By T. Jayani, JadeTimes News
Nippon Steel's Vice Chairman, Takahiro Mori, engaged with U.S. Steel employees and community leaders this week to deepen understanding and garner support for the proposed acquisition of the American company, according to a company spokesperson. Acting as the primary negotiator for the U.S. Steel deal, Mori's return to the United States follows a recent trip from May 20-26, aiming to advance negotiations amidst mounting regulatory scrutiny, political opposition, and objections from the formidable United Steelworkers (USW) union, concerned about potential job losses.
During his visit, Mori conducted discussions with employees at U.S. Steel plants in Gary, Indiana, and Mon Valley, Pennsylvania, outlining Nippon Steel's proposed plans, which include commitments to preserving jobs and investing in blast furnaces, as conveyed by the spokesperson in a late Friday email.
The company expressed satisfaction with the positive and supportive reactions observed during Mori's visits, emphasizing their ongoing efforts to directly communicate their vision to those most impacted by the potential transaction.
In a recent interview, Mori emphasized Nippon Steel's desire to garner public support for the deal, hoping it would encourage the union to engage in discussions. The two steel giants announced last month that they had secured all necessary regulatory approvals outside the United States for their proposed $14.9 billion merger, marking a significant milestone toward the completion of the contentious deal.