Emergency steel-import tariffs imposed by the United States over a year ago are today expected to be found in violation of global trade rules, diplomatic sources said.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) said it would be issuing a ruling by a three-man panel this afternoon but gave no indication whether it would go for or against the United States.
The hefty tariffs, which President George W. Bush argued were essential to shelter the ailing US steel industry against a flood of imports, brought a storm of criticism - even from countries not directly affected.
An interim panel report delivered in March to the US administration, the European Union, Japan and seven other countries involved in the dispute ruled the tariffs on a wide range of steel products violated WTO agreements.
Diplomats said they believed the final ruling would not differ from the original one.
The United States has previously said that if the finding is confirmed, it will take the case to the WTO's quasi-judicial Appellate Body, which would have three months to decide whether the panel's reasoning was correct.
Critics of Mr Bush's stance in international affairs saw the decision to impose tariffs as proof his administration was ready to break global agreements to promote the interests of US political or economic groups.