Biden is hosting Japan's Kishida. But the Nippon Steel deal is not on the agenda

President Biden officially welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to the White House on Wednesday for a formal state visit, an honor that includes an Oval Office meeting, a press conference, and a lavish state dinner with a performance by Paul Simon.

Japan has long been one of America's closest allies, and the Biden administration has sought to strengthen the relationship further as part of its push to counter China.

"On the economic front, our ties have never been more robust," Biden said at a press conference with Kishida.

But Biden has come out against a recent move by Japan's Nippon Steel to purchase U.S. Steel for nearly $15 billion, an unusual intervention that has raised questions about the economic ties between the two nations.

Biden says U.S. Steel should remain in American hands

Last month, when Biden took the unusual step to weigh in on the deal, he sided with union workers and said the Pittsburgh-based company should remain in the hands of the United States. Former President Donald Trump, who is running against Biden in the November presidential election, has also said he would block it.

In his statement, Biden called U.S. Steel "an iconic American steel company" and said it was "vital" that it remain "domestically owned and operated." The United Steelworkers union endorsed him for his reelection campaign less than a week later.

Asked about the deal during a press conference with Kishida, Biden said, "I stand by my commitment to American workers. I'm a man of my word, I'm going to keep it." He also said he'd stand by his commitments to the U.S. alliance with Japan.

Kishida said that he hopes the discussions about the deal unfold positively for both sides, and said that he thought the U.S. government