Nippon Steel Chief Executive Eiji Hashimoto says the top Japanese steelmaker is standing firm on its proposed acquisition and poses no security risks.

Nippon Steel is poised to expand its operations in the U.S. and India as it hunts for growth and protection from cheap Chinese exports after its bid for U.S. Steel was blocked by the White House, analysts say.

U.S. Steel and Japan’s Nippon Steel sued the United States government on Monday in a last-ditch attempt to revive their attempted merger after President Biden blocked it last week on the basis that the transaction posed a threat to national security.