04:26 PM EDT, 09/17/2024 (MT Newswires) -- United States Steel ( X ) CEO David Burritt is confident that the company's $14.9 billion sale to Japan's Nippon Steel will proceed despite various objections, multiple sources reported Tuesday, citing Burritt at the Detroit Economic Club.

The merger has become part of the political play in the US presidential election after concerns raised by union workers. The deal has received opposition from President Joe Biden and concerns from other presidential candidates, The Detroit News reported.

"We're very confident it's going to go through," Detroit News reported. "I'm so confident that I just can't imagine it not being closed," Burritt said.

Burritt highlighted that Nippon Steel's bid for US Steel would likely "close on its merits," following a thorough national security review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which is still underway, Reuters reported.

The CFIUS reportedly has a deadline of Sept. 23 to make a recommendation to the White House on whether to block or approve the deal, although officials have the option to extend the review period by another 90 days, pushing the decision beyond the upcoming US elections in November.

Burritt reiterated that the potential merger would provide both improved growth and stability for employees, customers, and stakeholders by focusing on being both "better and bigger."

US Steel, CFIUS and Nippon Steel did not immediately respond MT Newswires' request for comment.

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