Following US President Donald Trump’s imposition of a 50 percent tariff on imported Indian goods, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is urging the use of “Swadeshi,” or “Made in India,” products. His supporters have launched campaigns to boycott popular American brands like McDonald’s, Pepsi, and Apple.
In an address to the nation before a new round of consumer tax cuts, Modi stated, “A lot of products we use daily are foreign-made, we just don’t know… we will have to get rid of them.” Without naming a specific country, he added, “We should buy products that are made in India.”
India’s population of 1.4 billion represents a significant market for American consumer goods, which are often purchased from online retailers like Amazon. Over the years, the presence of US brands has expanded into smaller towns across the country. Modi also called on shopkeepers to focus on selling locally made products, arguing that this would boost India’s economic growth.
In recent weeks, many companies have already increased their promotion of local goods. India’s Commerce Minister, Piyush Goyal, is expected to visit Washington soon for trade talks, a trip aimed at easing strained bilateral relations between the two countries.
