WASHINGTON, June 4 (Reuters) - Mexico's antitrust

watchdog is expected to renew its approval of Nippon Steel's ( NISTF )

fraught $14.9 billion bid for U.S. Steel as soon as Thursday,

according to three people familiar with the matter, removing one

of the last remaining hurdles to the tie-up.

Cofece, as the regulator is known, gave the merger a

greenlight previously, the people said, declining to be named as

the matter was not public. But Mexican approval of the proposed

acquisition, first announced in December, 2023, has since

expired and must be renewed for the merger to move forward.

Cofece and Nippon Steel ( NISTF ) did not immediately respond to

requests for comment. U.S. Steel declined to comment.