The measures promised by the White House will not necessarily lead to new duties on foreign steel.

The tariffs on foreign steel are not a problem because steel now represents only about 2 percent of a car's value.

Industry and union representatives have complained to the Clinton Administration about the dumping of foreign steel.

But the auto makers have long bought foreign steel.

These agreements restrict the import of foreign steel into this country and are scheduled to expire in September 1989.

The ruling, which backed a broad complaint by the Bush administration, will allow the president to impose high taxes on most foreign steel.

In 1971, imports of foreign steel reached a (then) all-time high, and 108,000 steelworkers were laid off.

But none of this will matter if the American market continues to be a dumping ground for foreign steel.

But it wanted more: A law setting quotas on the amount of imported foreign steel.

By a margin of 289 to 141, the House voted to impose import quotas on foreign steel.