Why the White House Cares About US Steel

Late last year, the Japanese company Nippon Steel announced plans to acquire an iconic Pittsburgh brand, U.S. Steel, for a staggering amount of money: nearly $15 billion. But since then, there’s been a lot of criticism – from the local steelworkers union all the way up to the White House. So what’s behind the pushback, and what’s next for U.S. Steel? 

Thanks to our guest, Chris Briem. Chris is a regional economist with the Urban & Regional Analysis program at the University of Pittsburgh’s University Center for Social and Urban Research. Check out some of his recent work:

• Medium, on his hopes for a former steel town: Clairton is dead, long live Clairton
• Medium (this is the one Megan mentions at the end!): When Pittsburgh said no
• PublicSource: U.S. Steel’s acquisition will end a difficult marriage that forged — and constrained — Pittsburgh’s identity

And read more about the latest on the deal and the federal review process via Bloomberg, plus the position of Pennsvlania’s two U.S. Senators and commonwealth-native President Joe Biden in the Pittsburgh Business Times.

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