Osaka, Japan - January 02, 2025 The U.S. decision to block acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel is an act of protectionism, said a Japanese economist. U.S. President Joe Biden rejected the purchase deal for Nippon Steel to acquire Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel on Friday, sparking discontent in Japan, with many believing that the interference was unjustified. Hidetoshi Tashiro, chief economist at Japan's Infinity LLC., said measures that prevent Japanese companies from entering the U.S. market may weaken economic ties between Japan and the U.S. at the foundational levels, as seen in past cases involving industries like semiconductors and automotive. Shotlist: Osaka, Japan - Recent: FILE: Tokyo, Japan - Date Unknown 1. Aerial shots of cityscape, traffic; FILE: Yokohama, Japan - 2022 2. People entering railway station; Osaka, Japan - Recent 3. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Hidetoshi Tashiro, chief economist, Infinity LLC (partially overlaid with shot 4): "It is difficult for Japan to deal with U.S. protectionism on its own. That was the case in the past withthe semiconductor industry. And it also happened with the automotive industry. It can't be ruledout that Japanese companies that have entered the U.S. market may quietly withdraw from the United States before the situation worsens. So, in that sense, this is weakening the economic relationship between Japan and the United States at the corporate level, also the fundamental level."; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] FILE: Tokyo, Japan - Date Unknown 4. Various of containers being handled, cargo truck driving onto vessel; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] FILE: Tokyo, Japan - Date Unknown 5. Various of workers at steel mill; 6. Worker welding steel; FILE: Washington D.C., USA - Date Unknown 7. Various of Capitol building, U.S. national flag. [Restriction - CCTV - No access Chinese mainland]