6.	Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

In connection with the ratification of the collective bargaining agreement for employees of the Union Electric Steel Harmon Creek Steelworkers Location, employee participation in the qualified domestic defined benefit pension plan was frozen effective June 1, 2018. Benefit accruals were replaced with employer contributions to the defined contribution plan equaling a non-elective contribution of 3% of compensation and a matching contribution up to 4% of compensation. The plan freeze resulted in a reduction of the liability of $1,726, using discount rates and other assumptions as of June 1, 2018, and a curtailment loss of $21.

Contributions were as follows:

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2018		2017
Foreign defined benefit pension plans	$	1,308	$	1,323
Other postretirement benefits (e.g., net payments)		880		852
U.K. defined contribution pension plan		270		223
U.S. defined contribution plan		1,991		1,788

Net periodic pension and other postretirement costs include the following components:

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
U.S. Defined Benefit Pension Plans	2018			2017			2018			2017
Service cost	$	193		$	417		$	1,002		$	1,238
Interest cost		2,181			2,113			6,292			6,310
Expected return on plan assets		(3,356	)		(3,122	)		(9,959	)		(9,377	)
Amortization of prior service cost		10			12			35			39
Amortization of actuarial loss		308			1,145			1,163			3,083
Curtailment loss		0			0			21			0
Net benefit (income) cost	$	(664	)	$	565		$	(1,446	)	$	1,293

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
Foreign Defined Benefit Pension Plans	2018			2017			2018			2017
Service cost	$	65		$	81		$	340		$	263
Interest cost		340			474			1,058			1,377
Expected return on plan assets		(629	)		(568	)		(1,959	)		(1,662	)
Amortization of prior service credit		(82	)		0			(255	)		0
Amortization of actuarial loss		182			195			566			562
Net benefit (income) cost	$	(124	)	$	182		$	(250	)	$	540

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans	2018			2017			2018			2017
Service cost	$	114		$	16		$	342		$	369
Interest cost		124			124			371			428
Amortization of prior service credit		(402	)		(401	)		(1,205	)		(1,205	)
Amortization of actuarial gain		(58	)		(6	)		(173	)		(18	)
Net benefit income	$	(222	)	$	(267	)	$	(665	)	$	(426	)