TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Nippon Steel Corp. said Thursday it now aims to complete its planned acquisition of United States Steel Corp. by the end of June, pushing back its March target as it struggles to secure approval from the U.S. government.

The decision comes as the Japanese company challenges former U.S. President Joe Biden's move to block the deal through a lawsuit. The acquisition "is still being pursued in collaboration with U.S. Steel," Nippon Steel said in a statement.

Nippon Steel has said it is continuing discussions with the U.S. government over the takeover plan after Donald Trump replaced Biden as president in January.

"The deal contributes to strengthening the U.S. steel industry, or the manufacturing industry, through investment," Nippon Steel President Tadashi Imai said earlier this week, expressing hope to share the same view with the U.S. government.