Major US companies, including McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Amazon, and Apple, are facing calls for a boycott in India as political groups and business leaders protest against new US tariffs on Indian goods. The movement follows former US President Donald Trump’s imposition of a 50% tariff, which has strained ties between Washington and New Delhi.
India, a critical market for many American brands, has seen the rapid expansion of foreign companies catering to its growing affluent class. Global labels remain popular, from Domino’s — now with more outlets in India than anywhere else — to Apple’s newly opened flagship stores. However, Swadeshi Jagran Manch, a group linked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party, is now urging consumers to “buy local,” holding rallies and circulating lists of Indian alternatives to foreign products.
On Sunday, Modi called for greater self-reliance, saying it was “time to give more priority to India’s needs.” Business figures like Manish Chowdhary of Wow Skin Science and Rahm Shastry of DriveU have echoed the sentiment, advocating for homegrown brands to challenge US tech and consumer giants.
Despite the growing boycott rhetoric, there’s little evidence yet of a sales hit. Some consumers remain indifferent — as Rajat Gupta, a McDonald’s customer in Lucknow, put it, “Tariffs are a matter of diplomacy and my McPuff, coffee should not be dragged into it.”
India, a critical market for many American brands, has seen the rapid expansion of foreign companies catering to its growing affluent class. Global labels remain popular, from Domino’s — now with more outlets in India than anywhere else — to Apple’s newly opened flagship stores. However, Swadeshi Jagran Manch, a group linked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party, is now urging consumers to “buy local,” holding rallies and circulating lists of Indian alternatives to foreign products.
On Sunday, Modi called for greater self-reliance, saying it was “time to give more priority to India’s needs.” Business figures like Manish Chowdhary of Wow Skin Science and Rahm Shastry of DriveU have echoed the sentiment, advocating for homegrown brands to challenge US tech and consumer giants.
Despite the growing boycott rhetoric, there’s little evidence yet of a sales hit. Some consumers remain indifferent — as Rajat Gupta, a McDonald’s customer in Lucknow, put it, “Tariffs are a matter of diplomacy and my McPuff, coffee should not be dragged into it.”
