It's not really communism either. The regime which allowed 3 of my 1980s gray market cars to be imported in 1985 (M535i, M635CSi, and 745i) came crashing down because MB USA, LR USA, BMW USA decided to lobby congress which resulted in the implementation of the 25 year rule (using NHTSA and EPA). This is because it was less expensive to import a euro spec (faster/smaller bumpered) 745i than buy a NA standard 735i. The 745i had about 50 more HP and better gas mileage.
It's corporations (like Mitsu USA) who want to use fed regulations to prevent direct competition with their parent company. "For the safety of the children," is just the excuse.