Japan¡¯s Nippon Steel hopes to close its $15 billion deal to buy U.S. Steel by year-end before Republican Donald Trump retakes the White House in January, a senior executive said, as the acquisition is core to its future growth.

Nippon Steel, Japan¡¯s top steelmaker and the fourth largest globally, agreed to buy U.S. Steel in December but faced opposition from a powerful labor union as well as from Trump and U.S. President Joe Biden, among others.

Before the Nov. 5 election, which handed him victory, Trump promised to block the deal if reelected.