PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Amid warnings from U.S. Metal about important penalties if its sale to Nippon Metal fails, Vice President Kamala Harris defended her place of blocking the sale to the Japanese firm. 

In an interview with KDKA-TV on Tuesday, the vice chairman reiterated her stance that Pittsburgh-based U.S. Metal ought to stay domestically owned.

“I really feel very strongly that U.S. Metal wants to stay a U.S. firm, and that the individuals working there should be American employees,” Harris stated on Tuesday. “I feel that can also be why I am proud and I do have the help of the steelworkers union.”

U.S. Metal stated final month that if the sale doesn’t occur, it could have to maneuver its headquarters from Pittsburgh and hundreds of union jobs might be in danger. With out the sale going by, the corporate stated it would “largely pivot away” from its blast furnace amenities. 

“When you block this international acquisition, how will you assure that there might be help?” KDKA-TV’s Jon Delano requested Harris on Tuesday. “Will it come from the federal authorities to ensure these furnaces keep open and the roles are saved in Pittsburgh?” 

“It’s my precedence to maintain the roles in Pittsburgh, understanding once more that the parents who’re doing that work are doing laborious work, good work. It’s a part of not solely a practice of American trade to do this work however it’s a part of what we have to make investments sooner or later.”

Harris stated it is a matter of defending American jobs and nationwide safety.

“I begin my day being briefed on hotspots world wide and threats to our nationwide safety,” she stated. “Once I take into consideration the significance of supporting U.S. employees and U.S. Metal, it is by the lens of not solely what we must always do to guard that workforce but in addition what we must always do to guard U.S. and American pursuits.”

U.S. Metal CEO David Burritt beforehand stated that if the sale to Nippon Metal goes by, U.S. Metal would preserve its identify and stay headquartered in Pittsburgh. Final week, a board of arbitrators dominated the sale of U.S. Metal to Nippon can transfer ahead.