HARRISBURG, Pa. — The bid by Japan’s Nippon Steel to buy U.S. Steel may have a new lease on life, even as the potential for a new bid for the storied Pittsburgh steelmaker began to emerge.

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. is partnering with rival Nucor Corp. in a potential bid for United States Steel Corp., CNBC reported Jan. 13.

TOKYO — Nippon Steel was standing firm on its proposed $15 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel, Chief Executive Eiji Hashimoto said after President Joe Biden blocked the steelmaker’s move.

Nippon Steel Corp. and U.S. Steel Corp. jointly filed lawsuits in a last-ditch effort to preserve the planned merger of the companies, which was blocked last week by President Joe Biden.

Biden announced his formal decision on Jan. 3 after the case was referred to him by a U.S. security review panel, ahead of a deadline early next week.

The proposal is aimed at addressing concerns raised by CFIUS, which said last week that the Japanese company’s takeover of U.S. Steel would lead to a decline in American steel output.

Nippon Steel clarified its spending plans at U.S. mills owned by U.S. Steel Corp. as part of last-ditch efforts to win over workers and politicians for its bid to buy the steelmaker.

KASHIMA, Japan — The signs at Nippon Steel read: “The world through steel,” underlining why Japan’s top steelmaker is pursuing its $15 billion bid to acquire U.S. Steel.

Nippon Steel reiterated confidence that its $14.1 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel Corp. can be completed by year-end, even as the current and incoming presidents oppose the takeover.

President-elect Donald Trump reiterated his opposition to the sale of U.S. Steel Corp. to Nippon Steel Corp., saying he’d instead use tariffs and tax incentives to revive the steelmaker.