Trade War with US: Modi Urges Boycott of American Brands

DID Press: Indian PM Narendra Modi on Sunday (September 21) called on citizens to stop using foreign products and instead support domestically made goods, amid escalating trade tensions between New Delhi and Washington.

Modi’s appeal comes after the U.S. president imposed a 50 percent tariff on Indian imports. In response, the PM has doubled down on his “Swadeshi” campaign, promoting Indian-made products over foreign alternatives.

Supporters of Modi have launched boycott campaigns against leading American brands, including McDonald’s, Pepsi, and Apple — all highly popular among Indian consumers.

Speaking ahead of a major consumer tax cut set to take effect Monday, Modi told a public rally: “Many of the products we use daily are foreign, and we don’t even realize it… We must get rid of them.” “We should buy goods that are produced in India,” he added.

With a population of 1.4 billion, India represents a vast market for U.S. consumer goods, much of it driven by online retail giant Amazon. In recent years, American brands have expanded their reach deep into smaller towns across the country.

Modi also urged local vendors to focus on selling Indian-made products, arguing that such a shift will strengthen the nation’s economic growth.