20-3-4355 U.S. purchasers' questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 20-3-4355; Expiration Date: 6/30/2023
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
SMALL VERTICAL SHAFT ENGINES FROM CHINA
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by December 14, 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 duty and antidumping duty investigations concerning small vertical shaft engines from
China (inv. Nos. 701-TA-643 and 731-TA-1493 (Final)). The information requested in the questionnaire is requested
under the authority of the Tariff Act of 1930, title VII. This report is mandatory and failure to reply as directed can result
in a subpoena or other order to compel the submission of records or information in your possession (19 U.S.C. §
1333(a)). Further information on this questionnaire can be obtained from Cindy Cohen (202-205-3230,
[email protected]).

Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm purchased, or imported for its own use, small vertical shaft engines (as defined on next page) from
any source (domestic or foreign) at any time since January 1, 2017?

NO

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

YES

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

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

Title of Authorized Official

Date

Signature

Phone

Email address

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PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.—These proceedings were instituted in response to petitions filed on March 18, 2020, by
Briggs & Stratton Corporation, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. 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/701731/2020/small_vertical_shaft_engines_china/final.htm.
Small vertical shaft engines covered by these investigations consist of spark-ignited, non-road, vertical
shaft engines, whether finished or unfinished, whether assembled or unassembled, whether mounted
or unmounted, primarily for walk-behind lawn mowers. Engines meeting this physical description may
also be for other non-hand-held outdoor power equipment, including but not limited to, pressure
washers. The subject engines are spark ignition, single-cylinder, air cooled, internal combustion engines
with vertical power take off shafts with a minimum displacement of 99 cubic centimeters (cc) and a
maximum displacement of up to, but not including, 225cc. Typically, engines with displacements of this
size generate gross power of between 1.95 kilowatts (kw) to 4.75 kw.
Engines covered by this scope normally must comply with and be certified under Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) air pollution controls title 40, chapter I, subchapter U, part 1054 of the Code of
Federal Regulations standards for small non-road spark-ignition engines and equipment. Engines that
otherwise meet the physical description of the scope but are not certified under 40 CFR part 1054 and
are not certified under other parts of subchapter U of the EPA air pollution controls are not excluded
from the scope of these proceedings. Engines that may be certified under both 40 CFR part 1054 as well
as other parts of subchapter U remain subject to the scope of these proceedings.
Certain small vertical shaft engines, whether or not mounted on non-hand-held outdoor power
equipment, including but not limited to walk-behind lawn mowers and pressure washers, are included in
the scope. However, if a subject engine is imported mounted on such equipment, only the engine is
covered by the scope. Subject merchandise includes certain small vertical shaft engines produced in the
subject country whether mounted on outdoor power equipment in the subject country or in a third
country. Subject engines are covered whether or not they are accompanied by other parts.
For purposes of these investigations, an unfinished engine covers at a minimum a sub-assembly
comprised of, but not limited to, the following components: Crankcase, crankshaft, camshaft, piston(s),
and connecting rod(s). Importation of these components together, whether assembled or unassembled,
and whether or not accompanied by additional components such as a sump, carburetor spacer, cylinder
head(s), valve train, or valve cover(s), constitutes an unfinished engine for purposes of these
investigations. The inclusion of other products such as spark plugs fitted into the cylinder head or
electrical devices (e.g., ignition coils) for synchronizing with the engine to supply tension current does
not remove the product from the scope. The inclusion of any other components not identified as
comprising the unfinished engine subassembly in a third country does not remove the engine from the
scope.
Specifically excluded from the scope of the investigations are “Commercial” or “Heavy Commercial”
engines under 40 CFR 1054.107 and 1054.135 that have (1) a displacement of 160 cc or greater, (2) a

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cast iron cylinder liner, (3) an automatic compression release, and (4) a muffler with at least three
chambers and volume greater than 400 cc.
The engines subject to these investigations are predominantly classified in the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) at statistical reporting number 8407.90.1010. The engine
subassemblies that are subject to these investigations enter under HTSUS 8409.91.9990. The mounted
engines that are subject to these investigations enter under HTSUS 8433.11.0050, 8433.11.0060, and
8424.30.9000. Engines subject to these investigations may also enter under HTSUS 8407.90.1020,
8407.90.9040, and 8407.90.9060. The HTSUS statistical reporting numbers are provided for convenience
and customs purposes only, and the written description of the merchandise under investigation is
dispositive.
Purchaser.--Any firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or subsidiary, in purchasing
small vertical shaft engines from another firm that produces, imports, or otherwise distributes small
vertical shaft engines.
Reporting of information.--If information is not readily available from your records, provide carefully
prepared estimates. If your firm is completing more than one questionnaire (i.e., a producer, importer,
and/or purchaser questionnaire), you need not respond to duplicated questions.
Confidentiality.--The commercial and financial data furnished in response to this questionnaire that
reveal the individual operations of your firm will be treated as confidential by the Commission to the
extent that such data are not otherwise available to the public and will not be disclosed except as may
be required by law (see 19 U.S.C. § 1677f). Such confidential information will not be published in a
manner that will reveal the individual operations of your firm; however, general characterizations of
numerical business proprietary information (such as discussion of trends) will be treated as confidential
business information only at the request of the submitter for good cause shown.
Verification.--The information submitted in this questionnaire is subject to audit and verification by the
Commission. To facilitate possible verification of data, please keep all files, worksheets, and supporting
documents used in the preparation of the questionnaire response. Please also retain a copy of the final
document that you submit.
Release of information.--The information provided by your firm in response to this questionnaire, as
well as any other business proprietary information submitted by your firm to the Commission in
connection with these proceedings, 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 these proceedings 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.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Small vertical shaft engines from China (Final)
I-1a.

Page 4

Establishments covered.--Provide the name and address of your U.S. establishment(s) covered
by this questionnaire, if different from that listed on the cover page. Firms operating more than
one establishment should combine the data for all establishments into a single response.
“Establishment”--Each facility of a firm involved in the purchase of small vertical shaft engines,
including auxiliary facilities operated in conjunction with (whether or not physically separate
from) such facilities.

I-1b.

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

I-1c.

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, which import small vertical shaft engines into the United States or which export small
vertical shaft engines to the United States?
No
Firm name

Yes--List the following information.
Country

Affiliation

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Small vertical shaft engines from China (Final)
I-4.

Page 5

Related producers.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, which
produce small vertical shaft engines?
No
Firm name

Yes--List the following information.
Country

Affiliation

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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
Purchases and imports.--Report separately your firm’s domestic purchases of unmounted
engines and imports of unmounted and mounted small vertical shaft engines, by source.

II-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.
Report imports of mounted engines based on the country of origin of the engine, regardless of
where the engine was mounted or the country of exportation. Do not include any imports of
U.S.-produced engines mounted on equipment.
Calendar year
2017

2018

Item

JanuarySeptember
2020

2019

Quantity (in units)

Purchases of unmounted small vertical
shaft engines produced in.-United States
China
All other countries1
Sources unknown2
Total purchases

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Imports of small vertical shaft engines
from.-China (unmounted)
China (mounted)
All other countries1 (unmounted)
All other countries1 (mounted)
Total imports3

Please identify these countries:
Please indicate the firm(s) from which you purchased this merchandise:
3
If your firm imported small vertical shaft engines at any time since January 1, 2017, please also complete and
return a U.S. importers' questionnaire in this proceeding.
1
2

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Small vertical shaft engines from China (Final)
II-2.

Page 7

Changes in purchasing patterns.--Please indicate how the shares of your firm’s purchases of
small vertical shaft engines from different sources have changed since January 1, 2017.

Source of
purchases

Did not
purchase Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated

Explanation for trend

United States
China
All other countries
Sources unknown
II-3.

Country knowledge.--Please indicate the countries of origin with which your firm has
experience or information in the small vertical shaft engines market.
United
States

II-4.

China

Other
countries

Other countries (specify)

Supplier identification.--Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers for small vertical shaft
engines since January 1, 2017. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s total
purchases of small vertical shaft engines 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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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Small vertical shaft engines from China (Final)

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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 small vertical shaft
engines (check all that apply)?
OEM

III-2.

Distributor
or dealer

Other

Describe other

Competition for sales.--Does your firm compete for sales to customers with the manufacturers
or importers from which your firm purchases small vertical shaft engines?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

If your firm is a distributor of small vertical shaft engines, please answer question III-3.
III-3.

Types of customers.--What are the major types of consumers to which your firm sells small
vertical shaft engines?

If your firm is an end user of small vertical shaft engines, please answer questions III-4 to III-7.
III-4.

End uses.--List the top 3 products your firm makes using small vertical shaft engines and
estimate the percent of your total production cost that is accounted for by small vertical shaft
engines and by other inputs (such as labor, energy, and other raw materials).
Share of total cost in each of the product(s) your
firm produces accounted for by
Product(s) your firm
produces

Small vertical shaft
engines

Total
(should
sum to
100.0%
across)

Other inputs
% +

%

=

0.0 %

% +

%

=

0.0 %

% +

%

=

0.0 %

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Small vertical shaft engines from China (Final)
III-5.

Demand for end-use products.-(a)

Has the demand for your firm’s final products incorporating small vertical shaft engines
changed since January 1, 2017?
Increased

(b)

No change

Decreased

Fluctuated

Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for small vertical shaft engines?
No

III-6.

Page 9

Yes

Explain

Engine selection.—
(a)

Please describe how your firm selects the small vertical shaft engines to pair with the
mowers your firm produces.

(b)

Please explain how your firm analyzes the total value proposition of purchasing a small
vertical shaft engine (or set of engines) from different sources in the U.S. market.

(c)

Does your firm work with engine producers to develop small vertical shaft engines for
particular mower models? If yes, explain how this process works, whether competition
for mowers with engine producers affects these relationships, and the importance of
matching the engine brand to the mower brand.
No

Yes

Explain

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Small vertical shaft engines from China (Final)
III-6.

Page 10

Engine selection (continued).—
(d) Do your firm’s expenses for procuring engines vary by engine producer (or country)?

No

III-7.

III-8.

Price and contract negotiations.—
(a)

Please describe the price negotiation process with your firm’s suppliers of small vertical
shaft engines, the timeline, and when during the process prices are finalized.

(b)

Describe your firm’s contracts with each of your firm’s suppliers of small vertical shaft
engines, including the length of each contract, and whether prices or quantities are
fixed.

Substitutes.--Can other products be substituted for small vertical shaft engines?
No

Substitute
1.
2.
3.

Yes

Please explain and quantify any differences in expenses (including
costs of warranties, servicing, R&D, testing, regulatory compliance,
etc.)

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 small vertical shaft engines?
No Yes

Explanation

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Small vertical shaft engines from China (Final)
III-9.

Page 11

Demand trends.--Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United
States (if known) for small vertical shaft engines has changed since January 1, 2017. Explain any
trends and describe the principal factors that have affected these changes in demand (e.g., new
home construction, weather, overall economy, emissions regulations/environmental policies,
commercial lawn services, electric mowers, and COVID-19).

Overall
increase

Market

No
change

Fluctuate
Overall
with no
decrease clear trend

Explanation and factors

Within the United States
Outside the United States
III-10. Country preferences.--Do you or your customers ever specifically order small vertical shaft
engines from one country in particular over other possible sources of supply?
No

Yes

If yes, identify the countries and explain.

III-11. Importance of purchasing domestic product.--Please fill out the table below, estimating the
percentage of your firm’s total 2019 purchases of small vertical shaft engines that required small
vertical shaft engines 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 small vertical
shaft engines
%
%
%
%
0.0 %

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III-12. Conditions of competition.-(a)

Is the small vertical shaft engines market subject to business cycles (other than general
economy-wide conditions) and/or other conditions of competition distinctive to small
vertical shaft engines?

Check all that apply.

Please describe.

No

Skip to question III-13.

Yes-Business cycles (e.g.
seasonal business)
Yes-Other distinctive
conditions of competition
(b)

Have there been any changes in the business cycles or conditions of competition for
small vertical shaft engines since January 1, 2017?
No

Yes

If yes, describe.

III-13. Decisions based on producer and country-of-origin.--How often does your firm, and if known,
do your customers, make purchasing decisions involving small vertical shaft engines based on its
producer or country of origin?
Item

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

If at least sometimes, explain.

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

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III-14. Availability of supply.--Has the availability of small vertical shaft engines in the U.S. market
changed since January 1, 2017?
Availability in the U.S.
Please explain, noting the countries and reasons for the
market
No Yes changes.
U.S.-produced product
Subject imports
Nonsubject imports
III-15. Supply constraints.--Has any firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply your firm with
small vertical shaft engines 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, including the time period(s) and supplier(s).

III-16. Availability of specific product types.--Are certain types/sizes of small vertical shaft engines
only available from certain country sources?
No

Yes

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

III-17. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

How frequently does your firm make purchases of small vertical shaft engines (check
one)?
Daily

(b)

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Annually

Other

Has this purchasing frequency changed since January 1, 2017?
No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

If other, specify

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III-18. Raw material prices.—
(a)

Is your firm familiar with the prices for raw materials used in the production of small
vertical shaft engines?
No

(b)

Yes – please answer (b)

Has information on raw material prices affected your firm’s negotiations or contracts to
purchase small vertical shaft engines since 2017?
No

Yes Explain

III-19. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers does your firm generally contact before
making a purchase? Between
and
firms
III-20. Supplier negotiations.--Do your firm’s purchases of small vertical shaft engines usually involve
negotiations between supplier and purchaser?

No

Yes

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

III-21. Change in suppliers.--Has your firm changed suppliers since January 1, 2017?

No

Yes

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

III-22. New suppliers.--Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have
entered the market since January 1, 2017?
No

Yes

If yes, please identify the firms.

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III-23. Supplier qualification.--Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified
to sell small vertical shaft engines 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

III-24. Failure to certify.--Since January 1, 2017, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their
attempts to certify or qualify their small vertical shaft engines 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-25. Major purchasing factors.--Please list, in order of their importance, the main factors your firm
considers in deciding from whom to purchase small vertical shaft engines (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-26. Purchasing factors.--Please rate the importance of the following factors in your firm’s
purchasing decisions for small vertical shaft engines.

Factor
Availability
Brand of engine manufacturer
Brand private label (engine with
same name as mower or other
equipment)
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Engine features
Engine safety
Meet purchaser specifications
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
Warranty

Very
important

Somewhat
important

Not
important

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Small vertical shaft engines from China (Final)

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III-27. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when evaluating the
quality of small vertical shaft engines?

III-28. Minimum quality.--How often does small vertical shaft engines 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
Other:
III-29. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the small vertical
shaft engines that is offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

III-30. 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 small vertical shaft engines
market since January 1, 2017.
Firm(s)

Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership

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III-31. Purchasing subject imports rather than domestic products.—
(a)

Since January 2017, did your firm import and/or purchase imports of small vertical shaft
engines from China instead of purchasing U.S.-produced small vertical shaft engines?
Source

Yes
(also respond to parts (b) and (c))

No
(If “No”, skip to next question)

China
(b)

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

Yes

No

China
(c)

If you responded “Yes” to part (a), was price a primary reason for importing and/or
purchasing subject imports rather than domestic product?

Source

China

Yes

If Yes, estimate the quantity
of imports purchased and/or
imported instead of domestic
product since January 2017
(in units)

No

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

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Small vertical shaft engines from China (Final)

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III-32. U.S. producers and import competition.—
(a)

Since January 1, 2017, in connection with a sale or offer to sell small vertical shaft
engines to your firm, did U.S. producers reduce their prices of domestically produced
small vertical shaft engines in order to compete with lower-priced imports of small
vertical shaft engines from China?
Source

Yes (also respond to
question part (b))

No (If “No”, skip to next
question)

Don’t know

China
(b)

If your firm responded “yes”, please provide an estimate of the reduction in U.S.
producers’ prices, and any additional explanations, such as timing (e.g., months/years),
frequency of price reductions, or other market/competitive factors.

Source
China

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

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Small vertical shaft engines from China (Final)

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III-33. Impact of section 301 tariffs.—
(a) Did the imposition of tariffs on Chinese-origin products under section 301 have an impact on the
small vertical shaft engines market in the United States?
Yes— Please indicate the
impact in the table below.

No

Don’t know

(b) If yes, fill out the following table.

Overall
No
Overall
increase change decrease

Factor

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

Supply of U.S.produced small
vertical shaft engines
Supply of small
vertical shaft engines
imported from China
Supply of small
vertical shaft engines
imported from other
countries
Prices for small
vertical shaft engines
Overall U.S. demand
for small vertical shaft
engines
Raw material costs for
small vertical shaft
engines
III-34. Warranties. --Do your suppliers provide product warranties for small vertical shaft engines?

No

If yes, describe the warranties provided by each of your suppliers and indicate
Yes the percentage of the price of an engine that is accounted for by warranty costs.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Small vertical shaft engines from China (Final)

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PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS
IV-1.

Interchangeability.--Is small vertical shaft engines 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 small vertical shaft engines that is sometimes or never
interchangeable, identify the country-pair and explain the factors that limit or preclude
interchangeable use:

IV-2.

Factors other than price.--Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between small vertical shaft
engines 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

Other countries

United States
China
For any country-pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant
factor in your firm’s purchases of small vertical shaft engines, identify the country-pair and
report the advantages or disadvantages imparted by such factors:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Small vertical shaft engines from China (Final)

Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how small vertical shaft
engines produced in each country you identified in your response to the first question in Part IV
compares with small vertical shaft engines 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.

Availability
Brand of engine manufacturer
Brand private label (engine with same
name as mower or other equipment)
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
Engine features
Engine safety
Meet purchaser specifications
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
Warranty
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

Inferior

Comparable

Product from
China compared to
product from
Nonsubject
countries

Superior

Inferior

Product from
United States
compared to product
from
Nonsubject countries
Comparable

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

Product from
United States
compared to product
from
China

Superior

IV-3.

Page 22

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Small vertical shaft engines from China (Final)

Page 23

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

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Small vertical shaft engines from China (Final)

Page 24

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/small_vertical_shaft_engines_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: SMENG

• 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 your firm submits (see
19 CFR § 207.7). Service of the questionnaire must be made in paper form.