A planned merger of the Japanese and American giants, announced in 2023, has traveled through an election, two presidents and strong union opposition.

President Donald Trump touted a "blockbuster agreement" between U.S. Steel and Japanese company Nippon Steel that he said would keep the U.S. steelmaker in Pittsburgh.

The Japanese firm's planned acquisition of U.S. Steel, initially floated in 2023, divided the politically important state of Pennsylvania and its heavily unionized blue-collar workforce.

Nippon Steel (OTCPK:NPSCY) (OTCPK:NISTF), the Japanese firm locked in a prolonged battle to acquire U.S. Steel (X), announced plans on Friday to invest 869 billion yen ($6 billion) domestically to boost production using cleaner furnace technology.

Gary Mayor Eddie Melton has been supportive of a deal between Nippon and U.S. Steel for months, citing how it would benefit Gary Works. In August, it was announced that Nippon Steel would invest $300 million into the local facility. A Nippon executive later said the company would invest $1 billion into Gary Works.

Nippon Steel Corp., the Japanese company embroiled in lengthy battle to buy US Steel Corp., said it plans to spend 869 billion yen ($6 billion) at home to expand output from cleaner furnaces.

Fox News correspondent Christina Coleman has the latest on President Donald Trump’s announcement of a steel manufacturing partnership between U.S. Steel and Japan’s Nippon Steel on ‘Fox News @ Night.’