20-2-4178 U.S. importers' questionnaire

Information collections for import injury investigations (producers, importers, purchasers, and foreign producer questionnaires and institution notices for 5-year reviews)

CCS (F) -- US importer questionnaire

Collated steel staples from China (Inv. nos. 701-TA-626 and 731-TA-1452) Final

OMB: 3117-0016

⚠️ Notice: This form may be outdated. More recent filings and information on OMB 3117-0016 can be found here:

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OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 20-2-4178; Expiration Date : 6/30/2020
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. IMPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
CERTAIN COLLATED STEEL STAPLES FROM CHINA
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by March 20, 2020
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 and antidumping duty investigations concerning certain collated steel staples (“CCS
staples”) from China (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-626 and 731-TA-1452 (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 firm’s possession (19
U.S.C. § 1333(a)).

Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm imported CCS staples (as defined on next page) from any country at any time since January 1,
2017?

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

Signature

Title of Authorized Official

Phone

Date

Email address

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)

Page 2

PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.--This proceeding was instituted in response to petitions filed on June 6, 2019, by Kyocera
Senco Industrial Tools, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio. Countervailing and/or antidumping duties may be assessed
on the subject imports as a result of these proceedings if the Commission makes an affirmative
determination of injury, threat, or material retardation, and if the U.S. Department of Commerce
(“Commerce”) makes an affirmative determination of subsidization/dumping. Questionnaires and other
information pertinent to this proceeding are available at
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2020/certain_collated_steel_staples_china/final.htm.
Certain Collated Steel Staples (“CCS staples”) covered by these investigations are made from steel wire
having a nominal diameter from 0.0355 inch to 0.0830 inch, inclusive, and have a nominal leg length
from 0.25 inch to 3.0 inches, inclusive, and a nominal crown width from 0.187 inch to 1.125 inch,
inclusive.
Certain collated steel staples may be manufactured from any type of steel, and are included in the scope
of this investigation regardless of whether they are uncoated or coated, and regardless of the type or
number of coatings, including but not limited to coatings to inhibit corrosion. Certain collated steel
staples may be collated using any material or combination of materials, including but not limited to
adhesive, glue, and adhesive film or adhesive or paper tape.
Certain collated steel staples are generally made to American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
specification ASTM F1667-18a, but can also be made to other specifications.
Excluded from the scope of these investigations are any carton-closing staples covered by the scope of
the existing antidumping duty order on Carton-Closing Staples from the People's Republic of China. See
Carton-Closing Staples from the People's Republic of China: Antidumping Duty Order, 83 FR 20792 (May
8, 2018).
Certain collated steel staples are currently imported under statistical reporting number 8305.20.0000 of
the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). While the HTSUS subheading and ASTM
specification are provided for convenience and for customs purposes, the written description of the
subject merchandise is dispositive.
Importer.--Any person or firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or subsidiary, in
importing CCS staples (as defined above) into the United States from a foreign manufacturer or through
its selling agent.
Reporting of information.--If information is not readily available from your records, provide carefully
prepared estimates. If your firm is completing more than one questionnaire (i.e., a producer, importer,
and/or purchaser questionnaire), you need not respond to duplicated questions.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)

Page 3

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.
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 Celia
Feldpausch (202-205-2387, [email protected]).
D-GRIDS tool.--The Commission has a tool that firms can use to move data from their own MS Excel
compilation files into self-contained data tables within this MS Word questionnaire, thereby reducing
the amount of cell-by-cell data entry that would be required to complete this form. This tool is a macroenabled MS Excel file available for download from the Commission's generic questionnaires webpage
(https://www.usitc.gov/trade_remedy/question.htm) called the "D-GRIDs tool." Use of this tool to help
your firm complete this questionnaire is optional. Firms opting to use the D-GRIDs tool to populate their
data into this questionnaire will need the D-GRIDs specification sheet PDF file specific to this proceeding
(available on the case page which is linked under the "Background" above) which includes the necessary
references relating to this questionnaire, as well as the macro-enable MS Excel D-GRIDs tool itself from
the generic questionnaires page. More detailed instructions on how to use the D-GRIDs tool are
available within the D-GRIDs tool itself.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)
I-1.

Page 4

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

Dollars

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

Establishments covered.--Provide the name and address of establishment(s) covered by this
questionnaire.
“Establishment”--Each facility of a firm involved in the importation of CCS staples, including
auxiliary facilities operated in conjunction with (whether or not physically separate from) such
facilities.

I-2b.

Stock symbol information.-- If your firm or parent firm is publicly traded, please specify the
stock exchange and trading symbol:
.

I-2c.

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-3.

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

Firm name

Yes--List the following information

Address

Extent of
ownership
(percent)

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)
I-4.

Related importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or
foreign, that are engaged in importing CCS staples from China into the United States or that are
engaged in exporting CCS staples from China to the United States?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

I-5.

Country

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

Country

Affiliation

Importing operations.--Please indicate the nature of your firm’s importing operations on CCS
staples. More than one answer may be applicable.
Importer of record

I-7.

Affiliation

Related producers.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, that are
engaged in the production of CCS staples?
No

I-6.

Page 5

Takes title to the
imported product(s)

Consignee of the
imported products(s)

Customs broker or
freight forwarder

Consignee.--If your firm is an importer of record of CCS staples but is not the consignee, please
list the consignees below (firm name, address, telephone number, and individual to contact).

Firm name

Address

Contact person
and phone
number

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)
I-8.

Page 6

FTZ, TIB, or bonded warehouses.--Please indicate whether your firm enters CCS staples into, or
withdraws such merchandise from, foreign trade zones or bonded warehouses. Also indicate
whether your firm imports CCS staples under the TIB (temporary importation under bond)
program.
“Foreign trade zone” is a designated location in the United States where firms utilize special
procedures that allow delayed or reduced customs duty payments on foreign merchandise, as
well as other savings. A foreign trade zone must be designated as such pursuant to the rules
and procedures set forth in the Foreign-Trade Zones Act.
“Bonded warehouse” is a secured facility supervised by U.S. customs, where dutiable landed
imports are stored pending their re-export, or release after payment of import duties, taxes, and
other charges. A bonded warehouse must be designated as such pursuant to the rules and
procedures set forth in 19 U.S.C. § 1555.
“Temporary Importation under Bond (“TIB”) program” is a procedure whereby imported
merchandise may be entered under certain conditions for a limited time into the United States
free of duty. Under the program, an importer posts a bond for twice the amount of duty, taxes,
etc. that would otherwise be owed on the importation and agrees to export or destroy the
merchandise within a specified time or pay liquidated damages. This program is restricted to
certain categories of merchandise listed in subheadings 9813.00.05 through 9813.00.75 of the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS).
Item

Yes

Foreign trade zones
Bonded warehouses
Temporary importation under bond

I-9.

Other trade actions.--To your knowledge, have the products subject to this proceeding been the
subject of any other import relief proceedings in the United States or in any other countries?
No

Yes

If yes, Yes–Please specify.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)

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PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Celia Feldpausch (202-2052387, [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 importation of CCS staples since January 1, 2017.
(check as many as appropriate)
Office/warehouse openings
Office/warehouse closings
Relocations
Expansions
Acquisitions
Consolidations
Prolonged shutdowns or
importation curtailments
Revised labor agreements
Other (e.g., technology)

(If checked, please describe; leave blank if not applicable)

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)
II-3.

Page 8

Arranged imports.--Has your firm imported or arranged for the importation of CCS staples for
delivery after December 31, 2019?
“Arranged imports” are imports for which your firm has placed an order with a foreign supplier
for subject merchandise, but delivery of those imports is not scheduled to occur until after the
date listed above.
No

Yes
If yes, fill out the table below.

Period
Source

Jan-Mar 2020

Apr-Jun 2020

Jul-Sept 2020

Oct-Dec 2020

Quantity (in pounds)
China
All other sources

II-4.

Reasons for importing if producer.--If your firm also produces CCS staples in the United States,
please indicate the reasons for importing this product. If your firm’s reasons differ by source,
please elaborate.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)

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Definitions
“Imports” –Those products identified for Customs purposes as imports for consumption for
which your firm was the importer of record (i.e., was responsible for paying any import duty) or
consignee (i.e., to which the merchandise was first delivered).
“Import quantities” –Quantities reported should be net of returns.
“Import values”—Values reported should be landed, duty-paid values at the U.S. port of entry,
including ocean freight and insurance costs, brokerage charges, and import duties (i.e., all
charges except inland freight in the United States).
“U.S. commercial shipments”— Shipments made within the United States as a result of an arm’s
length commercial transaction in the ordinary course of business. Report net values (i.e., gross
sales values less all discounts, allowances, rebates, prepaid freight, and the value of returned
goods) in U.S. dollars, f.o.b. your point of shipment.
“Internal consumption” –Product consumed internally by your firm. Such transactions are
valued at fair market value.
“Transfers to related firms” –Shipments made to related firms. Such transactions are valued at
fair market value.
“Related firm” –A firm that your firm solely or jointly owned, managed, or otherwise controlled;
a firm that solely or jointly owned, managed, or otherwise controlled your firm; and/or a firm
that was solely or jointly owned, managed, or otherwise controlled by a firm that also solely or
jointly owned, managed, or otherwise controlled your firm.
“Export shipments”— Shipments to destinations outside the United States, including shipments
to related firms.
“Inventories” --Finished goods inventory, not raw materials or work in progress.
Note: As requested in Part I of this questionnaire, please keep all supporting documents/records
used in the preparation of the trade data, as Commission staff may contact your firm regarding
questions on the trade data. The Commission may also request that your company submit copies
of the supporting documents/records (such as production and sales schedules, inventory records,
etc.) used to compile these data.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)
II-5a.

Page 10

U.S. imports from China.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and inventories
of CCS staples imported from China by your firm during the specified periods.

China
Quantity (in pounds), value (in dollars)
Calendar years
Item

2017

2018

2019

Beginning-of-period inventories
(quantity) (A)
Imports:1
Quantity (B)
Value (C)
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity (D)
Value (E)
Internal consumption:2
Quantity (F)
Value2 (G)
Transfers to related firms:2
Quantity (H)
Value2 (I)
Export shipments:3
Quantity (J)
Value (K)
End-of-period inventories
(quantity) (L)
1

Please identify the foreign producers, if known:
.
Internal consumption and transfers to related firms must be valued at fair market value. If your firm uses a different
basis for valuing these transactions in your records, please specify that basis (e.g., cost, cost plus, etc.):
. However,
the data provided above in this table should be based on fair market value.
3
Identify your firm’s principal export markets:
.
2

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)
II-5a.

Page 11

U.S. imports from China.–Continued

RECONCILIATION OF SHIPMENTS, IMPORTS, AND INVENTORIES.--Generally, the data reported for the
end-of-period inventories (i.e., line L) should be equal to the beginning-of-period inventories (i.e., line
A), plus imports (i.e., line B), less total shipments (i.e., lines D, F, H, and J). Please ensure that any
differences are not due to data entry errors in completing this form, but rather actually reflect your
firm’s records; and also provide any likely explanations for any differences (e.g., theft, loss, damage,
record systems issues, etc.) if they exist.
Calendar years
Reconciliation

2017

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

2018

2019

Explanation if the calculated fields above are returning values other than zero (i.e., “0”) but are nonetheless
accurate:
.
II-5b.

Channels of distribution: China.--Report your firm’s U.S. shipments (i.e., inclusive of commercial
U.S. shipments, internal consumption, and transfers to related firms) of imports from China by
channel of distribution.

China
Quantity (in pounds)
Calendar years
Channels of distribution

2017

2018

2019

U.S. shipments:
to Distributors (M)
to Retailers1 (N)
to Contractors/builders (O)
to Other end users (P)
1

If your firm sells CSS staples at the retail level, please include those sales in the line item “to retailers.”

RECONCILIATION OF CHANNELS.--Please ensure that the quantities reported for channels of distribution
(i.e., lines M through P) in each time period equal the quantity reported for U.S. shipments (i.e., lines D, F,
and H) in each time period. If the calculated fields below return values other than zero (i.e., “0”), the
data reported must be revised prior to submission to the Commission.
Calendar years
Reconciliation
M + N + O + P– D – F – H =
zero ("0"), if not revise.

2017

2018
0

2019
0

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)
II-5c.

Page 12

U.S. shipments by product type: China.--Report your firm’s U.S. shipments (i.e., inclusive of
commercial U.S. shipments, internal consumption, and transfers to related firms) of imports
from China by product type during 2019.

China
Quantity (in pounds)
Wire gauge

2019

14 to 17 gauge (Q)
18 to 19 gauge (R)
Total:

RECONCILIATION OF U.S. SHIPMENTS.--Please ensure that the quantities reported for U.S. shipments in
this question (i.e., lines Q and R) in 2019 equal the quantity reported for U.S. shipments in part "a" of this
question (i.e., lines D, F, and H) in 2019. If the calculated fields below return values other than zero (i.e.,
“0”), the data reported must be revised prior to submission to the Commission.
Calendar year
Reconciliation
Quantity: Q + R – D – F – H = zero ("0"), if not revise.

2019
0

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)
II-5d.

Page 13

Monthly imports: China.–Report your firm’s monthly U.S. imports of CCS staples from China
during the specified periods.

Monthly imports: China
Quantity (in pounds)
Monthly U.S. imports
Year / Month

Total imports

2018.-January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2019.-January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Reconciliation for
U.S. imports from China (II-5a),
revise if not returning zero ("0")

Full year 2018

Full year 2019
0

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)

Page 14

II-5e. End-of-period inventories: China.–Report your firm’s end-of-period inventories of CCS staples
from China during the specified periods:
Quantity (in pounds)
Item
End-of-period inventories
(quantity)

November 2018

May 2019

October 2019

November 2019

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)
II-6a.

Page 15

U.S. imports from all other sources.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s shipments and
inventories of CCS staples imported from all other sources by your firm during the specified
periods.

All other sources
(list sources:

)
Quantity (in pounds), value (in dollars)
Calendar years

Item

2017

2018

2019

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)
II-6a.

Page 16

U.S. imports from all other sources.–Continued

2017

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

2018

2019

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

II-6b.

Channels of distribution: All other sources.--Report your firm’s U.S. shipments (i.e., inclusive of
commercial U.S. shipments, internal consumption, and transfers to related firms) by channel of
distribution.

All other sources
Quantity (in pounds)
Calendar years
Channels of distribution

2017

2018

2019

U.S. shipments:
to Distributors (M)
to Retailers1 (N)
to Contractors/builders (O)
to Other end users (P)
1

If your firm sells CSS staples at the retail level, please include those sales in the line item “to retailers.”

2017

2018
0

2019
0

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)
II-6c.

Page 17

U.S. shipments by product type: All other sources.--Report your firm’s U.S. shipments (i.e.,
inclusive of commercial U.S. shipments, internal consumption, and transfers to related firms) of
imports from all other sources by product type during 2019.

All other sources
Quantity (in pounds)
Wire gauge

2019

14 to 17 gauge (Q)
18 to 19 gauge (R)
Total:
1

Please describe other products:

2019
0

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)
II-6d.

Page 18

Monthly imports: All other sources.–Report your firm’s monthly U.S. imports of CCS staples
from all other sources during the specified periods.

Monthly imports: All other sources
Quantity (in pounds)
Monthly U.S. imports
Year / Month

Total imports

Full year 2018

Full year 2019

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Page 19

II-7.

Transfers to related firms.-- If your firm reported transfers to related firms in any of the data
tables in Part II, please identify the firm(s) and indicate the nature of the relationship between
your firm and the related firms (e.g., joint venture, wholly owned subsidiary) and whether the
transfers were priced at market value or by a non-market formula.

II-8.

Other explanations.--If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question in Part II
for which a narrative response box was not provided, please note the question number and the
explanation in the space provided below. Please also use this space to highlight any issues your
firm had in providing the data in this section, including but not limited to technical issues with
the MS Word questionnaire.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)

Page 20

PART III.--PRICING AND MARKET FACTORS
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Craig Thomsen (202-2053226, [email protected]).
III-1.

PRICE DATA
III-2.

This question requests quarterly quantity and value data for your firm’s commercial shipments
to unrelated U.S. customers since January 1, 2017 of the following products your firm imported
from China:
Product 1.--18 gauge wire staples, ¼ inch crown, 1 inch leg length, chisel point, galvanized steel,
collated with glue, adhesive or equivalent {similar to Senco part no. L13BABN}.
Product 2.--18 gauge wire staples, ¼ inch crown, 1 ¼ - inch leg length, chisel point, galvanized
steel, collated with glue, adhesive or equivalent {similar to Senco part no. L15BAB}.
Product 3.--16 gauge wire staples, 7/16 inch crown, 1 ½ inch leg length, chisel point, galvanized
steel, collated with glue, adhesive, or equivalent {similar to Senco part no. N17BAB}.
Product 4.--16 gauge wire staples, 7/16 inch crown, 1 ¾ inch leg length, chisel point, galvanized
steel, collated with glue, adhesive, plastic or paper tape or equivalent {similar to
Senco part no. N19BAB}.
Product 5.--16 gauge wire staples, 1 inch crown, 5/8 inch length, chisel point, galvanized steel,
collated with glue, adhesive, plastic or paper tape or equivalent {similar to Senco
part no. P10BAB}.
Product 6.--16 gauge wire staples, 1 inch crown, 1 inch leg, chisel point, galvanized steel,
collated with glue, adhesive, plastic or paper tape or equivalent {similar to Senco
part no. P13BAB}.

Please note that values should be f.o.b., U.S. point of shipment and should not include U.S.-inland
transportation costs. Values should reflect the final net amount paid to your firm (i.e., should be net
of all deductions for discounts or rebates).

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)

Page 21

During January 2017-December 2019, did your firm import from China and sell to unrelated U.S.
customers any of the above listed products (or any products that were competitive with these
products)?
Yes.--Please complete the following pricing data tables as appropriate.
No.--Skip to question III-3.
III-2a. Price data (China).--Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 imported from
China and sold by your firm.

China

Report data in 1,000 staples and dollars (not 1,000s).
(Quantity in 1,000 staples, value in dollars)
Product 1
Product 2
Period of shipment
2017:
January-March

Quantity

Value

Quantity

Product 3
Value

Quantity

Value

April-June
July-September
October-December
2018:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2019:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
1 Net values (i.e., gross sales values less all discounts, allowances, rebates, prepaid freight, and the value of returned goods), f.o.b. your
firm’s U.S. point of shipment.
2 Pricing product definitions are provided on the first page of Part III.

Note.--If your firm’s product does not exactly meet the product specifications but is competitive with the specified product, provide a
description of your firm’s product. Also, please explain any anomalies in your firm’s reported pricing data.
Product 1:
Product 2:
Product 3:

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)

Page 22

III-2a. Price data (China).—Continued.

China
Report data in 1,000 staples and dollars (not 1,000s).
(Quantity in 1,000 staples, value in dollars)
Product 4
Period of shipment

Quantity

Product 5
Value

Quantity

Product 6
Value

Quantity

Value

2017:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2018:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
2019:
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
Net values (i.e., gross sales values less all discounts, allowances, rebates, prepaid freight, and the value of returned goods), f.o.b.
your firm’s U.S. point of shipment.
2 Pricing product definitions are provided on the first page of Part III.
1

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)

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III-2b. Price data checklist.--Please check that the pricing data in question III-2(a-c) have been correctly
reported.
Are the price data reported above:

√ if Yes

In dollars (not $1,000)?
Quantity data are reported in 1,000s staples not pounds?
F.o.b. U.S. point of shipment (i.e., does not include U.S. transport costs)?
Net of all discounts and rebates?
Have returns credited to the quarter in which the sale occurred?
Less than reported commercial shipments in Part II in each year?
III-2c.

Pricing data methodology.--Please describe the method and the kinds of documents/records
that were used to compile your price data.

Note: As requested in Part I of this questionnaire, please keep all supporting documents/records used in
the preparation of the price data, as Commission staff may contact your firm regarding questions on the
price data. The Commission may also request that your company submit copies of the supporting
documents/records (such as sales journal, invoices, etc.) used to compile these data.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)
III-3.

Price setting.--How does your firm determine the prices that it charges for sales of CCS staples
(check all that apply)? If your firm issues price lists, please submit sample pages of a recent list.
Transaction
by
transaction

III-4.

Contracts

Annual
total
volume
discounts

Other

If other, describe

No
discount
policy

Other

Describe

Pricing terms.--On what basis are your firm’s prices of imported CCS staples from China usually
quoted (check one)?
Delivered

III-6.

Set
price
lists

Discount policy.--Please indicate and describe your firm’s discount policies (check all that apply).

Quantity
discounts

III-5.

Page 24

F.o.b.

If f.o.b., specify point

Contract versus spot.--Approximately what share of your firm’s sales of CCS staples imported
from China in 2019 was on a (1) short-term contract basis, (2) annual contract basis, (3) longterm contract basis, and (4) spot sales basis?

Item
Share of 2019
sales

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)
%

Total
(should
sum to
100.0%)

Spot sales
(for a single
delivery)
%

0.0

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)
III-7.

Page 25

Contract provisions.--Please fill out the table regarding your firm’s typical sales contracts for
CCS staples imported from China (or check “not applicable” if your firm does not sell on a shortterm, annual and/or long-term contract basis).
Short-term contracts
(multiple deliveries
for less than 12
months)

Typical sales
contract provisions

Item

Average contract
duration

No. of
days

Price renegotiation
(during contract
period)

Yes

Fixed quantity
and/or price

Annual contracts
(multiple
deliveries for 12
months)

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

365

No
Quantity

Indexed to raw
material costs1

Price
Both
Yes
No

Not applicable
1

Please identify the indexes used:

III-8.

Lead times.--What share of your firm’s sales of CCS staples imported from China are 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 CCS staples?

Source

Lead time
(Average number
Share of 2019 sales
of days)

From your firm’s U.S. inventory

From foreign manufacturers’ inventory

Produced to order

Total (should sum to 100.0%)

0.0 %

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)
III-9.

Page 26

Shipping information.—
(a)

What is the approximate percentage of the cost of CCS staples imported from China that
is accounted for by U.S. inland transportation costs?
percent.

(b)

Who generally arranges the transportation to your firm’s customers’ locations?
Your firm
Purchaser (check one)

(c)

When your firm sells CCS staples imported from China, from where is it shipped?
Point of importation
Storage facility (check one)

(d)

Indicate the approximate percentage of your firm’s sales of CCS staples imported from
China that are delivered the following distances from your firm’s U.S. point of shipment.
Distance from your firm’s U.S. point of shipment

Within 100 miles

101 to 1,000 miles

Over 1,000 miles

Total (should sum to 100.0%)

0.0

III-10. Geographical shipments.--In which U.S. geographic market area(s) has your firm sold CCS
staples imported from subject countries since January 1, 2017 (check all that apply)?
Geographic area
Northeast.–CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, and VT.
Midwest.–IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, and
WI.
Southeast.–AL, DE, DC, FL, GA, KY, MD, MS, NC, SC, TN,
VA, and WV.
Central Southwest.–AR, LA, OK, and TX.
Mountains.–AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, and WY.
Pacific Coast.–CA, OR, and WA.
Other.–All other markets in the United States not
previously listed, including AK, HI, PR, and VI.

China

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)

Page 27

III-11. End uses.--List the end uses of the CCS staples that your firm imports. For each end-use product,
what percentage of the total cost is accounted for by CCS staples and other inputs?
Share of total cost of end-use product
accounted for by
End-use product

CCS staples

Other inputs

Total
(should sum to
100.0% across)

0.0 %

III-12. Substitutes.--Can other products be substituted for CCS staples?
No

Substitute

Yes--Please fill out the table.

End use in which this
substitute is used

Have changes in the price of this substitute
affected the price for CCS staples?
No Yes

Explanation

1.
2.
3.
III-13. Demand trends.--Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United
States (if known) for CCS staples has changed since January 1, 2017. Explain any trends and
describe the principal factors that have affected these changes in demand.

Market
Within the United States
Outside the United States

Overall
increase

No
Overall Fluctuate with
change decrease no clear trend

Explanation and factors

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)

Page 28

III-14. Product changes.--Have there been any significant changes in the product range, product mix or
marketing of CCS staples since January 1, 2017?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

III-15. Conditions of competition.—
(a) Is the CCS staples market subject to business cycles (other than general economy-wide
conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to CCS staples?
Check all that apply.

Please describe.

Skip to question III-16.

Yes-Business cycles (e.g.
seasonal business)
Yes-Other distinctive
conditions of competition
(b) If yes, have there been any changes in the business cycles or conditions of competition for
CCS staples since January 1, 2017?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

III-16. Supply constraints.--Has your firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply CCS staples since
January 1, 2017 (examples include placing customers on allocation or “controlled order entry,”
declining to accept new customers or renew existing customers, delivering less than the
quantity promised, being unable to meet timely shipment commitments, etc.)?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)

Page 29

III-17. Raw materials.-(a) How have CCS staples raw material prices changed since January 2017?
Fluctuate
Overall
No
Overall
with no
increase change decrease clear trend

Explain, noting how raw material price changes
have affected your firm’s selling prices for CCS
staples.

(b) Have your contract sales of CCS staples been indexed to raw material prices since January 1,
2017?

Yes

Explain, noting to what percentage of your sales this applies and any lag
time between index change and price change associated with such
contracts

(c) Effect of Section 232 duties on raw material prices.--Did the announcement of the Section
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 CCS
staples?
Yes—Please fill out table below

Item
Prices for CCS staples
in the U.S. market
Raw material costs for
CCS staples in the U.S.
market

Fluctuate
with no
No
clear
Increase change Decrease
trend

Don’t know

Explanation and factors

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)

Page 30

III-17. Raw materials.--Continued.
(d) Impact of AD/CVD orders on carbon and certain alloy steel wire rod.--This question
concerns the most recent antidumping and countervailing duty orders on carbon and alloy
steel wire rod (wire rod).
Did the petitions on wire rod in March 2017 or the subsequent issuance of antidumping and
countervailing duty orders in January - May 2018 have an impact on the CCS staples market?
Yes—Please fill out table below

Fluctuate
with no
No
clear
Increase change Decrease
trend

Item

Don’t know

Explanation and factors

Prices for CCS staples
in the U.S. market
Raw material costs for
CCS staples in the U.S.
market
III-18. Inclusion of staple-related equipment.-(a) Is additional staple equipment (e.g., staplers / staple guns) included in your firm’s sales
of CCS staples?
Yes—Please answer
b and c.

Don’t
know

If yes, describe the equipment

(b) Does the inclusion of staple equipment impact your firm’s selling price of CCS staples?

Yes

Don’t
know

If yes, describe

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)

Page 31

III-18. Inclusion of staple-related equipment.--Continued.
(c) Describe the terms for the inclusion of this equipment and any additional information
regarding its inclusion.

III-19. Interchangeability.--Are the CCS staples produced in the United States and in other countries
interchangeable (i.e., can they physically be used in the same applications)?
Please indicate A, F, S, N, or 0 in the table below:
A = the products from a specified country-pair are always interchangeable
F = the products are frequently interchangeable
S = the products are sometimes interchangeable
N = the products are never interchangeable
0 = no familiarity with products from a specified country-pair
Country-pair

China

Other countries

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)

Page 32

III-20. Factors other than price.--Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between CCS staples produced
in the United States and in other countries a significant factor in your firm’s sales of the
products?
Please indicate A, F, S, N, or 0 in the table below:
A = such differences are always significant
F = such differences are frequently significant
S = such differences are sometimes significant
N = such differences are never significant
0 = no familiarity with products from a specified country-pair
Country-pair

China

Other countries

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)

Page 33

III-21. Impact of Section 301 tariffs.-- Did the imposition of tariffs on Chinese-origin products under
Section 301 have an impact on the CCS staples market in the United States?
Yes— Please indicate the
impact in the table below.

Factor
Supply of U.S.produced CCS staples
Supply of CCS staples
imported from China
Supply of CCS staples
imported from other
countries
Prices for CCS staples
Overall U.S. demand
for CCS staples
Raw material costs for
CCS staples

Overall
No
Overall
increase change decrease

Don’t know

Fluctuate Explain, noting how the imposition
with no of tariffs under Section 301 affected
clear
each factor of the CCS staples market
trend
in the United States.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)

Page 34

III-22. Customer identification.--List the names and contact information for your firm’s 10 largest U.S.
customers for CCS staples since January 1, 2017. Indicate the share of the quantity of your firm’s
total shipments of CCS staples that each of these customers accounted for in 2019.

Customer’s name

Contact person

Telephone

City

State

Share of
2019
sales (%)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

III-23. Other explanations.--If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question in Part III
for which a narrative response box was not provided, please note the question number and the
explanation in the space provided below. Please also use this space to highlight any issues your
firm had in providing the data in this section, including but not limited to technical issues with
the MS Word questionnaire.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)

Page 35

Correcting Valid number error messages.--If you are completing a Commission

questionnaire in a country that uses periods (“.”) to delineate multiples of 1000 (e.g., one million
would appear as $1.000.000 instead of as $1,000,000), you may be unable to enter in numbers greater
than 999 in numeric form fields. This issues stem from your computer number formatting setting
(e.g., not the MS Word document itself, but the computer from which you are opening up the
document). In the United States commas (,) delineate multiples of 1000 and periods (.) delineate
fractions less than one. Many EU countries use the reverse where multiples of 1000 are delineated
with periods (.) and fractions less than one are delineated with commas (,). The US International Trade
Commission’s questionnaires are set-up in the United States with the U.S. number formatting. When
this formatting interacts with a computer set to EU number formatting, we believe this may cause this
issue.
The solution to this data entry issue is to temporarily change your operating system’s number
formatting to be consistent with the U.S. number formatting system while you complete the
questionnaire.
To temporarily change your computer’s number settings to U.S. settings, please do the following (for
Microsoft Windows Operating system):






START
Control Panel
Region and Language (under Clock, Language, and Region category)
Format tab
Change the Format from your existing one (e.g. “Italian (Italy)”) to “English (United States)” (see
screen shots below)

When you do this the number “twelve million dollars and thirty five cents” would change from
$12.000.000,35 (Italy format) to $12,000,000.35 (U.S. format), and then there will be no conflict with
the questionnaire. When you finish reporting the data then you can close the questionnaire and switch
back to Italy settings.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – CCS Staples (Final)

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/701731/2020/certain_collated_steel_staples_china/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: CCS

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

File Type	application/pdf
File Title	Microsoft Word - CCS (F) -- US importer questionnaire
Author	celia.feldpausch
File Modified	2020-02-04
File Created	2020-02-04