51.   Higher production costs overwhelmed restructuring efforts at Japanese steel giant Nippon Steel Corp., which reported Friday lower interim pre-tax profdits despite increased revenues.

52.   Already hit by the surging yen, the loss of the Chinese business would be a severe blow, as it absorbs a major share of Japanese steel exports.

53.   Brooke has turned down what has been billed as a six figure contract with a Japanese steel company.

54.   But Japanese steel makers immediately criticised the tariffs, which would hit Japan particularly hard while US trading partners Canada and Mexico escape any penalty.

55.   But Japanese steel makers say they may complain about any protectionist measures to the World Trade Organization.

56.   The two companies signed the agreement on Friday in South Korea, the Japanese steel maker said in a statement.

57.   Japanese steel maker Kawasaki Steel Corp. said Wednesday it had developed technology for recycling zinc and iron collected from the residue of steel output at electric furnaces.

58.   Japanese steel makers immediately criticised the tariffs, which would hit Japan particularly hard while US trading partners Canada and Mexico escape any penalty.

59.   It was the first time in three months Japanese steel exports went down, the federation said.

60.   It was the second action filed by Japan against US antidumping measures on Japanese steel products.