If tariffs don't work, why do so many nations still use them?

Let’s say a country sees it has an opportunity to become a clothing manufacturer. If there were no tariffs, each aspiring clothes manufacturing company would have to compete with every other clothes manufacturer in the world — many of which have already a large global market share, experienced workforce, better contacts, state-of-the-art machinery, etc.

Because it benefits a developing industry in a country.

They wouldn’t be able to compete with foreign imports — neither in price, nor in quality — and would simply go bankrupt.

Why are terrible, boring art pieces done by famous people worth so much while beautiful pieces done by amateurs are worthless?

But if the country now puts tariffs to foreign clothes imports, this evens out the playing field, and enables local aspiring clothes manufacturers to gain experience, machinery, connections, etc. before having to compete with global competitors on a level playing field.

Sure, clothes are more expensive in such a country than they would be in a free-market situation, but then again, there is a future for the people in that country.

This enables the existence of local businesses doing local manufacturing, providing jobs, money, and meaning to local residents.

Astronomers discover most powerful cosmic explosions since the Big Bang - Space

There has been plenty of criticism aimed at Western proponents of global free markets. These countries developed their own manufacturing capabilities while protected by tariffs, and when third-world countries try to do the same, they are lectured about free trade benefitting everyone.