Protection of local industries via tariff protection is a bit of a mixed bag. Whilst the protection helps local industries, it also raises the cost to the local consumer. And it doesn't necessarily help develop an internationally competitive industry either, so not much chance of export income. And then you get retaliation in industries that can be competitive on the world stage.

What gets me with something like the textile industry is we have the raw product - why can't we be competitive?

We shouldn't be exporting raw materials - we should be exporting finished products.