A hot rolling mill at Nippon Steel's Kashima Plant in Kashima, Japan on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Ayaka McGill)

A staff enters doorway next to Nippon Steel logo at the company's Kashima Plant in Kashima, Japan on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Ayaka McGill)

A Nippon Steel staff member, left, points in front of the company's Blast Furnace No. 1 at its Kashima Plant in Kashima, Japan on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Ayaka McGill)

Exterior of Blast Furnace No. 1 at Nippon Steel's Kashima Plant in Kashima, Japan on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Ayaka McGill)

A slab of steel on a hot rolling mill at Nippon Steel's Kashima Plant in Kashima, Japan on Friday, Dec.6, 2024. (AP Photo/Ayaka McGill)

'Welcome to Nippon Steel' sign in front of Blast Furnace No. 1 at Nippon Steel's Kashima Plant in Kashima, Japan on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Ayaka McGill)

Logo of Nippon Steel on the exterior of Blast Furnace No. 1 at the company's Kashima Plant in Kashima, Japan on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Ayaka McGill)

A hot rolling mill at Nippon Steel's Kashima Plant in Kashima, Japan on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Ayaka McGill)

FILE - This April 26, 2010, file photo shows the United States Steel logo outside the headquarters building in downtown Pittsburgh. President-elect Donald Trump is underscoring his intention to block the purchase of U.S. Steel by Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel Corp., and he’s pledging to use tax incentives and tariffs to strengthen the iconic American steelmaker. Trump said during the campaign that he would “instantaneously” block the deal, and he reiterated that sentiment in a Monday night statement.(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Exterior of Blast Furnace No. 1 at Nippon Steel's Kashima Plant in Kashima, Japan on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024 (AP Photo/Ayaka McGill)