Japan’s prime minister is asking Biden to ease the business community’s concerns over the status of the Nippon steel-US Steel deal, Jiji Reuters says

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba asked U.S. President Joe Biden to ease concerns in the Japanese and U.S. business communities over the status of Nippon Steel’s planned acquisition of US Steel, Jiji news agency reported on Monday.

Jiji also said that Ishiba, Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. agreed at an online meeting that they will continue cooperation in maritime and economic security.

Biden blocked the acquisition of US Steel on national security grounds on January 3.

Nippon Steel and US Steel said Saturday that the Biden administration had delayed until June an order that the Japanese company drop its $14.9 billion bid for US Steel.