(b)

No
(If “No” skip to next question)

Don’t know

If your firm responded “yes” to part (a), 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.

Estimated reduction
in U.S. prices
(percent)

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

%
6. Other explanations--Please provide any additional comments in this box.

Business Proprietary
Lost Sales and Lost Revenue Survey - Ceramic Tile (Preliminary)

Page 8

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

Dollars

The questions in this survey 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 survey is estimated to average 4 hours per response,
including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering data, and completing and reviewing the
survey.
We welcome comments regarding the accuracy of this burden estimate, suggestions for reducing
the burden, and any suggestions for improving this survey. Please attach such comments to your
response or send to the Office of Investigations, USITC, 500 E St. SW, Washington, DC 20436.

HOW TO FILE YOUR SURVEY RESPONSE
Please do not attempt to modify the format or permissions of the survey document.
Please submit the completed survey using one of the methods noted below. If your firm
is unable to complete the MS Word survey 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 survey along with a scanned copy of the signed
certification page (page 1) through the Commission’s secure upload facility:
o
o
o

Web address: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/
Enter Investigation: Select “Ceramic Tile Products from China” in the drop down menu
Pin: TILE

• E-mail.—E-mail the MS Word survey 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 purchase this product, please fill out page 1, print, sign, and submit a scanned copy
to the Commission.