Where does Vice President Harris stand on the US Steel-Nippon Steel merger?

Vice President Harris The outlook for the upcoming merger between U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel remains unclear. The Democratic Party nominee has yet to weigh in on the proposed deal, which has drawn political scrutiny from both parties despite shareholders voting decisively in favor of the deal.

The deal, which would see Nippon Steel acquire U.S. Steel for $14.9 billion, is under review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States and has drawn criticism from some union workers and politicians in both the Democratic and Republican parties.

while President Biden Harris said in March that he opposed the deal, but has yet to publicly state her position on the merger and whether she would follow Biden in trying to block it if she wins the election.

FOX Business reached out to the Harris campaign about her views on the U.S. Steel-Nippon Steel merger and did not receive a response before publication.

Potential Democratic vice presidential candidate says he cannot support merger of Steel and Nippon Steel

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro“If the steel workers of the United States are not happy with this deal, which they are not, then I am not happy with this deal,” Democratic Sen. John Kerry, who was a leading candidate for vice president with Harris, said in late July.

Former President TrumpBiden, now Harris’s main rival for the presidency, voiced his opposition to the deal in February and reiterated that view on Monday.

“I will stop Japan from buying American steel. They should not be allowed to buy it,” Trump said at an event in Pennsylvania.

Nippon Steel says its US steel acquisition will not lead to layoffs or plant closures

U.S. Steel said its agreement with Nippon Steel would strengthen the U.S. steel industry and benefit workers as well as supply chains. (Justin Mirman/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Getty Images)

Nippon Steel, which is based in Japan but not a state-owned company, has worked with U.S. Steel to try to allay concerns about the merger raised by politicians and labor groups.

The company previously said it would respect all US Steel intellectual property rights. Collective bargaining agreements It offered new commitments to the Union beyond its current agreement.

It also said the deal would not result in layoffs or plant closures and pledged to keep the U.S. Steel name, brand and headquarters in the deal.

Nippon Steel Hires Former Trump Official Mike Pompeo to Adviser on U.S. Steel Acquisition

98% of U.S. Steel shareholders voted decisively in favor of the merger with Nippon Steel. (Justin Mirman/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Getty Images)

U.S. Steel did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The company had previously told FOX Business, “We are committed to Deal with Nippon Steelwhich is the best deal for our employees, shareholders, communities and customers.

“The partnership with Nippon Steel, a long-standing investor in the United States, will strengthen our close ally Japan, US steel industry“US Steel had previously stated in a statement that “this move will strengthen American jobs and supply chains and enhance the competitiveness and resilience of the American steel industry in the face of China.”

When US Steel Shareholders’ Voice Last April, the deal was approved by a 98% majority of the votes in favor among the shareholders who voted, representing about 71% of the company’s issued shares.

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Nippon Steel recently postponed the expected closing date of the deal from September to December in response to Department of Justice Antitrust InvestigationsAlthough the company said it still expects the merger to go ahead.

Reuters contributed to this report.