Nippon Steel Corp. and United States Steel Corp. are on pace to finalize their $14.1 billion combination with US President Donald Trump’s administration ahead of a deal deadline later this month, capping an 18-month saga to combine the steelmakers into the world’s second-largest producer.

US Steel (NYSE:X) and Nippon Steel (OTCPK:NISTF) (OTCPK:NPSCY) are on pace to finalize their $14B merger, as talks on the deal between the companies and the Trump administration are ongoing and expected to reach a conclusion before a June 18 deal deadline,

A planned merger of the Japanese and American giants, announced in 2023, has traveled through an election, two presidents and strong union opposition.