In a move touted as a major victory for American manufacturing, President Donald Trump has officially approved the long-debated partnership between U.S. Steel and Japan’s Nippon Steel. The deal, greenlit through a National Security Agreement, unlocks more than $11 billion in planned investments into domestic steel production by 2028 and is expected to create over 100,000 American jobs.
The partnership includes unique terms: the U.S. government will retain a “golden share” in the merged operations, granting it oversight and influence over key governance, trade, and production decisions. Trump hailed the agreement as a landmark effort to “make American steelmaking and manufacturing great again,” with the companies pledging to keep operations, leadership, and the U.S. Steel name rooted in the country.
The announcement follows months of regulatory hurdles and political wrangling. Initially proposed in 2023 as a $14.9 billion acquisition by Nippon Steel, the deal faced opposition under the previous administration, which blocked it on national security grounds. After a lawsuit from the companies and a renewed review under the Trump administration, the deal has now received all necessary approvals.
Speaking to workers at U.S. Steel’s Irvin Works plant in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, Trump reiterated that the deal would protect American jobs, promising “no layoffs and no outsourcing whatsoever.” He also announced a $5,000 bonus for every U.S. steelworker and a sharp increase in tariffs on imported steel, doubling them to 50%.
“This is a blockbuster agreement that keeps U.S. Steel American, strengthens our supply chains, and secures our industrial future,” Trump declared, emphasizing that the deal avoids a full foreign takeover while enabling significant foreign investment.
The partnership signals a renewed focus on heavy industry and infrastructure under the Trump administration, with officials indicating that steelmaking will be central to broader economic revitalization plans, including shipbuilding and large-scale manufacturing.
U.S. Steel’s operations in Pittsburgh and Indiana are slated for major upgrades under the new deal, and the company’s leadership structure will remain intact. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) will continue to monitor the implementation to ensure national security standards are upheld as the partnership is finalized.
