Trump orders review of Japanese steel acquisition, US steel shares surge

On April 7, 2025, the stock price of U.S. Steel Corporation (X) in the U.S. stock market did change significantly. According to international data, the stock price of U.S. Steel Corporation closed at $44.5 on April 7, up $6.21 from the previous day, an increase of 16.22%. As for whether the stock price surge was caused by Trump’s order to review Nippon Steel’s acquisition of U.S. Steel, it is possible from the timeline and the correlation of events.
Previously, Nippon Steel’s acquisition of U.S. Steel had experienced twists and turns. In December 2023, Nippon Steel announced plans to acquire U.S. Steel for $14.9 billion. However, the acquisition plan was politically interfered with by the U.S. government. On January 3, 2025, then-U.S. President Biden formally rejected the acquisition on the grounds of “national security risks.” Subsequently, Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government’s decision. Trump publicly opposed the acquisition in December 2024. However, on April 7, 2025, local time, Trump instructed a U.S. national security team to review the transaction. This move may have given the market new expectations for the future development of U.S. Steel, thereby driving up its stock price. However, the specific reasons for the stock price fluctuations still need to be analyzed comprehensively from multiple factors.