U.S. steel company files trade case over trade secrets

Ta Chen Stainless Pipe Co

08/09/2014 16:49

WASHINGTON, Sept 8 (Reuters) - A U.S. steel company on 
Monday filed a petition with the U.S. International Trade 
Commission, seeking to block imports of some stainless steel 
products from India, Germany and Taiwan, claiming competitors 
are using stolen trade secrets. 
    Valbruna Slater Stainless and Valbruna Stainless of Fort 
Wayne, Indiana, which manufacture stainless steel forging 
billets, round cornered square billets and stainless steel bars, 
and their Italian parent Acciaierie Valbruna said the petition 
aimed to protect their intellectual property rights. 
    The foreign companies named in the complaint are India's 
Viraj Profiles Limited, German affiliate Flanschenwerk Bebitz 
GmbH and Taiwan's Ta Chen Stainless Pipe Co  2027.TW , along 
with associated companies. 
   "The proposed respondents' unfair acts have substantially 
injured Valbruna by undercutting the market for Valbruna steel 
and taking away Valbruna's customers," the petition said. 
    "Valbruna seeks a limited exclusion order and a cease and 
desist order to stop the proposed respondents from continuing to 
profit from the misappropriation of Valbruna's trade secrets and 
injuring Valbruna."  
    The complaint covers stainless steel semifinished products, 
such as ingots and billets; stainless steel wire rod in coils; 
stainless steel bars and shapes; wire; and downstream stainless 
steel products, such as flanges, forgings, and fasteners. 
 
 (Reporting by Krista Hughes; Editing by David Gregorio) 
 ((krista.hughes@thomsonreuters.com; +1 202 354 5854; Reuters 
Messaging: krista.hughes.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) 
 
Keywords: USA TRADE/VALBRUNA