Bush Scales Back Steel Tariffs

American steel companies and their representatives in Congress called on President Bush to rescue their dying industry and increase steel tariffs this spring. He did so, infuriating the European Union, which then filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization, arguing that the U.S. was violating free trade rules. Bush has tried to satisfy both sides, discreetly excluding some steel products from the tariffs over the past few months. The recent announcement of a high number of exclusions put Bush back in the line of fire again, however. The European Union was happy with the decision, but American steel companies, unions, and representatives from states with ties to steel were livid. – YaleGlobal