Bush weighs lifting imported-steel tariffs

Leaders on the Congressional Steel Caucus, who favor the tariffs, are mostly home in their districts and have not formally met with White House advisers, according to their offices.

Observers have not ruled out a compromise.

“I think he will get rid of the tariffs but he will do something that will at least take the edge off the anger of the steel company executives,” said Gary Hufbauer, a trade expert with the Institute for International Economics, a Washington think tank that supports free trade.

Steel companies worry about a flood of foreign products entering the U.S. market. Mr. Hufbauer said a quota system would allow steel imports to increase but would cap them if they surged.

Any compromise would require the approval of the European Union to avoid sanctions.