Nippon Steel takes direct ownership of US Steel Košice on October 1, 2026, renaming it Nippon Steel Slovakia. The Slovak plant produces four point five million metric tons of steel per year and becomes Nippon's core European hub. The move lets Nippon compete as an insider in Europe's protected market, shielded by tariffs and carbon border rules. US Steel sharpens its focus on American operations as a result of the transfer.