Steel Tariffs Appear to Have Backfired on Bush: Move to Aid Mills and Gain Votes in 2 States Is Called Political and Economic Mistake By Mike Allen and Jonathan Weisman.

In a decision largely driven by his political advisers, President Bush set aside his free-trade principles last year and imposed heavy tariffs on imported steel to help out struggling mills in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, two states crucial for his reelection.

Eighteen months later, key administration officials have concluded that Bush's order has turned into a debacle. Some economists say the tariffs may have cost more jobs than they saved, by driving up costs for automakers and other steel users. Politically, the strategy failed to produce union endorsements and appears to have hurt Bush with workers in Michigan and Tennessee -- also states at the heart of his 2004 strategy.

Emphasis mine. Of course, they're still not sure if they're going to repeal them.