But why is it that every (okay, okay, not every) other country on earth imposes tariffs on us?...and they don't go broke, their economies don't die, and they don't have huge negative trade balances with us.
Is there a simple answer?
Free markets mean that the individual concerns make their own decisions on what, when and where to buy the goods needed in their business or personal lives, not the government or some labor union or corporation.
Ideally two countries would mutually agree not to place tariffs or give subsidies to businesses involved with trade with the other country. In the absence of the perfect agreement getting as close as you can is better than limiting trade or even worse completely shutting it off.
Nobody mentions the jobs involved with handling or transporting goods. Manufacturing itself is only one aspect of an economy. As a general rule the countries with the freest trade have the stronger economies. Freedom equals prosperity.
Trade balances mean nothing. Sooner or later that money will come home. Think of it like a check written on a bank account. Unless you can cash that check it’s worthless.