Nippon Steel¡¯s acquisition of United States Steel would strengthen economic security ties between the U.S. and Japan and help counter China¡¯s dominance in steel-making, according to a senior Japanese ruling party lawmaker.

The $14.1 billion deal would clearly be a win-win for both companies and both economies, said Akira Amari, a former minister known for his industrial policy expertise. He was speaking two weeks after U.S. President Joe Biden came out against the merger.

¡°This deal would be a symbol of Japan-U.S. cooperation as allies because we would be able to confront China¡¯s rising technological capability,¡± Amari said in an interview in Tokyo on Friday. ¡°This would be better for our economic security.¡±