The meeting between Nippon Steel Vice President Takahiro Mori and members of the U.S. committee on foreign investment comes amid reports that the Biden administration is preparing to block the deal, citing national security concerns related to foreign ownership.
Both U.S. presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have expressed opposition to the acquisition of the iconic American company, founded in 1901 and headquartered in the key electoral state of Pennsylvania.
The deal has faced resistance from various stakeholders, including the United Steelworkers Union, which is based in Pittsburgh alongside U.S. Steel's headquarters.
A coalition of Washington-based business groups, including the Global Business Alliance and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, sent a joint letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Wednesday, urging the Treasury to avoid politicizing the review of the proposed acquisition.