20-3-4255 U.S. purchasers' questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 20-3-4255; Expiration Date: 6/30/2023
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
NON-ORIENTED ELECTRICAL STEEL FROM
CHINA, GERMANY, JAPAN, KOREA, SWEDEN, AND TAIWAN
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by August 10, 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 review of the countervailing duty orders concerning non-oriented electrical steel (“NOES”) from
China and Taiwan and the antidumping duty orders concerning NOES from China, Germany, Japan, Korea, Sweden, and
Taiwan (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-506 and 508 and 731-TA-1238-1243 (Review)). The information requested in the questionnaire
is requested under the authority of the Tariff Act of 1930, title VII. This report is mandatory and failure to reply as
directed can result in a subpoena or other order to compel the submission of records or information in your possession
(19 U.S.C. § 1333(a)). Further information on this questionnaire can be obtained from Andrew Knipe (202-205-2390,
[email protected]).

Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm purchased NOES (as defined on the next page) from any source (domestic or foreign) 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: NOES)
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 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

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - NOES (Review)

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PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.--On December 3, 2014, the Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) issued countervailing
duty orders on imports of NOES from China and Taiwan. Also on December 3, 2014 Commerce issued
antidumping duty orders on imports of NOES from China, Germany, Japan, Korea, Sweden, and Taiwan.
On November 1, 2019, the Commission instituted reviews 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 orders 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 orders
will remain in place. If either the Commission or Commerce makes a negative determination, Commerce
will revoke the orders. Questionnaires and other information pertinent to this proceeding are available
at
https://www.usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2019/non_oriented_electrical_steel_china_germany_jap
an/first_review_full.htm.
NOES covered by these investigations includes cold-rolled, flat-rolled, alloy steel products, whether or
not in coils, regardless of width, having an actual thickness of 0.20 mm or more, in which the core loss is
substantially equal in any direction of magnetization in the plane of the material. The term
‘‘substantially equal’’ means that the cross grain direction of core loss is no more than 1.5 times the
straight grain direction (i.e., the rolling direction) of core loss. NOES has a magnetic permeability that
does not exceed 1.65 Tesla when tested at a field of 800 A/m (equivalent to 10 Oersteds) along (i.e.,
parallel to) the rolling direction of the sheet (i.e., B800 value). NOES contains by weight more than 1.00
percent of silicon but less than 3.5 percent of silicon, not more than 0.08 percent of carbon, and not
more than 1.5 percent of aluminum. NOES has a surface oxide coating, to which an insulation coating
may be applied.
NOES is subject to the Order whether it is fully processed (i.e., fully annealed to develop final magnetic
properties) or semi-processed (i.e., finished to final thickness and physical form but not fully annealed to
develop final magnetic properties). Fully processed NOES is typically made to the requirements of ASTM
specification A 677, Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) specification C 2552, and/or International
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) specification 60404–8–4. Semi-processed NOES is typically made to
the requirements of ASTM specification A 683. However, the scope of the Order is not limited to
merchandise meeting the ASTM, JIS, and IEC specifications noted immediately above.
NOES is sometimes referred to as cold-rolled non-oriented (CRNO), nongrain oriented (NGO), nonoriented (NO), or cold-rolled non-grain oriented (CRNGO) electrical steel. These terms are
interchangeable.
Excluded from the scope of the Order are flat-rolled products not in coils that, prior to importation into
the United States, have been cut to a shape and undergone all punching, coating, or other operations
necessary for classification in Chapter 85 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS)
as a part (i.e., lamination) for use in a device such as a motor, generator, or transformer.
NOES is currently imported under statistical reporting numbers 7225.19.0000, 7226.19.1000, and
7226.19.9000 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). It may also be entered
under HTSUS statistical reporting numbers 7225.50.8085, 7225.99.0090, 7226.92.5000, 7226.92.7050,
7226.92.8050, 7226.99.0180 of the HTSUS. The HTSUS provisions are for convenience and customs
purposes; the written description of the scope is dispositive.

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Purchaser.--Any firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or subsidiary, in purchasing
NOES from another firm that produces, imports, or otherwise distributes NOES.
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 in connection with this
proceeding (i.e., a producer, importer, and/or purchaser questionnaire), you need not respond to
duplicated questions.
Confidentiality.--The commercial and financial data furnished in response to this questionnaire that
reveal the individual operations of your firm will be treated as confidential by the Commission to the
extent that such data are not otherwise available to the public and will not be disclosed except as may
be required by law (see 19 U.S.C. § 1677f). Such confidential information will not be published in a
manner that will reveal the individual operations of your firm; however, general characterizations of
numerical business proprietary information (such as discussion of trends) will be treated as confidential
business information only at the request of the submitter for good cause shown.
Verification.--The information submitted in this questionnaire is subject to audit and verification by the
Commission. To facilitate possible verification of data, please keep all of your 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.
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.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - NOES (Review)
I-1a.

Page 4

Establishments covered.--Provide the name and address of establishment(s) covered by this
questionnaire, if different from that listed on the cover page. Firms operating more than one
establishment should combine the data for all establishments into a single response.
“Establishment”--Each facility of a firm involved in the purchase of NOES, 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-2.

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

I-3.

Yes--List the following information, relating to the ultimate parent/owner.
Country

Extent of ownership
(percent)

Related importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or
foreign, that import NOES into the United States or that export NOES to the United States?
No
Firm name

Yes--List the following information.
Country

Affiliation

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - NOES (Review)
I-4.

Related producers.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, that
produce NOES?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name and country

I-5.

Page 5

Country

Affiliation

Business plan.--Does your company or any related firm have a business plan or any internal
documents that describe, discuss, or analyze expected market conditions for NOES?

No

Yes

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

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PART II.--PURCHASES
Contact information.--Please identify the responsible individual and the manner by which Commission
staff may contact that individual regarding the confidential information submitted in this questionnaire.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
II-1.

Purchases.-(a)

Please estimate your firm’s total U.S. purchases of NOES in 2019. (Do not include
imports for which your firm was the importer of record; such imports should be
reported in your U.S. importer’s questionnaire.)
Quantity (short tons)

(b)

Estimate the percentage of the quantity of your firm’s purchases of NOES in 2019 that
were produced in each of the specified countries.
NOES produced in:

Share of quantity of 2019 purchases

United States

%

China

%

Germany

%

Japan

%

Korea

%

Sweden

%

Taiwan

%

All other countries:1

%

Sources unknown

%

Total (should sum to 100.0%)
1

Please identify these countries:

0.0

%

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - NOES (Review)
II-2.

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Purchases before and after order.-(a)

Did your firm purchase NOES from China, Germany, Japan, Korea, Sweden, and/or
Taiwan before 2014?
No--skip to (c)

(b)

Yes

If yes, has your pattern of purchasing NOES from China, Germany, Japan, Korea,
Sweden, and/or Taiwan changed since 2014?
No, our pattern of purchasing is essentially unchanged.
Yes, we discontinued purchases from China, Germany, Japan, Korea, Sweden,
and/or Taiwan because of the order.
Yes, we reduced purchases from China, Germany, Japan, Korea, Sweden, and/or
Taiwan because of the order.
Yes, but we changed the pattern of purchases from China, Germany, Japan,
Korea, Sweden, and/or Taiwan for reasons other than the order (please explain
below).

(c)

Has your pattern of purchasing NOES from nonsubject foreign sources (i.e., countries
other than China, Germany, Japan, Korea, Sweden, and/or Taiwan) changed since 2014?
We did not purchase from nonsubject foreign sources before or after the
order.
No, our pattern of purchasing is essentially unchanged.
Yes, we increased purchases from nonsubject foreign sources because of the
order.
Yes, but we changed our pattern of purchases from nonsubject foreign
sources for reasons other than the order (please explain below).

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - NOES (Review)
II-3.

Page 8

Changes in purchasing patterns.--Please indicate how the shares of your firm’s purchases of
NOES from different sources have changed since January 1, 2014.

Source of Did not
purchases purchase Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated

Explanation for trend

United
States
China
Germany
Japan
Korea
Sweden
Taiwan
All other
countries
Sources
unknown
II-4.

Country knowledge.--Please indicate the countries of origin with which your firm has
experience or information in the NOES market.

United
States

II-5.

China

Germany

Japan

Korea

Sweden

Taiwan

Other
countries

Other
countries
(specify)

Supplier identification.--Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers for NOES since January 1,
2014. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s total purchases of NOES that each of
these suppliers accounted for in 2019.

No.

Supplier’s name

City and state

Share of quantity of
2019 purchases

1

%

2

%

3

%

4

%

5

%

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES
III-1.

Firm type.--Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of NOES (check all
that apply)?
Distributor

Stamper/
lamintor1

End user

Other

(Describe other)

A stamper/laminator is a firm that stamps and/or laminates NOES and does not
further fabricate the part before selling it to another firm.
1

If your firm is a distributor of NOES, please answer questions III-2 and III-3.
III-2.

Competition for sales.--Do you compete for sales to your customers with the manufacturers or
importers from which you purchase NOES?
No

III-3.

Yes

If yes, please describe.

Types of customers.--What are the major types of consumers to which you sell NOES?

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If your firm is an end user of NOES, please answer questions III-4 and III-5.
III-4.

End uses.--Have there been any changes in the end uses of NOES 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-5.

Demand for end-use products.-(a)

Has the demand for your firm’s final products incorporating NOES changed since
January 1, 2014?
Increased

(b)

Decreased

Fluctuated

Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for NOES?
No

III-6.

No change

Yes

Explain

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

No

Yes

Explain

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - NOES (Review)
III-7.

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Demand trends.--Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United
States (if known) for NOES 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.

Market

Fluctuate
Overall
No
Overall
with no
increase change decrease clear trend

Explanation and factors

Demand since January 1, 2014
Within the U.S.
Outside the U.S.
Anticipated future demand
Within the U.S.
Outside the U.S.
III-8.

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 NOES 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, Germany, Japan, Korea,
Sweden, and/or Taiwan, and (3) the world as a whole. Of particular interest is such data from
2014 to the present and forecasts for the future.

III-9.

Country preferences.--Do you or your customers ever specifically order NOES from one country
in particular over other possible sources of supply?
No

Yes

If yes, identify the countries and explain.

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III-10. Importance of purchasing domestic product.--Please fill out the table below, estimating the
percentage of your firm’s total 2019 purchases of NOES that required NOES produced in the
United States.

Purchases that did not require domestic product
Purchases that were required by law or regulation to be domestic product
(e.g., government purchases under “Buy American” provisions)
Purchases that were not required by law or regulation, but were required
by your customers to be domestic product
Purchases that were required to be domestic product for other reasons
(explain:
)
Total (should sum to 100.0%)

Estimated percentage
of your firm’s total 2019
purchases of NOES
%
%
%
%
0.0 %

III-11. Conditions of competition.-(a) Is the NOES market subject to business cycles (other than general economy-wide conditions)
and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to NOES?
Check all that apply.
No

Please describe.
Skip to question III-12.

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
NOES since January 1, 2014?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

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III-12. Trends and developments in e-mobility sector.--Please identify trends and discuss
developments in the United States with respect to NOES products related to the production of
motors for electric vehicles (i.e. the e-mobility sector). In addition, please indicate your firm’s
ability to purchase NOES for these applications (in particular NOES with a minimum of 3% Si
content, thickness range between 0.20mm and 0.35mm, magnetic characteristics measured and
guaranteed at 1.0T & 400Hz, and yield strength (Ys) above 390mpa).

III-13. Decisions based on producer and country-of-origin.--How often does your firm, and if you
know, do your customers, make purchasing decisions involving NOES based on its producer or
country of origin?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

If at least sometimes, explain.

Decision based on producer
Your firm
Your
customers
Decision based on country of origin
Your firm
Your
customers

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III-14. Availability of supply.--Has the availability of NOES in the U.S. market changed since January 1,
2014? Do you anticipate any future changes?
Availability in the U.S. market

No

Please explain, noting the countries and
Yes reasons for the changes.

Changes since January 1, 2014:
U.S.-produced product
Imports from China, Germany,
Japan, Korea, Sweden, and/or
Taiwan
Imports from all other countries
Anticipated changes:
U.S.-produced product
Imports from China, Germany,
Japan, Korea, Sweden, and/or
Taiwan
Imports from all other countries
III-15. Availability of specific product types.--Are certain grades/types/sizes of NOES only available
from certain country sources?
No

Yes

If yes, please identify the countries and the grade/type/size.

III-16. Supply constraints.--Has any firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply your firm with
NOES since January 1, 2014 (examples include placing customers on allocation or “controlled
order entry,” declining to accept new customers or renew existing customers, delivering less
than the quantity promised, being unable to meet timely shipment commitments, etc.)?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

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III-17. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

How frequently do you make purchases of NOES (check one)?
Daily

(b)

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Annually

Other

If other, specify

Do you expect this purchasing frequency to change in the next two years?
No

Yes

If yes, explain.

III-18. Raw material prices.-(a)

Is your firm familiar with the prices for raw materials used in the production of NOES?
No

(b)

Yes – please answer (b)

Has information on raw material prices affected your firm’s negotiations or contracts to
purchase NOES since 2014?
No

Yes

Explain

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III-19. Impact of the section 232 tariffs.--Did the imposition of tariffs on imported steel/aluminum
products under section 232 have an impact on the NOES market in the United States?
Yes— Please indicate the
impact in the table below.

Factor
Supply of U.S.produced NOES
Supply of imported
NOES
Prices for NOES
Overall U.S. demand
for NOES
Raw material costs
for NOES

No

Overall
No
Overall
increase change decrease

Don’t know

Fluctuate Explain, noting how the imposition
with no
of tariffs under section 232
clear
affected each factor of the NOES
trend
market in the United States.

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III-20. Impact of section 301 tariffs.--Did the imposition of tariffs on Chinese-origin products under
section 301 have an impact on the NOES market in the United States?
Yes— Please indicate the
impact in the table below.

No

Overall
No
Overall
increase change decrease

Factor

Don’t know

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

Supply of U.S.produced NOES
Supply of NOES
imported from China
Supply of NOES
imported from other
countries
Prices for NOES
Overall U.S. demand
for NOES
Raw material costs
for NOES
III-21. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers do you generally contact before making a
purchase? Between
and
firms.
III-22. Supplier negotiations.--Do your firm’s purchases of NOES usually involve negotiations between
supplier and purchaser?

No

Yes

If yes, explain the factors you generally negotiate and note whether your
firm quotes competing prices during negotiations.

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III-23. Change in suppliers.--Has your firm changed suppliers since January 1, 2014?

No

Yes

If yes, please list the supplier(s), whether the firm was added or dropped,
and the reasons for the change.

III-24. New suppliers.-(a)

Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have entered the
market since January 1, 2014?
No

(b)

Yes

If yes, please identify the firms.

Do you expect new NOES suppliers to enter the U.S. market?
No

Yes

If yes, please explain.

III-25. Supplier qualification.--Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified
to sell NOES to your firm?
If yes, provide the following information.
• The number of days to qualify a new supplier.
• A general description of the certification or qualification process. Also, a brief
description of the factors that you consider when qualifying a new supplier (e.g., quality
of product, reliability of supplier, etc.).

No

Yes

Number
of days

Process and factors

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III-26. Failure to certify.--Since January 1, 2014, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their
attempts to certify or qualify their NOES with your firm or have any producers lost their
approved status?

No

Yes

If yes, please identify these firms, the countries where they are located, and
the reasons why they failed the certification/qualification.

III-27. Major purchasing factors.--Please list, in order of their importance, the three major factors your
firm considers in deciding from whom to purchase NOES (examples include availability,
extension of credit, contracts, price, quality, range of supplier’s product line, traditional supplier,
etc.).
1.
2.
3.
Please list any other factors that are very important in your purchase decisions:

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III-28. Purchasing factors.--Please rate the importance of the following factors in your firm’s
purchasing decisions for NOES.

Factor

Very
important

Somewhat
important

Not
important

Availability (overall)
Availability of NOES for e-mobility applications
Cut-to-length for customer
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Inventory management
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Payment terms
Price
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs
III-29. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of NOES?

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III-30. Minimum quality.--How often does NOES from the following countries meet minimum quality
specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?
Source

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or
never

Don’t
know

United States
China
Germany
Japan
Korea
Sweden
Taiwan
Other:
III-31. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the NOES that is
offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

III-32. Price leaders.--A price leader is defined as (1) one or more firms that initiate a price change,
either upward or downward, that is followed by other firms, or (2) one or more firms that have a
significant impact on prices. A price leader is not necessarily the lowest-priced supplier.
Please list the names of any firms you considered price leaders in the NOES market since
January 1, 2014.
Firm(s)

Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership

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III-33. Changes in U.S. industry.-(a)

Please identify and discuss any improvements/changes in the U.S. NOES industry since
January 1, 2014 and explain the factors, including the order(s) under review, that were
responsible for each improvement/change.

(b)

Please discuss any improvements/changes that you anticipate in the future in the U.S.
NOES industry. Identify the time period and causes for these improvements/changes.

III-34. Effect of revocation of orders.-(a)

Describe the significance of the existing antidumping duty and countervailing duty
orders covering imports of NOES from China, Germany, Japan, Korea, Sweden, and
Taiwan in terms of their effect on your firm’s purchasing operations/sourcing patterns.
You may wish to compare your firm’s purchasing operations/sourcing patterns before
and after the imposition of the orders.

(b)

Would your firm anticipate any changes in the character of its purchasing operations/
sourcing patterns relating to your firm's procurement of NOES in the future if the
antidumping duty and countervailing duty orders on NOES from China, Germany, Japan,
Korea, Sweden and Taiwan were to be revoked?

No

Yes

If yes, describe.

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PART IV.--PRODUCT COMPARISIONS
IV-1.

Interchangeability.--Is NOES 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

Germany

Japan

Korea

Sweden

Taiwan

Other
countries

United States
China
Germany
Japan
Korea
Sweden
Taiwan
For any country-pair producing NOES which is sometimes or never interchangeable, please identify
the country-pair and explain the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable use:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - NOES (Review)
IV-2.

Page 24

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

Country-pair

China

Germany

Japan

Korea

Sweden

Taiwan

Other
countries

United States
China
Germany
Japan
Korea
Sweden
Taiwan
For any country-pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant factor in
your firm’s purchases of NOES, identify the country-pair and report the advantages or disadvantages
imparted by such factors:

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - NOES (Review)
IV-3.

Page 25

Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how NOES produced in
each country you identified in your response to question II-4 compares with NOES produced in
each of the other countries you identified.

If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.

Inferior

Comparable

Product from the
United States
compared to
product from
Japan

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from the
United States
compared to
product from
Germany

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from the
United States
compared to
product from
China

Availability
Availability of NOES for e-mobility
applications
Cut-to-length for customer
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Inventory management
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Payment terms
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has lower
prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.
1

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - NOES (Review)
IV-3.

Page 26

Continued.

If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.

Inferior

Comparable

Product from the
United States
compared to
product from
Taiwan

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from the
United States
compared to
product from
Sweden

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from the
United States
compared to
product from
Korea

Availability
Availability of NOES for e-mobility
applications
Cut-to-length for customer
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Inventory management
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Payment terms
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has lower
prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.
1

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - NOES (Review)
IV-3.

Page 27

Continued.

If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
Japan
compared to
product from
nonsubject
countries

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
Germany
compared to
product from
nonsubject
countries

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
China
compared to
product from
nonsubject
countries

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
the U.S.
compared to
product from
nonsubject
countries

Availability
Availability of NOES for e-mobility
applications
Cut-to-length for customer
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Inventory management
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Payment terms
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has lower
prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.
1

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - NOES (Review)
IV-3.

Page 28

Continued.

If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
Taiwan
compared to
product from
nonsubject
countries

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
Sweden
compared to
product from
nonsubject
countries

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
Korea
compared to
product from
nonsubject
countries

Availability
Availability of NOES for e-mobility
applications
Cut-to-length for customer
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Inventory management
Minimum quantity requirements
Packaging
Payment terms
Price1
Product consistency
Product range
Quality meets industry standards
Quality exceeds industry standards
Reliability of supply
Technical support/service
U.S. transportation costs1
A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has lower
prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.
1

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - NOES (Review)
IV-4.

Page 29

Change in price.-(a)

Since January 1, 2014, has there been a change in the price of NOES from any the
following countries?

Country
United States

Yes (also respond to
question part (b))

No (If “No” for all countries,
skip to next question)

China
Germany
Japan
Korea
Sweden
Taiwan
(b)

If your firm responded “yes” to any of the above countries, please describe how the
price of U.S.-produced NOES has changed relative to the price of imported NOES from
China, Germany, Japan, Korea, Sweden, and/or Taiwan.

Country
China
Germany
Japan
Korea
Sweden
Taiwan

Prices changed
Price of U.S.by the same
produced NOES is
percent
now relatively higher

Price of U.S.produced NOES is
now relatively lower

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - NOES (Review)

Page 30

PART V.—ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
V-1.

Other explanations.--If your firm would like to further explain a response to any question that
for which a narrative response box was not provided, please note the question number and the
explanation in the space provided below.

V-2.

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

Dollars

The questions in this questionnaire have been reviewed with market participants to ensure that
issues of concern are adequately addressed and that data requests are sufficient, meaningful,
and as limited as possible. Public reporting burden for this questionnaire is estimated to average
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.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - NOES (Review)

Page 31

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/non_oriented_electrical_steel_chin
a_germany_japan/first_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: NOES

• 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 does not purchase this product, please fill out page 1, print, sign, and submit a scanned
copy to the Commission.
Parties to this proceeding.—If your firm is a party to this proceeding, it is required to serve a copy of the
completed questionnaire on parties to the proceeding that are subject to administrative protective
order (see 19 CFR § 207.7). A list of such parties may be obtained from the Commission’s Secretary (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.