US Steel: China Uses Cyber Stealth To Steal Secrets

US Steel: China Uses Cyber Stealth To Steal Secrets

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US Steel Corporation, one of the world’s largest producers of steel, has filed a complaint with the US International Trade Commission (ITC) accusing China of using cyber stealth to steal its secrets.

“The Chinese industry has formed a cartel that sets purchase and sale prices, and controls production and export volumes to target export markets,” the complaint reads. But that’s only the beginning.

The complaint goes on to say that: “The Chinese industry has used its government to steal US Steel’s closely guarded trade secrets and uses those trade secrets to produce advanced steel products it could not make on its own.”

The US manufacturing giant says it is prepared for a long fight against the practice, and that its Chinese rivals must be investigated.

“We will use every tool available to fight for fair trade,” said in a statement Mario Longhi, US Steel CEO.

The ITC now has 30 days to review the complaint and decide whether to investigate the charges. It’s expected, judging by past behaviour, the the Commission will oblige.

China’s Commerce Ministry said in response that the complaints “have no factual basis.” It urged the ITC to reject the case.

It’s important to note that US Steel did not provide evidence for its accusation of hacking in the public complaint, but insisted that a 2011 hack was in line with “the pattern of previous attacks that the Chinese government conducted to benefit their state-owned companies. The attack circumvented the technological safeguards US Steel uses to protect its trade secrets, and stole several gigabytes of valuable research data on advanced steels.”