DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
TA-W-56,055

NORTH STAR STEEL
A SUBSIDIARY OF CARGILL, INC
EDINA, MINNESOTA

Negative Determination Regarding Eligibility to Apply for
Worker Adjustment Assistance and
Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, as
amended (19 USC 2273), the Department of Labor herein presents the
results of an investigation regarding certification of eligibility
to apply for worker adjustment assistance. The group eligibility
requirements for directly-impacted (primary) workers under Section
222(a) the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, can be satisfied in
either of two ways:
I. Section (a)(2)(A) all of the following must be satisfied:
A. a significant number or proportion of the workers in
such workers' firm, or an appropriate subdivision of the
firm, have become totally or partially separated, or are
threatened to become totally or partially separated;
B. the sales or production, or both, of such firm or
subdivision have decreased absolutely; and
C. increased imports of articles like or directly
competitive with articles produced by such firm or
subdivision have contributed importantly to such workers'
separation or threat of separation and to the decline in
sales or production of such firm or subdivision; or

II. Section (a)(2)(B) both of the following must be satisfied:

A. a significant number or proportion of the workers in such
workers' firm, or an appropriate subdivision of the firm,
have become totally or partially separated, or are
threatened to become totally or partially separated;
B. there has been a shift in production by such workers'
firm or subdivision to a foreign country of articles like
or directly competitive with articles which are produced
by such firm or subdivision; and
C. One of the following must be satisfied:
1. the country to which the workers' firm has shifted
production of the articles is a party to a free trade
agreement with the United States;
2. the country to which the workers' firm has shifted
production of the articles is a beneficiary country under
the Andean Trade Preference Act, African Growth and
Opportunity Act, or the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery
Act; or
3. there has been or is likely to be an increase in imports
of articles that are like or directly competitive with
articles which are or were produced by such firm or
subdivision.

The investigation was initiated on November 22, 2004 in
response to a petition filed by a state agency representative on
behalf of workers of North Star Steel, a subsidiary of Cargill,
Inc., Edina, Minnesota. The subject facility is the corporate
headquarters of North Star Steel. The workers provide
administrative support to steel production facilities but do not
themselves produce an article.
The investigation revealed that criteria (a)(2)(A)(I.C) and
(a)(2)(B)(II.B) have not been met.
Sales of steel products by North Star Steel increased in the
years since 2002. Assets of the company were purchased by another
firm which will continue to produce like products at domestic
plants. Separations at the Edina, Minnesota administrative facility
are directly attributable to the asset purchase which created
redundancies of administrative personnel.
In addition, in accordance with Section 246 the Trade Act of
1974 (26 USC 2813), as amended, the Department of Labor herein
presents the results of its investigation regarding certification
of eligibility to apply for alternative trade adjustment assistance
(ATAA) for older workers.
In order for the Department to issue a certification of
eligibility to apply for ATAA, the worker group must be certified
eligible to apply for trade adjustment assistance (TAA). Since the
workers are denied eligibility to apply for TAA, the workers cannot
be certified eligible for ATAA.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of North
Star Steel, a subsidiary of Cargill, Inc., Edina, Minnesota are
denied eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance under section
223 of the Trade Act of 1974, and are also denied eligibility for
alternative trade adjustment assistance under Section 246 of the
Trade Act of 1974.
Signed in Washington, D. C. this 16th day of December 2004

/s/ Richard Church
______________________________
RICHARD CHURCH
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance