Trump Tariff: Voices Grow For ‘Swadeshi’ Push Amid Rising Calls To Shun American Products

Last Updated:August 31, 2025, 08:50 IST

Household names like Pepsi, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, KFC, and Subway now face the prospect of consumer boycotts in one of the world’s largest markets

A file photo of PM Modi with Donald Trump (PTI)

Calls to shun American products are gaining momentum in India after US President Donald Trump imposed steep tariffs on Indian goods, citing New Delhi’s continued purchase of discounted Russian crude.

The latest measure, a 50 per cent duty on Indian exports, including an additional 25 per cent penalty on Russian oil-linked trade, has triggered a backlash against US multinationals operating in the country.

Household names like Pepsi, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, KFC, and Subway now face the prospect of consumer boycotts in one of the world’s largest markets.

Yoga guru Ramdev, a vocal advocate of self-reliance, urged Indians to abandon American products completely. “Not a single Indian should be seen at the counters of Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Subway, KFC, or McDonald’s. There should be such a massive boycott,” he said, warning that such action could send shockwaves through the US economy.

The potential stakes are high. Westlife Foodworld Limited, which runs McDonald’s outlets in western and southern India, posted revenues of Rs 2,390 crore in FY24, up 5 per cent from last year.

PepsiCo India, meanwhile, earned Rs 8,200 crore in FY24 and has invested nearly Rs 4,000 crore in India over the past three years.

With India ranking among PepsiCo’s top 15 global markets, any large-scale boycott could disrupt operations and profitability for US majors.

PM Modi’s ‘Swadeshi’ Pitch

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also renewed his pitch for “swadeshi” consumption, telling citizens to adopt the “vocal for local” mantra.

“When we decide to buy anything, there should be only one measure: it must be made by the people of India, using the skill and sweat of Indians,” he said.

PM Modi also aimed at Trump’s move, describing it as part of a wider “politics of economic selfishness” dominating global trade.

The tariff hike, which came into effect on August 27, follows Trump’s criticism that India is profiting from Russian crude resales while ignoring the human cost of the Ukraine conflict.

“India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian oil, they are then… selling it on the open market for big profits. They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine,” Trump posted on Truth Social, justifying the penalty.

India has rejected the US action as “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable” and vowed to safeguard national interests.

Boycott Sentiment Spreads

The boycott sentiment is not confined to India.

Similar protests against US products have recently surfaced in France, the UK, and Canada. But with India’s 1.5 billion consumers, a sustained boycott could inflict significant losses on US brands.

Already, political voices are amplifying the threat.

AAP MP Ashok Kumar Mittal, in an open letter to Trump, invoked the Swadeshi Movement of 1905.

“If 146 crore Indians were to channel that spirit today and initiate a strategic restriction of US businesses, the impact would be far more severe for the United States than for India,” he wrote.

Some protests also broke out on the ground against Trump’s tariff decision, with the Bangia Hindu Mahamancha staging demonstrations where American products were burned. The group urged people to boycott US goods and instead support Indian-made products.

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