Major American brands in India, including McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Amazon, and Apple, are facing boycott calls as corporate leaders and supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi react to US tariffs. India's large population makes it an important market for American companies.
Several examples demonstrate India's significance as a market: WhatsApp, owned by Meta, has the largest user base in India, while Domino's has more locations than any other food chain. Pepsi and Coca-Cola continue to have a strong retail presence, while Apple and Starbucks continue to attract a large number of customers.
Key Highlights
- Thousands of X users are calling to boycott American brands like Coca-Cola, Apple, Amazon following tariff hike.
- Tariff-triggered backlash is fast-tracking “Atmanirbhar Bharat,” promoting buy-local campaigns and self-reliance momentum.
Donald Trump's implementation of a 50% tariff on Indian goods has strained diplomatic relations between New Delhi and Washington, prompting widespread social media campaigns and public calls to support local alternatives to American products. While the immediate impact on sales is unknown, a Reuters report indicates that there is growing support for a boycott of US goods in favor of domestic alternatives.
Trump's tariffs on India: Calls to boycott US brands
Manish Chowdhary, who co-founded Wow Skin Science in India, posted a video on LinkedIn advocating for domestic farmers and startups. He emphasised the importance of bringing "Made in India" products to international prominence, citing South Korea's success in the food and beauty industries.
"We've lined up for products from thousands of miles away. We have proudly spent on brands that we do not own, while our own manufacturers compete for attention in their home country," he stated.
Rahm Shastry, CEO of DriveU, shared on LinkedIn his vision for India to develop its own alternatives to major social media and technology platforms.
While Indian retail companies successfully compete with international brands like Starbucks in the domestic market, global expansion remains difficult.
Also Read: Indian Banks Tighten Exporters' Loan Checks Amid Trump's 50% Tariff Policy
In contrast, Indian technology service companies have established a strong international presence, with organisations such as TCS and Infosys providing software solutions to clients all over the world.
During a Sunday gathering in Bengaluru, PM Modi made a "special appeal" for self-reliance, stating that while Indian technology firms create products for the global market, "now is the time for us to give more priority to India's needs."
Despite ongoing anti-American demonstrations, Tesla opened its second Indian showroom in New Delhi on Monday, with representatives from the Indian commerce ministry and the US embassy in attendance.
