American products have long been a mainstay in India, from grabbing a Coke on the run to biting down on a McDonald’s burger, but these American giants are now at a disadvantage as a result of Trump’s tariffs, which are sparking an increasing Swadeshi movement. This shift is changing how we purchase drinks and eat, from local snack vendors to Indian beverage companies.
Following President Donald Trump’s imposition of massive tariffs of up to 50% on Indian imports, a huge wave of anti-US sentiment is sweeping across India. The action, which was connected to India’s ongoing purchases of Russian oil, has drawn criticism and concern, with many claiming that the taxes are among the highest ever placed on a nation.
American multinationals like Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Subway, KFC, and McDonald’s are therefore at risk of being boycotted.
‘Swadeshi’ Is Supported By Modi As Tariff Tensions Rise
As tensions with the United States continue to escalate, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on Indians to support domestically produced “swadeshi” goods. His appeal to support domestic products follows a spike in public outrage and high U.S. tariffs. Modi made an indirect jab at President Trump when he said that nations are just considering their own interests — a “politics of economic selfishness” that is sweeping the world. When Trump added a 25% penalty to the already-existing 25% reciprocal tariffs on India on August 6, the issue became even more heated.
“India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian oil, they are then, for much of the oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits,” he wrote in a post on Truth Social.
He also said that they weren’t concerned about the number of people killed by the Russian War Machine in Ukraine. “As a result, I will be significantly increasing the tariff that India pays to the United States.”
Ramdev Urges Nationwide Boycott Of US Brands Amid Tariff Tensions
In response to Trump’s tariffs on India, yoga guru Ramdev has asked Indians to boycott all American goods. “There should be no Indians working at the counters of McDonald’s, KFC, Subway, Pepsi, or Coca-Cola. The boycott should be so widespread,” he stated, adding, “If this occurs, there will be chaos in America.”
AAP MP Warns Trump Of Economic Fallout Over Tariffs
In a composed reply, New Delhi stated that it would “take all actions necessary to protect national interests” and called the additional tariff “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.”
On August 27, the new penalty became operative. AAP MP Ashok Kumar Mittal responded by comparing the situation to India’s historic Swadeshi Movement on August 7, 1905, in an open letter to Donald Trump. He warned that the United States would suffer considerably more economically than India if its 1.46 billion citizens were to recreate that mentality and intentionally cut back on their interactions with American companies.
PepsiCo India is riding much bigger numbers with revenues touching Rs 8,200 crore in FY24. Interestingly, India now figures among PepsiCo’s top 15 markets worldwide, and the brand has already pumped in around Rs 3,500-4,000 crore into the country over the last three years.
On the other hand, Westlife Foodworld Limited, the company that runs McDonald’s outlets across West and South India, clocked in a revenue of Rs 2,390 crore for FY24 – marking a 5% jump compared to the previous year.
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