Japan PM tells Biden of 'strong' concerns over blocked steel deal
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TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told United States President Joe Biden that "strong" concerns have been raised over his decision to block Nippon Steel's takeover of US Steel, local media reported on Monday (Jan 14).
The comments came in a three-way call with the president of the Philippines that, according to the White House, also touched on China's "dangerous and unlawful" behaviour in the region.
Citing national security concerns, Biden nixed Nippon Steel's US$14.9 billion acquisition of US Steel earlier this month, irking close ally Japan where the US has some 54,000 military personnel.
"I said that strong voices of concerns are being raised not just in Japan but also in the US business community, and I urged (Biden) to dispel these feelings," Ishiba told reporters after a call with Biden and Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos on Monday.
Blocking a takeover by a Japanese firm is highly unusual and both firms have launched legal action, accusing the outgoing US president of "illegal interference".
Nippon Steel had touted the acquisition as a lifeline for US Steel, but opponents warned the Japanese giant would slash jobs - despite its assurances to the contrary.
The takeover, which was announced in 2023, came in the run-up to last year's US presidential election and proved a political flashpoint.
US Steel is based in the swing state of Pennsylvania and both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris opposed the transaction.
BIG PICTURE
Japanese firms invested almost US$800 billion in the US in 2023, more than any other country and 14.3 per cent of the total, according to official US data.
US firms are also the biggest outside investors in Japan.
Japan is also a close strategic ally for Washington as it seeks to counter China asserting its presence in contested areas of the South China Sea.
Both steel companies said on Sunday that US authorities have extended the deadline for unwinding the acquisition deal until Jun 18.
Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, who will attend Trump's inauguration as US president on Jan 20, said it was important to see the "big picture" of bilateral ties.
"It is important to appropriately deal with the issue while not undermining the big picture of the Japan-US alliance," he said on Sunday during a television debate.
"I will ask the US side to remove concerns which are spreading in the business community."
Iwaya also said that while in Washington he would seek talks with Marco Rubio, slated to be Trump's Secretary of State, and to lay the groundwork for a meeting between Ishiba and Trump.
Kyodo News cited government sources as saying that this could take place before mid-February.
During Trump's first term, he and Japan's then-prime minister Shinzo Abe enjoyed warm relations. In December, Trump met Abe's widow at Mar-a-Lago.
US ALLIES
In recent years, with an eye on China, Washington has sought to improve strategic relations with both Japan and the Philippines as well as with South Korea.
Biden, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and Ishiba's predecessor Fumio Kishida held talks at the White House last April.
In another first, in 2023 Biden hosted Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol - who briefly imposed martial law last month - at Camp David.
Last year, the Philippines ratified a key defence pact with Japan, which allows them to deploy troops on each other's soil.
On Monday, Biden, Marcos and Ishiba "discussed trilateral maritime security and economic cooperation, as well as the People's Republic of China's dangerous and unlawful behaviour in the South China Sea", the White House said.
"The three leaders agreed on the importance of continued coordination to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific," said a statement, which made no mention of the steel deal.
Marcos's office said that the call was to "reaffirm their commitment to strengthening cooperation in areas such as economic growth, emerging technologies, climate action, clean energy and regional security".
Biden also "highlighted the 'historic progress' made, particularly in maritime security, economic security and technological collaboration" between the three countries, the Philippines statement said.
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