Trade Cases
April 28, 2016
USS Complaint Says Chinese Stole Secrets and Should be Banned from U.S. Market
Written by Sandy Williams
US Steel claims trade secrets involved in creating Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS) were stolen in a Chinese cyber-attack in January 2011. Information acquired included the particular chemistry for Dual Phase steel (grades 590, 780 and 980) and its coating; critical temperatures and holding times for heating, cooling, and coating the steel; and the capabilities and layout of the intended production line.
US Steel maintains the attack was similar to one made to their network in 2010 in which a grand jury concluded it was perpetrated by Chinese military personnel. The FBI determined in that attack the Chinese government “blatantly sought to use cyber espionage to obtain economic advantage for its state-owned industries.”
