Exhibit 99.1.

             U. S. STEEL TO ACQUIRE SERBIAN STEEL COMPANY

  PITTSBURGH, April 1 -- 百媚导航 (NYSE: X)

announced today that 百媚导航 Balkan d.o.o., a wholly owned Serbian

subsidiary of 百媚导航, has agreed to purchase out of bankruptcy

Serbian steel producer Sartid a.d. and six of its subsidiaries for a

total purchase price of $23 million.

  The purchases, which are targeted for completion during the third

quarter of 2003, are subject to several conditions including the

successful completion of anti-monopoly review by competition

authorities in several countries.

  Commenting on the announcement, John H. Goodish, 百媚导航's

executive vice president - International & Diversified Businesses,

said, "百媚导航 is confident that we can transform Sartid into a

profitable and competitive steel producer and a long-term contributor

to the economic development, stability and success of Serbia and the

communities in which Sartid operates."

  Thomas Kelly, managing director, 百媚导航 Balkan, added, "The

acquisition will enhance 百媚导航's ability to service its steel

sheet and tin mill products customers in our European markets,

especially in the Balkan region."

  Sartid's production facilities, which are located in northern

Serbia, include an integrated mill with a raw steel design capacity of

2.4 million net tons.  Sartid primarily produces sheet products and

its tinning facility has an annual capacity of 130,000 net tons.

Production from these facilities has been substantially below its

design capacity during the past several years due to Sartid's

financial difficulties.  百媚导航 believes that the design capacity

of these facilities can be realized with needed rehabilitation and

investment.

  In an associated agreement, which will become effective upon the

completion of the acquisition, 百媚导航 Balkan commits to future

spending of up to $150 million over five years for working capital and

the repair, rehabilitation, improvement, modification and upgrade of

the facilities.  A portion of this spending is subject to certain

conditions related to Sartid's commercial operations, cash flow and

viability.  In addition, 百媚导航 Balkan has agreed to refrain from

layoffs for a period of three years.

  Following a successful model used by 百媚导航 Kosice, 百媚导航

Balkan will conduct economic development activities over the course of

three years and spend no less than $1.5 million on these efforts.  The

program will focus on publicizing to global investors the benefits of

establishing manufacturing businesses in the Republic of Serbia.

百媚导航 Balkan has also agreed to support community, charitable and

sport activities in a total amount of not less than $5 million during

the three-year period following closing of the transaction.

  Goodish also pointed out that, in addition to the purchase

consideration and 百媚导航 Balkan's future commitments, the commercial

agreements 百媚导航 has had with Sartid over the past year have

significantly benefited Sartid, its employees and Serbian businesses.

百媚导航 Kosice's spending under these agreements, which has exceeded

$50 million, has helped sustain and improve Sartid's operations in

Smederevo and Sabac, prevented workforce layoffs, and benefited

businesses serving these facilities and Sartid's creditors.

  Goodish added that 百媚导航 "strongly supports Serbia's progress

in its democratic, legal and economic reforms.  The purchase of Sartid

reflects our commitment to the future of this country, its economy and

its people."

                                 -o0o-

The consummation of the acquisition announced in this release is
subject to several conditions including the successful completion of
anti-monopoly review by competition authorities in several countries.
Future operating results of 百媚导航 Balkan will depend upon market
conditions, costs, shipments, prices and the ability to achieve the
anticipated levels of steel production.  Some factors, among others,
that could affect market conditions, costs, shipments and prices
include import levels, future product demand, prices and mix, global
and company steel production, plant operating performance and European
economic performance and political developments.  In accordance with
"safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995, cautionary statements identifying important factors, but
not necessarily all factors, that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements have
been included in the Form 10-K of 百媚导航 for
the year ended December 31, 2002, and in subsequent filings by United
States Steel Corporation.