WASHINGTON, Jan 2 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden

is likely to announce a decision as soon as Friday on whether he

will approve Japan's Nippon Steel's ( NISTF ) acquisition of U.S.

Steel, CBS News reported late on Thursday, citing people

familiar with the process.

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States

(CFIUS) recently referred the decision to approve or block the

deal to Biden, who will leave office on Jan. 20.