TOKYO, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Nippon Steel ( NISTF ) and

other Japanese steelmakers are urging Tokyo to consider curbing

cheap steel imports from China, the world's biggest steel

producer, to protect the Japanese market, Nippon Steel ( NISTF ) Vice

Chairman Takahiro Mori said in an interview.

As Nippon Steel ( NISTF ) tries to close its acquisition of U.S. Steel

, key to its global expansion, Mori, who is the lead

negotiator for the deal, also said he gained support of

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for the takeover when they met in

June, though he has not commented on the deal since becoming the

Democratic vice presidential candidate.

China's steel exports rose 24% to 53.4 million tons in the

first half of 2024, on track for 100 million tons for the year.

Imports of ordinary steel by Japan, the world's No.3 producer,

surged by 17% to 1.32 million metric tons in April-June, with

imports from China jumping 43%, the Japan Iron and Steel

Federation data shows.

"China's exports could rise further as local demand drops by

about 30 million tons annually," Mori said, predicting Chinese

demand to remain weak this year. "We are lobbying the government

to consider measures including anti-dumping duties."

The United States, Europe and South Korea, among others,

have implemented trade policies to restrict Chinese steel

imports, Mori said.

"Only Japan is exposed. We are in a very dangerous situation

... If we don't protect it, the Japanese market will go wrong,"

he said.

Any action to curb imports would be unusual for Japan, which

is more often the target of anti-dumping actions by other

countries when it comes to steel.

EXPANSION IN US, COKING COAL

The world's fourth-biggest steelmaker is eager to close the

$14.9 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel by the end of 2024 which

should add 30 billion-40 billion yen ($208 million-$277 million)

to Nippon Steel's ( NISTF ) profit in January-March quarter, Mori said.

Nippon Steel's ( NISTF ) net profit forecast of 340 billion yen for

the current fiscal year does not include the acquisition, which

faces opposition from some Democrats and Republicans including

presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Mori, who visited the U.S. five times this year to talk to

various stakeholders, met Walz at a U.S. Steel's plant opening

ceremony in Minnesota in June, before Democratic presidential

candidate Kamala Harris picked him as her running mate.

"Walz welcomed investment in Minnesota and showed a very

strong interest in U.S.-Japan relations," Mori said, adding Walz

expressed his support to the acquisition deal at the time.

Mori plans another U.S. trip next month to continue the

dialogue with stakeholders.

To gain support from politicians and labour unions, Nippon

Steel ( NISTF ) hired former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as an

advisor and unveiled this week a plan to invest an additional

$1.3 billion in U.S. Steel's mills.

Last week, Nippon Steel ( NISTF ) agreed with Whitehaven Coal ( WHITF )

to buy a 20% stake in the Blackwater coking coal mine in

Australia for $720 million, boosting its self-sufficiency ratio

of the key steel-making ingredient to 35%. Nippon Steel ( NISTF ) targets

a ratio above 40% to offset the impact of raw material prices.

"We'll consider buying more interests in coking coal mines

if a good deal emerges," Mori said.

He declined to comment on whether the company would bid for

Anglo American's coking coal assets.

($1 = 144.5600 yen)