Calling President Bush's decision to end tariffs on foreign steel disappointing. U.S. Rep. Phil English indicated the sword of pending retaliation against American goods by other countries was a pivotal factor in Bush's decision.

"Retaliation, particularly by the European Union, was significant,'' English said Thursday. "It changed what the administration is trying to do which is not to step away from steel, but replace tariffs with close monitoring and potentially using other trade tools to crack down.''

The 3rd District Republican from Erie is also head of the Congressional Steel Caucus.

The tariffs imposed by the administration on steel imports helped not only those in the steel industry, but was a benefit to the overall American economy, English said.

He lashed out at the World Trade Organization, which had ruled the steel tariffs were illegal.

"The WTO's decision was the most devastating decision for America that it ever handed down. It's equal to the Dred Scott decision which was devastating to the credibility of the United States Supreme Court,'' English said.

The infamous 1857 U.S. Supreme Court decision was a case filed by Scott, an African-American slave seeking his freedom. The court ruled that not only should Scott remain a slave, but that he was personal property and therefore wasn't a citizen of the United States and had no right to bring suit in federal courts on any matter. Three years after the ruling, the long and bloody Civil War began which ultimately settled the issue of slavery.

"The WTO should have given us a chance to fix or remedy the situation and they didn't do that,'' English said.

He credited the Bush administration for its attempts in trying to help the steel industry and said that years from now Bush's decision may be looked upon as a positive turning point for steel. As for the near-term though, English said he wouldn't let the administration off the hook.

"The administration has sidestepped a problem that hasn't fully satisfied me. I think the administration has to come up with something better,'' he said.