A Controversial Opinion: There is No downside to the Nippon Steel/U.S. Steel merger deal

American Thinker ^ | 05/08/2024 | Leif Larson

[SeekAndFind]

Growing up in San Bernardino, California in the 1980s was an experience that shaped me in many ways. One of the highlights of those years was playing high school football, and one of our fiercest rivals was Fontana High School. Fontana was known for having one of the toughest football teams in San Bernardino County, and our games against them were always intense and hard-fought.

But Fontana was more than just a football rival. It was a town with a long and proud history of steel production. The Kaiser steel production facility, a major employer in the area, closed its doors in 1983. This closure had a devastating impact on the town, as it was not just an economic blow, but a blow to the identity and pride of the community. Fontana had been producing steel dating back to the early days of World War II, and the closure of the plant gutted the proud town.

Fast forward to today, and we are faced with a new challenge. Critics of the proposed purchase of U.S. Steel by Japan-based Nippon Steel Corporation have gone to great lengths to discredit the deal, even going as far as to assert that the Japanese company would use the merger to support Chinese military expansion. These allegations reek of desperation and are baseless.

The merger between U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel is a necessary and promising move for the American steel industry. The board of U.S. Steel has stated that this merger is crucial for preserving the rich history of the steel brand and ensuring its future success. By integrating Nippon Steel's advanced technologies into U.S. Steel's facilities, the company will be able to manufacture high-grade steel products, such as electrical steel and automotive flat steel, for customers in the United States and North America.

[SeekAndFind]

This merger has significant implications for national security and the domestic steel industry. Japan is a close U.S. defense treaty ally, and its investment in the American steel industry will secure critical supply chains for U.S. steel customers and suppliers.

This will enhance the resilience of these supply chains and support vital American industries, including automotive manufacturers. The equitable partnership with a Japanese company strengthens the bond between the two nations, ensuring a reliable supply of steel for defense and infrastructure needs.

Contrary to concerns about outsourcing and job losses, Nippon Steel has reassured stakeholders that they have no plans to shift production to other locations outside of the United States.

Their focus is on growing U.S. Steel into the best, strongest, and cleanest steelmaker in the country, providing high-quality American-made steel. This commitment to retaining and expanding U.S. Steel's business will help preserve and create jobs within the American steel industry.

[chajin]

Fully agree.

Japan stopped being our enemy 80 years ago, and stopped being our rival for all practical purposes 35 years ago. They are in the Pacific what Britain has been in the Atlantic, and together, along with the other rim nations (Taiwan, Philippines, Anzac, Viet Nam, Thailand, India), can act as a wall of freedom against China and Russia. Having a marriage of steel production is a good step in that direction.

(Michael, we’re bigger than Nippon Steel!)

[jettester]

The old, shutdown Fontana plant was used to shoot scenes for many famous movies in the 80’s and 90’s.

[Olog-hai]

You sure they stopped being our enemy? Ask them about their opinions on gaijin.

[Nextrush]

Japan is a major holder of the US national debt so this kind of situation seems logical. China and the UK are also in the top three in that category last info I looked at.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Japan stopped being our enemy 80 years ago, and stopped being our rival for all practical purposes 35 years ago.

Remember the 1980’s scare that Japan is taking over the American industry?

They were buying up property in Hawaii, purchased our iconic Rockefeller Center in the heart of New York City and were smashing the businesses of our big 3 auto manufacturers.

The Japanese Yen increased in value every year vs the US Dollar, and Japan could do no wrong....

Then came the 1990’s and the Nikkei Index crashed. It took over 30 years for the Nikkei to reach the same peak it had in the early 1990’s.

[Olog-hai]

The merger presents a unique opportunity to preserve the history and legacy of the American steel brand while embracing a cleaner and more sustainable future.

No Japanese kabushiki gaisha is interested in preserving the history and legacy of a non-Japanese country’s steel brand, particularly that of a “former” enemy. The fact that Larson is framing this in envirowacko terms certainly indicates his disingenuousness with respect to this move.

[proxy_user]

In any case, both Nippon and US Steel are now tiny companies competing against much larger competitors. This merger will make them viable.

[Reverend Wright]

“Fully agree.

Japan stopped being our enemy 80 years ago, and stopped being our rival for all practical purposes 35 years ago. They are in the Pacific what Britain has been in the Atlantic, and together, along with the other rim nations (Taiwan, Philippines, Anzac, Viet Nam, Thailand, India), can act as a wall of freedom against China and Russia. “

---

How many times is the West going to fall for this Globalist Economic stupidity ?

Political alliances don’t last forever, and becoming even more dependent on foreign ownership of THE critical industry in wartime is just insane !

When Russia invaded Ukraine, the USA sole source of ballistic armor plate was Oregon Steel.

Oregon Steel is a subsidiary of EVRAZ, a Russian steel company owned by a f**king Putin Oligarch !

[central_va]

Until the Japs shut our steel down. Which they will do.

[central_va]

These threads pull Free Traitors™ out of the wood work. It is sickening.

[dfwgator]

Well technically, we were still allies in the 1920s with the Japanese government.

The Japanese Army had other ideas.

[x]

plato told

him:he couldn’t
believe it(jesus

told him;he
wouldn’t believe
it)lao

tsze
certainly told
him,and general
(yes

mam)
sherman;
and even
(believe it
or

not)you
told him:i told
him;we told him
(he didn’t believe it,no

sir)it took
a nipponized bit of
the old sixth

avenue
el;in the top of his head:to tell

him

[unclebankster]

Until the Japs shut our steel down. Which they will do.

***************

Why would the Japs do that, when China owns 6 of the top 10 steel producers in the world?

If Nucor, US Steel, & Cleveland-Cliffs all merged they would produce about half the steel that Baowu produces.

[central_va]

They will shut steel down in the USA because it is what globalist do. They will increase producion in Japan then import it back here.

[Nextrush]

Chuck Schumer and Republican Senator Mike Crapo of Idaho ranking on the Finance Committee did a three-nation tour of China, Japan and South Korea last fall I reported this on my blog and posted it on FR.

[ABN 505]

Over the years using steel I have seen waves of steel from Brazil , Korea, Japan, India and China. the best steel was always from the USA and still is.Even the cast pipe fittings if you can get a US fitting you are better off but now people will take the lower cost instead of the quality every time. I would never pipe up a ammonia line with a foreign pipe or fitting , lives are at risk.

[minnesota_bound]

Nippon Steel has announced it will melt down all WW2 US ships...