You obviously don't work in manufacturing because you don't have a clue...
I have worked in heavy manufacturing for over 30 years.
Prior to that I worked for a state regulatory agency.
There are quite a few federal regulations that were written
in such a way as to create a “barrier to entry” for competitors.
There are many examples where:
if you had such-and-such equipment
that was installed prior to such-and-such date
you were exempt from the regulation.
Big government and big business
have been in bed with each other for a long time.
Visit K street and get back to me.