During a recent press appearance, President Donald Trump expressed skepticism about incorporating the controversial Nippon Steel acquisition of U.S. Steel into formal trade negotiations with Japan. His remarks suggest the deal is unlikely to be treated as a bargaining chip in the broader economic discussions between the two allies.
Trump reiterated his preference for keeping U.S. Steel under American control, a position that aligns with rising political resistance to foreign acquisitions of strategic assets. The proposed $14.9 billion deal has been heavily scrutinized due to its implications for national security, supply chain sovereignty, and domestic industrial policy.
Although Nippon Steel has pledged to preserve jobs and operations in the United States, political momentum continues to build against the deal. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) is currently reviewing the transaction, and its final ruling may hinge on evolving political and trade dynamics.
As negotiations with Japan proceed, the administration’s focus appears to be on rebalancing trade relations and expanding market access—separate from the fate of this high-profile corporate merger.
Vietnam Steel by Hoa Sen Group
