Biden blocks U.S. Steel takeover by Japan’s Nippon Steel, citing national security

President Joe Biden on Friday officially blocked the takeover of U.S. Steel by Japan’s Nippon Steel, making good on his promise to keep an industrial name that is more than a century old under domestic ownership.

Biden said the proposed $14.9 billion acquisition by Nippon would place one of the largest steel producers in the U.S. under foreign control, creating a risk for the nation’s critical supply chains.

“Today’s action reflects my unflinching commitment to utilize all authorities available to me as President to defend U.S. national security, including by ensuring that American companies continue to play a central role in sectors that are critical for our national security,” Biden said in a statement.

U.S. Steel’s stock dropped by nearly 8% in premarket trading Friday following the president’s announcement.

Biden’s decision to torpedo the deal underscores a bipartisan swing toward protectionism in the U.S., as Democrats and Republicans alike seek to maintain domestic control over key industries as geopolitical tensions escalate around the world.

President-elect Donald Trump also opposed the deal.

The White House move to block the sale shows that even staunch allies like Japan are not immune to the swelling protectionist tide. Tokyo is central to Washington’s efforts to keep China’s ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region in check.

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