USW Urges Trump to Block Nippon Steel's U.S. Steel Acquisition

The United States Steelworkers Union (USW) has once again called on Donald Trump to block Nippon Steel Corp.'s acquisition of U.S. Steel. The union's chairman, David McCall, reiterated his opposition to the controversial merger proposal, stating that allowing the acquisition by Nippon Steel, which he described as a "serial trade cheater," would be disastrous for U.S. steelworkers, national security, and the future of American manufacturing.

McCall's statement comes as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) is expected to submit its recommendations to Trump regarding the deal. In April, Trump had ordered a new review of the transaction. McCall emphasized that Trump had publicly committed to stopping the deal since January 2024, and urged him to take decisive action to permanently shut down the acquisition, which he described as a sellout of American steelworkers and a threat to U.S. manufacturing.

This latest appeal by McCall marks a persistent effort to halt the acquisition, which was announced in December 2023. Despite McCall's firm stance, an increasing number of rank-and-file steelworkers have expressed support for the deal, urging Trump to approve the acquisition. They argue that the deal would be a victory for American workers.

Nippon Steel has recently increased its commitments, promising to invest in U.S. Steel's operations if the acquisition is approved. This includes building a new steel plant, retaining existing steelworker jobs, and potentially creating many new union positions. Jason Zugai, vice chairman of USW Local 2227, stated in a phone interview that the union had supported Trump during his presidential campaign and now hoped he would support them by approving the deal. Zugai noted that 95% of the union's members in the Mon Valley region support the acquisition and are urging Trump to help them complete the transaction.