A steel firm agreed to pay $280,000 in fines.

Officials of a Japanese steel company subsidiary agreed to pay the fines for mislabeling lower-quality pipe from Thailand as a better product from Japan. Ryusho America Corp. of Torrance, a subsidiary of Ryusho Steel Corp. of Japan, pleaded guilty to two felony counts of making false representations in importing 21 shipments of pipe in 1985. Assistant U.S. Atty. Jeffrey Modisett said the firm has stopped doing business in Torrance and the $280,000 represents the subsidiary’s remaining assets in the United States. The company also will face a maximum $10,000 criminal fine at a Jan. 12 sentencing.