Brussels, 04/12/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday, President Bush was to decide, at the time of going to press, to lift the surcharges on steel imports condemned by the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Six days from the reprieve conceded by the Union, Japan, China and five other countries before triggering unprecedented retaliatory trade sanctions against American trade, George W. Bush was to endorse the decision recommended by his closest advisers (see EUROPE of 2 December, p.12) after mid-term review of these measures whose expiry was initially scheduled for March 2005. This long-awaited decision, albeit potentially painful for some, could come with protective measures for the sector, such as a surveillance mechanism of trade flows, a system of import licenses and social coverage by the Federal State.