Per Wikipedia [1] the successful Thai auto industry is a perfect example of using protective tarrifs to develop one's economy. They slapped huge tarrifs on imports, then shifted to taxing fully-assembled imports to grow their parts manufacturing, then gradually eased restrictions after they'd been able to develop a superior domestic parts manufacturing industry.
Protective taxes. Domestic growth. Expertise. Drop taxes and start telling everyone else how great free trade is.
This is exactly the playbook my country S. Korea used, enabling the "miracle on the Han". The "free trade" mantra is bullshit, it is literally kicking away the ladder that every developed nation climbed to get to the top.
It was definitely working for a good part of the time. Mismanagement in other areas does not imply the recession was caused by protectionism. Actually, there are several different reasons for the Brazilian recession, yet none of them has anything to do with a "closed" market.
Protective taxes. Domestic growth. Expertise. Drop taxes and start telling everyone else how great free trade is.
It's a pretty winning playbook.
[1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotive_industry_in_Thail...