THERE IS NOTHING SO PERMANENT AS A TEMPORARY TARIFF. Someday, somebody will tell Big Steel "pick up thy blanket and walk." But not just yet.

In a decision that is likely to cheer domestic steel producers -- but disappoint steel purchasers in the U.S. manufacturing sector -- the U.S. International Trade Commission voted today to continue anti-dumping duties on hot-rolled steel imported from China and five other countries.

The ITC's ruling on the controversial issue is "unfortunate," said the Precision Metalforming Association, a trade group that represents U.S. companies that purchase steel to create products.

The ITC has "missed the fact" that the once-troubled U.S. steel industry has regained its footing, and that "American steel consumers need access to steel products at globally competitive prices," the group said.

Big Steel has been requesting protection against dumped steel and other allegedly injurious trade practices for lo these past thirty years. The usual suspects continue to be on probation.

Import duties, which protect domestic makers but raise costs for consumers of whatever good is being restricted, are normally established for a specified number of years, and expire unless the ITC specifically votes to continue them.

Late this morning, the government agency said it has determined it will end duties on imports from Argentina, Kazakhstan, Romania and South Africa.

But it left the duties in place for imports from leading import producer China, as well as India, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand and Ukraine.

Great. Antagonize two large nuclear powers as well as the largest Moslem country, two tropical tiger countries, and a former captive nation.