If you thought Nippon Steel's bid to acquire U.S. Steel was dead in the water, think again. The merger was blocked by President Joe Biden last year, but President Donald Trump is in the White House now — and he may be a bit more flexible about the deal.

A Nippon Steel Corp. executive said he’s hopeful that a meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and US President Donald Trump will advance the company’s proposed $14.1 billion acquisition of United States Steel Corp.

President Donald Trump met U.S. Steel Chief Executive David Buritt at the White House on Thursday as the struggling steelmaker has been pushing for a decision on its long-sought takeover by Japan's Nippon Steel .