Nippon-U.S. Steel Deal Is Right for Pennsylvania

In the 2024 election campaign, everyone is focused on the economy – and good-paying jobs.

U.S. Steel is vitally important to Pittsburgh, western Pennsylvania, and the United States. Pittsburgh was built on steel, and the industry continues to provide the types of jobs you can raise a family on, just like the rest of our state’s manufacturing economy, where the average wage of nearly $90,000 per year keeps families in Pennsylvania and allows them to build their futures here.

It is no secret that U.S. Steel faces some economic headwinds. There are significant steps taking place and there is a proposed deal between the company and Japan’s Nippon Steel that would keep U.S. Steel in Pennsylvania instead of forcing the company to move out of state.

This deal is right for our steelworkers, our economy, and the country. It will bring over $1 billion in investment directly into Pennsylvania, foster new investments in cutting-edge steelmaking technology assuring the industry is sustainable well into the future, and avoid the hollowing out of Pittsburgh’s manufacturing economy. Nippon will even move their North American headquarters from Houston, Texas to Pittsburgh. It is the only deal on the table that works for Pennsylvania.

The deal with Nippon is a crucial step in preventing Pennsylvania’s manufacturing decline and creating a stronger economy for our future.

This should be a consensus issue. Both political parties say they support domestic manufacturing to secure our supply chains and create jobs. They both agree that China is an increasing threat to our national security and that the best way to protect against that is to invest with allied nations like Japan. The very concept of foreign direct investment – in which we bring dollars into the country rather than shipping them overseas – is obviously beneficial to the United States.

Unfortunately, without this deal, U.S. Steel’s plants and people will leave Pennsylvania. We simply cannot let that happen.

I am heartened to see President Biden take a step back and not follow through with his promise to immediately block the deal. He should go further and become the leader to approve the deal.

Former President Trump has long prioritized domestic manufacturing, and even spoke recently at a rally about the need to bring foreign investment into our economy. He should directly apply those beliefs to the U.S. Steel merger – it is perhaps the biggest opportunity we have to harden our manufacturing economy and continue to create jobs here.

Pennsylvania’s political leaders are correct to be deliberative and cautious about any such investment into our state. But a serious look at the details of this proposal reveals a clear picture: The deal with Nippon is unquestionably the right approach.

We call on our leaders to set aside election year politics and support this deal on its merits. Pennsylvania can’t afford to lose one of our most prominent employers and all of the jobs, value-added, and economic dynamism that it sustains.