recent figures put it at 27th among the world's steel producers. in december, us still agreed to a takeover by nippon steel, which offered to pay 40% over the stock price. nippon would inject innovation and efficiency into the ailing american company but the deal is in jeopardy. the steel workers union, a suspicious of the new management and opposes the acquisition. prominent republicans and democrats have come out against it, including president biden the deal could be blocked on national security grounds though it's strains credulity to say that a takeover by one of america's closest allies, it's present biden keeps saying poses a threat in fact, i would argue the dealers good for national security because it would bring much needed investment and expertise to bolster american steel production. with the merger, nippon would become the world's second-largest steel producer. able to compete with the industry's biggest players