Q. In recent cases, the U.S. placed quotas or protectionist tariffs on imported microchips and imported steel. In both cases the damage to "downstream" industries was obvious to all and relatively simple to quantify and demonstrate. Consider that the U.S. lawmakers are not plain dumb, why did they enact these protectionist policies?

Answer: The system through which these protectionist policies are set into law is biased in favour of the producers of import competitive goods. Other sectors of the economy that may possibly affect aren't parties in the petitions made to the ITC seeking redress.