News of an expected takeover of US Steel by Nippon Steel was met with a mixture of disappointment and resignation in Japan, with even the loudest voices offering little more than moderate criticism and balanced remarks.
“I don’t think a government should intervene arbitrarily in a single case,” said Digital Affairs Minister Taro Kono.
“Everyone wants the unions’ votes in the presidential election, but I hope the market will not be distorted by such things,” added Kono, who is in the running to become the next chairman of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and, by default, the next prime minister.
