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Exhibit 18

February 27, 2006

Board of Directors

ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ

600 Grant Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Dear Directors:

We are providing this letter to you for inclusion as an exhibit to your Form 10-K filing pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K.

We have audited the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 and issued our report thereon dated February 27, 2006. Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements describes a change in accounting principle from last-in, first-out (LIFO) to first-in, first-out (FIFO) for United States Steel Kosice (ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵK). It should be understood that the preferability of one acceptable method of accounting over another for inventory has not been addressed in any authoritative accounting literature, and in expressing our concurrence below we have relied on management’s determination that this change in accounting principle is preferable. Based on our reading of management’s stated reasons and justification for this change in accounting principle in the Form 10-K, and our discussions with management as to their judgment about the relevant business planning factors relating to the change, we concur with management that such change represents, in the Company’s circumstances, the adoption of a preferable accounting principle in conformity with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 154, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections.

Very truly yours,