20-3-4371 U.S. purchasers' questionnaire

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

Fertilizers (F) -- U.S. Purchaser Questionnaire

Phosphate fertilizers from Morocco and Russia (Inv. nos. 701-TA-650-651) Final

OMB: 3117-0016

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OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 20-3-4371; Expiration Date: 6/30/2023
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U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
PHOSPHATE FERTILIZERS FROM MOROCCO AND RUSSIA
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by December 29, 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 investigations concerning phosphate fertilizers from Morocco and Russia (Inv.
Nos. 701-TA-650-651 (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 Andrew Knipe (202-205-2390, [email protected]).
Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

Website
Has your firm purchased, or imported for its own use or retail sale, phosphate fertilizers (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: FERT)
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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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Phosphate fertilizers (Final)

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PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.--This proceeding was instituted in response to petitions filed on June 26, 2020, by The
Mosaic Company, Plymouth, Minnesota. Countervailing 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. Questionnaires and other information pertinent to this proceeding are
available at
https://usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2020/phosphate_fertilizers_morocco_and_russia/final.htm.
Phosphate fertilizers covered by these investigations is phosphate fertilizers in all physical forms (i.e.,
solid or liquid form), with or without coating or additives such as anti-caking agents. Phosphate
fertilizers in solid form are covered whether granular, prilled (i.e., pelletized), or in other solid form (e.g.,
powdered).
The covered merchandise includes phosphate fertilizers in the following forms: ammonium
dihydrogenorthophosphate or monoammonium phosphate (MAP), chemical formula NH4H2PO4;
diammonium hydrogenorthophosphate or diammonium phosphate (DAP), chemical formula
(NH4)2HPO4; normal superphosphate (NSP), also known as ordinary superphosphate or single
superphosphate, chemical formula Ca(H2PO4)2ꞏCaSO4; concentrated superphosphate, also known as
double, treble, or triple superphosphate (TSP), chemical formula Ca(H2PO4)2ꞏH2O; and proprietary
formulations of MAP, DAP, NSP, and TSP.
The covered merchandise also includes other fertilizer formulations incorporating phosphorous and
non-phosphorous plant nutrient components, whether chemically-bonded, granulated (e.g., when
multiple components are incorporated into granules through, e.g., a slurry process), or compounded
(e.g., when multiple components are compacted together under high pressure), including nitrogen,
phosphate, sulfur (NPS) fertilizers, nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium (NPK) fertilizers, nitric phosphate
(also known as nitrophosphate) fertilizers, ammoniated superphosphate fertilizers, and proprietary
formulations thereof that may or may not include other nonphosphorous plant nutrient components.
For phosphate fertilizers that contain nonphosphorous plant nutrient components, such as nitrogen,
potassium, sulfur, zinc, or other nonphosphorous components, the entire article is covered, including
the non-phosphorous content, provided that the phosphorous content (measured by available
diphosphorous pentaoxide, chemical formula P2O5) is at least 5% by actual weight.
Phosphate fertilizers that are otherwise subject to this investigation are included when commingled (i.e.,
mixed or blended) with phosphate fertilizers from sources not subject to this investigation. Phosphate
fertilizers that are otherwise subject to this investigation are included when commingled with
substances other than phosphate fertilizers subject to this investigation (e.g., granules containing only
non-phosphate fertilizers such as potash or urea). Only the subject component of such commingled
products is covered by the scope of this investigation. The following products are specifically excluded
from the scope of this investigation:
(1) ABC dry chemical powder preparations for fire extinguishers containing MAP or DAP in powdered
form;
(2) industrial or technical grade MAP in white crystalline form with available P2O5 content of at least
60% by actual weight;

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Page 3

(3) industrial or technical grade diammonium phosphate in white crystalline form with available P2O5
content of at least 50% by actual weight;
(4) liquid ammonium polyphosphate fertilizers;
(5) dicalcium phosphate, chemical formula CaHPO4;
(6) monocalcium phosphate, chemical formula CaH4P2O8;
(7) trisodium phosphate, chemical formula Na3PO4;
(8) sodium tripolyphosphate, chemical formula Na5P3O10;
(9) prepared baking powders containing sodium bicarbonate and any form of phosphate;
(10) animal or vegetable fertilizers not containing phosphate fertilizers otherwise covered by the scope
of this investigation;
(11) phosphoric acid, chemical formula H3PO4.
The Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) numbers for covered phosphate fertilizers include, but are not
limited to: 7722-76-1 (MAP); 7783-28-0 (DAP); and 65996-95-4 (TSP). The covered products may also be
identified by Nitrogen-Phosphate-Potash composition, including but not limited to: NP 11-52-0 (MAP);
NP 18-46-0 (DAP); and NP 0-46-0 (TSP).
The covered merchandise is currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
(HTSUS) at subheadings 3103.11.0000; 3103.19.0000; 3105.20.0000; 3105.30.0000; 3105.40.0010;
3105.40.0050; 3105.51.0000; and 3105.59.0000 (“Primary HTS Statistical Reporting Numbers”).
Phosphate fertilizers subject to this investigation may also enter under subheadings 3103.90.0010,
3105.10.0000, 3105.60.0000, 3105.90.0010, and 3105.90.0050. Although the HTSUS subheadings and
CAS registry numbers are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of
the scope is dispositive.
Purchaser.--Any firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or subsidiary, in purchasing
phosphate fertilizers from another firm that produces, imports, or otherwise distributes phosphate
fertilizers.
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.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Phosphate fertilizers (Final)

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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.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Phosphate fertilizers (Final)
I-1a.

Page 5

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 phosphate fertilizers,
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 phosphate fertilizers into the United States or which export phosphate
fertilizers to the United States?
No
Firm name

Yes--List the following information.
Country

Affiliation

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Phosphate fertilizers (Final)
I-4.

Page 6

Related producers.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, which
produce phosphate fertilizers?
No
Firm name

Yes--List the following information.
Country

Affiliation

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Phosphate fertilizers (Final)

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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 and imports of
phosphate fertilizers.

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.
2017

2018

Item

JanuarySeptember
2020

2019

Quantity (in short tons)

Purchases of phosphate
fertilizers produced in—
United States
Morocco
Russia
Saudi Arabia
All other countries1
Sources unknown2
Total purchases

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Imports of phosphate
fertilizers from—
Morocco
Russia
Saudi Arabia
All other countries1
Total imports3

Please identify these countries:
Please indicate the firm(s) from which you purchased this merchandise:
3
If your firm imported phosphate fertilizers 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 - Phosphate fertilizers (Final)
II-2.

Page 8

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

Source of
purchases

Did not
purchase Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated

Explanation for trend

United States
Morocco
Russia
Saudi Arabia
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 phosphate fertilizers market.
United
States

II-4.

Morocco

Russia

Saudi
Arabia

Other
countries

Other countries (specify)

Supplier identification.--Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers for phosphate fertilizers
since January 1, 2017. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s total purchases of
phosphate fertilizers 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 - Phosphate fertilizers (Final)

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

Firm type.--Which of the following describes your firm as a purchaser of phosphate fertilizers
(check all that apply)?
End
user

III-2.

Retailer

Wholesaler/
Importer Producer
distributor

Other

Describe other

Competition for sales.--Does your firm compete for sales to customers with the manufacturers
or importers from which your firm purchases phosphate fertilizers?
Firm type

No

Yes

If yes, please describe.

Manufacturers
Importers

III-3.

Types of customers.--What are the major types of customers to which your firm sells phosphate
fertilizers?

III-4.

Substitutes.--Can other products be substituted for phosphate fertilizers?
No

Substitute
1.
2.
3.

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 phosphate fertilizers?
No Yes

Explanation

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Phosphate fertilizers (Final)
III-5.

Page 10

Demand trends.--Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United
States (if known) for phosphate fertilizers has changed since January 1, 2017. Explain any trends
(including the time period) and describe the principal factors (such as weather) that have
affected these changes in demand.

Overall
increase

Market

No
change

Fluctuate
Overall
with no
decrease clear trend

Explanation and factors

Within the United States
Outside the United States
III-6.

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

III-7.

Yes

If yes, identify the countries and explain.

Importance of purchasing domestic product.--Please fill out the table below, estimating the
percentage of your firm’s total 2019 purchases of phosphate fertilizers that required phosphate
fertilizers 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 phosphate
fertilizers
%
%
%
%
0.0 %

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Phosphate fertilizers (Final)
III-8.

Page 11

Conditions of competition.-(a)

Is the phosphate fertilizers market subject to business cycles and/or other conditions of
competition distinctive to phosphate fertilizers?

Check all that apply.

Please describe.

No

Skip to question III-9.

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
phosphate fertilizers since January 1, 2017?
No

III-9.

Yes

If yes, describe.

Decisions based on producer and country-of-origin.--How often does your firm, and if known,
do your customers, make purchasing decisions involving phosphate fertilizers 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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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Phosphate fertilizers (Final)

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III-10. Availability of supply.--Has the availability of phosphate fertilizers 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-11. Supply constraints.--Has any firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply your firm with
phosphate fertilizers 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 supplier(s), the time period, and the
reason(s) for the supply constraint (including weather-related issues, plant
closures, and/or idling or curtailment of production facilities).

III-12. Availability of specific product types.--Are certain types of phosphate fertilizers only available
from certain country sources?
No

Yes

If yes, please identify the countries and the type.

III-13. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

How frequently does your firm make purchases of phosphate fertilizers (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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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Phosphate fertilizers (Final)

Page 13

III-14. Raw material prices.—
(a)

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

(b)

Yes – please answer (b)

Has information on raw material prices affected your firm’s negotiations or contracts to
purchase phosphate fertilizers since 2017?
No

Yes Explain

III-15. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers does your firm generally contact before
making a purchase? Between
and
firms
III-16. Supplier negotiations.--Do your firm’s purchases of phosphate fertilizers 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-17. 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-18. 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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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Phosphate fertilizers (Final)

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III-19. Supplier qualification.--Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified
to sell phosphate fertilizers 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-20. Failure to certify.--Since January 1, 2017, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their
attempts to certify or qualify their phosphate fertilizers 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-21. Major purchasing factors.--Please list, in order of their importance, the main factors your firm
considers in deciding from whom to purchase phosphate fertilizers (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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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Phosphate fertilizers (Final)

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III-22. Purchasing factors.--Please rate the importance of the following factors in your firm’s
purchasing decisions for phosphate fertilizers.

Factor

Very
important

Somewhat
important

Not
important

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
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. distribution network
U.S. transportation costs
III-23. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of phosphate fertilizers?

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Phosphate fertilizers (Final)

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III-24. Minimum quality.--How often does phosphate fertilizers 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
Morocco
Russia
Other:
III-25. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the phosphate
fertilizers that is offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

III-26. 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 phosphate fertilizers
market since January 1, 2017.
Firm(s)

Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership

III-27. Published prices—
(a)

Does your firm use phosphate fertilizer prices reported in trade publications to
negotiate purchase prices?
No

(b)

Yes If yes, please explain and identify the publications/price indices.

Since January 1, 2017, has your firm reported pricing data to any trade publication
indices?
No

Yes If yes, please identify the publications/indices.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Phosphate fertilizers (Final)

Page 17

III-28. Purchasing subject imports rather than domestic products.-(c)

Since January 2017, did your firm import and/or purchase imports of phosphate
fertilizers from Morocco and/or Russia instead of purchasing U.S.-produced phosphate
fertilizers? Respond for each subject country.

Source

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

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

Morocco
Russia
(b)

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

Yes

No

Morocco
Russia
(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

Morocco
Russia

Yes

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

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 - Phosphate fertilizers (Final)

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III-29. U.S. producers and import competition.-(a)

Since January 1, 2017, in connection with a sale or offer to sell phosphate fertilizers to
your firm, did U.S. producers reduce their prices of domestically produced phosphate
fertilizers in order to compete with lower-priced imports of phosphate fertilizers from
the subject countries? Respond for each subject country.
Source

Yes (also respond to
question part (b))

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

Don’t know

Morocco
Russia
(b)

If your firm responded “yes” to any of the above countries, 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

Estimated
reduction in U.S.
prices
(percent)

Morocco

%

Russia

%

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 - Phosphate fertilizers (Final)

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PART IV.--PRODUCT COMPARISONS
IV-1.

Interchangeability.--Is phosphate fertilizers 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

Morocco

Russia

Saudi Arabia

Other countries

United States
Morocco
Russia
Saudi Arabia
For any country-pair producing phosphate fertilizers that is sometimes or never interchangeable,
identify the country-pair and explain the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable use:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Phosphate fertilizers (Final)
IV-2.

Page 20

Factors other than price.--Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between phosphate fertilizers
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

Morocco

Russia

Saudi Arabia

Other countries

United States
Morocco
Russia
Saudi Arabia
For any country-pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant factor
in your firm’s purchases of phosphate fertilizers, identify the country-pair and report the advantages
or disadvantages imparted by such factors:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Phosphate fertilizers (Final)
IV-3.

Page 21

Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how phosphate fertilizers
produced in each country you identified in your response to the first question in Part IV
compares with phosphate fertilizers produced in each of the other countries you identified.

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.
Product from
Product from
United States
United States
Product from
compared to product
compared to
Morocco compared
product from
from
to product from
Morocco
Russia
Russia

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
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. distribution network
U.S. transportation costs1
A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has lower
prices (net of all discounts rebates)/U.S. transportation costs (all U.S. inland transportation costs) than the
second country.
1

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Phosphate fertilizers (Final)
IV-3.

Page 22

Continued.

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Factor

Superior

If you are unfamiliar with the product from a particular country, please leave the boxes for those
country comparisons blank.
Product from
Product from
Morocco
Product from
United States
compared to
Russia compared to
product from
compared to product
product from
from
Nonsubject
Nonsubject
Nonsubject countries
countries
countries

Availability
Delivery terms
Delivery time
Discounts offered
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. distribution network
U.S. transportation costs1
A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has lower
prices (net of all discounts rebates)/U.S. transportation costs (all U.S. inland transportation costs) than the
second country.
1

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Phosphate fertilizers (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 - Phosphate fertilizers (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://usitc.gov/investigations/701731/2020/phosphate_fertilizers_morocco_and_russ
ia/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: FERT

• 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.


File Typeapplication/pdf
File TitleUS purchaser questionnaire
SubjectTitle 7 investigations
AuthorCohen, Cindy E.
File Modified2020-11-25
File Created2020-11-25

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