**Biden to Block Nippon Steel's $14 Billion Acquisition of U.S. Steel, Citing National Security Concerns**

The move against the significant acquisition underscores the growing scrutiny over foreign investments in sensitive American industries.

President Biden is poised to announce his decision to block a $14 billion takeover of U.S. Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel due to concerns over national security, as reported by sources close to the matter. The announcement is expected as early as Friday, marking a notable exercise of executive authority just weeks before the end of his presidency.

As a cornerstone of American industry based in politically pivotal Pennsylvania, U.S. Steel has been the subject of increasing scrutiny and political debate, especially in an election year. The decision reflects a potential shift away from the traditional U.S. stance on foreign investment, raising questions about how such actions might influence the confidence of global investors in acquiring American companies, especially in critical sectors.

The rationale for Biden’s anticipated move stems from a review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which oversees such transactions. Though the committee did not provide a formal recommendation, it posited that the acquisition could threaten U.S. national security due to the possibility of declining American steel production if Nippon Steel's global interests took precedence over their commitments to invest in U.S. operations.

By opting to reject this acquisition, Biden signals a potential reevaluation of foreign investments, particularly from close allies like Japan, one of the largest sources of foreign investment for the United States. Consequently, this decision has implications that may reverberate through international economic relationships as well as U.S. industrial policy.