Steel Mills

Burritt hits back after Biden thwarts USS/Nippon deal
Written by Ethan Bernard
January 3, 2025
The chief executive of U.S. Steel has come out against President Biden’s decision to block the USS/Nippon Steel deal, calling it “corrupt.”
U.S. Steel President and CEO David Burritt labeled Biden’s action “shameful and corrupt” in a statement late Friday afternoon, following the president’s announcement earlier in the day.
“He gave a political payback to a union boss out of touch with his members while harming our company’s future, our workers, and our national security,” Burritt said.
He was likely referring to United Steelworkers (USW) union International President David McCall, who earlier in the day had praised the decision. The union has opposed the deal since it was announced in December 2023.
Burritt added that the move also “insulted Japan, a vital economic and national security ally, and put American competitiveness at risk.”
“The Chinese Communist Party leaders in Beijing are dancing in the streets. And Biden did it all while refusing to even meet with us to learn the facts,” Burritt said.
He also applauded the merits of the now-blocked deal. “Make no mistake: this investment is what guarantees a great future for U.S. Steel, our employees, our communities, and our country.”
Burritt ended the statement on a defiant note. “We intend to fight President Biden’s political corruption.”
Both Japan’s Nippon and Pittsburgh-based USS have hinted at legal action against the US government after the $14.9-billion deal was torpedoed by the Biden administration on national security grounds.
Find SMU’s in-depth coverage of Biden’s decision here.

Ethan Bernard
Read more from Ethan BernardLatest in Steel Mills

August US mill shipments slip but still higher than last year
The American Iron and Steel Institute reported a decline in the monthly shipments of US mills from July to August.

TransPod, Algoma, Supreme Steel linkup anchors Canadian steel in high-speed transit build
The three Canadian companies have announced a strategic partnership to support the development of an ultra-high-speed transit line from Edmonton to Calgary.

Metallus, USW agree to tentative four-year labor deal
Metallus and the United Steelworkers (USW) have agreed to a tentative four-year labor contract.

ArcelorMittal Dofasco resumes cokemaking after emergency maintenance
The Canadian steelmaker reported on Sept. 30 that “urgent maintenance” was needed in its coke plant off-gas systems. The work required coke oven gas from the No. 2 coke plant to be flared for most of that week.

AISI: Raw steel production ticks back down
US raw steel output declined last week after increasing the week prior, according to the latest data from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Output has see-sawed from week to week since mid-August. Still, it has remained historically strong over the past four months and has held near multi-year highs since June. Domestic mills […]