I generally think that tariffs are not a positive thing to implement. Tariffs hinder trade by taxing trade between two countries.

With that being said, many other countries impose tariffs and non-tariff barriers to import trade from the US to their countries. Theft of IP and a mandate that a JV with 51% Chinese ownership are two of the worst non-tariff barriers that I can think of. But other countries are also guilty. Excessive regulation against US companies and government subsidies for domestic industries comes to mind for what many European countries engage in. So the status quo is not really free trade, it is an uneven playing field with many non-tariff trading barriers imposed on the US, and few imposed by the US on other countries.

There is also the issue of national security. In a war, or a time of national emergency, countries will prioritize the defense of their own country ahead of others when it comes to allocating supplies produced by its own domestic industry. This was somewhat highlighted by covid in 2020 especially. So you really want your own domestic industry to exist and have the ability to ramp up production for things you will need in a war.