Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged citizens to stop using foreign-made products and shift to locally produced goods, intensifying his call for a self-reliant India amid worsening trade relations with the United States.
The appeal comes in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a 50% tariff on Indian imports. Modi has since been promoting “Swadeshi” — a term meaning homegrown or made-in-India — encouraging Indians to support domestic businesses and reduce reliance on foreign products.
Supporters of the campaign have begun boycotting popular American brands such as McDonald’s (MCD.N), Pepsi (PEP.O), and Apple (AAPL.O).
> “A lot of the products we use every day are foreign-made, and we may not even realize it. We must phase them out,” Modi said during a national address ahead of sweeping consumer tax cuts.
“We should buy products that are made in India,” he added, without directly naming any country.
India, with its 1.4 billion people, is a major market for American consumer goods, many of which are sold through platforms like Amazon.com (AMZN.O). Over time, U.S. brands have expanded their reach deep into smaller towns and rural areas.
Modi also called on shopkeepers and retailers to prioritize Indian-made products, saying this would help boost manufacturing and drive economic growth.
In recent weeks, companies have ramped up promotion of local goods in line with the government’s call. Meanwhile, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is expected to visit Washington soon for trade talks aimed at easing the strained bilateral relationship.
