Steel workers unions, many American steel companies and elected officials from both parties in steel-producing states lobbied hard to keep the tariffs in place until 2005.

The extension until March 31, 1992, was a compromise between opponents who wanted no extension and members of Congress from steel-producing states who wanted a five-year extension.

West Virginia and Pennsylvania, two of the largest steel-producing states, are seen as competitive in the presidential election.

We're the largest steel-producing state in the country.

The steel companies plan a news conference on Tuesday, to be attended by senators and representatives from steel-producing states as well as the heads of most of the big steel companies.

Mr. Bush's political advisers reportedly viewed the move as a means of shoring up support in steel-producing states like Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

So have manufacturers of appliances and electrical equipment, and scores of smaller metal-forming companies that are themselves in steel-producing states.

It is an important electricity and steel-producing state of India.

Today's was the biggest and most controversial decision on exclusion, and it quickly provoked a chorus of protest from steel producers, union leaders and politicians from steel-producing states.

Senator John D. Rockefeller 4th, a West Virginia Democrat, is one of several lawmakers from steel-producing states who have advocated such limits.