06:44 AM EDT, 04/11/2024 (MT Newswires) -- The US Justice Department has opened an antitrust probe into Japan's Nippon Steel's $14.1 billion takeover bid of US Steel (X), several news outlets reported late Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

It remains unclear when the reported investigation was formally launched. News of the probe came as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrived in Washington for a formal state visit.

President Joe Biden has said US Steel must remain an American company, and the United Steelworkers union opposes the deal as bad for American workers.

The Justice Department, US Steel and Nippon Steel did not immediately reply to MT Newswires' requests for comment.

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