As for the government "listening", that ignores the fact that this has been ongoing for decades. Don't forget that not only does a nation have to import, they also have to export.
If the US government decided to torpedo our ability to export to China, a nation with a billion+ consumers, it would be just as irresponsible as alloing imports to harm domestic production. Many of the most sought-after items in the world are made in the US, and the Chinese would have no qualms about slapping huge trade penalties on their import.
It is a two-way street. Without being able to export US businesses would fail, and if you mess with other nations ability to export TO America, they screw with your ability to export to them.
