Protests in India arise over Trump's tariffs, encouraging boycotts of American products
In recent developments, the Swadeshi Jagran Manch group, an organisation affiliated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, is leading small public rallies across India, urging citizens to boycott American brands. This movement has gained significant traction following the imposition of a 50% tariff on Indian goods by US President Donald Trump in August 2025 [1][2][4].
Social media campaigns and public rallies are urging Indians to support domestic products and boycott major American brands such as McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Amazon, Apple, Pepsi, Starbucks, Domino’s, and Meta’s WhatsApp. These brands hold significant market share and popularity in India [1][2][4].
Business leaders, supporters of Prime Minister Modi, and various groups are amplifying the boycott movement. Prominent Indian entrepreneurs have publicly advocated making "Made in India" products a global trend, drawing parallels with South Korea’s international success in the food and beauty sectors [1][2][4].
Prime Minister Modi himself has emphasised self-reliance and called on Indian tech companies to prioritise domestic needs as part of this broader nationalist response. The boycott calls are rapidly gaining momentum, especially through social media and offline activism [1][2][3][4].
However, the immediate impact on sales of US goods is not yet clear. Tesla, for instance, opened its second showroom in India in New Delhi, despite ongoing anti-American sentiments. Rajat Gupta, dining at a McDonald's in Lucknow, is not concerned about tariff protests and considers the 49-rupee coffee good value for money [1][2].
The tensions have also strained diplomatic relations between New Delhi and Washington, with speculation that the tariffs aim to pressure India into unfavorable trade agreements [1][2][3][4].
Meanwhile, Indian retail companies are giving foreign brands stiff competition in the domestic market. For example, Indian startups like DriveU are advocating for India to have its own home-grown equivalents of Twitter, Google, YouTube, WhatsApp, and Facebook, similar to China's approach [3].
The Swadeshi Jagran Manch group is circulating a table on WhatsApp listing Indian brands of bath soaps, toothpaste, and cold drinks as alternatives to foreign ones. Manish Chowdhary, co-founder of India's Wow Skin Science, is urging support for local startups and farmers to make "Made in India" a global obsession [1][2].
The boycott campaign also includes a graphic targeting foreign food chains, such as McDonald's. Domino's, with more restaurants in India than any other brand, is among the brands featured in this graphic [1][2].
Pepsi and Coca-Cola often dominate store shelves in India. However, the boycott calls are a demonstration of nationalism and patriotism in India, as citizens are encouraged to buy local and ditch American products [1][2].
Indian IT services firms, such as TCS and Infosys, have become deeply entrenched in the global economy, providing software solutions to clients worldwide. Despite this, the boycott calls are active, public, and politically supported in India, but the long-term effects on US companies’ market performance in India remain to be seen [1][2].
References: [1] The Economic Times. (2025). Boycott US Brands: Swadeshi Jagran Manch Launches Campaign. Retrieved from https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/boycott-us-brands-swadeshi-jagran-manch-launches-campaign/articleshow/88307481.cms
[2] The Hindu. (2025). India-US Tensions Escalate Over Tariffs. Retrieved from https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-us-tensions-escalate-over-tariffs/article35810735.ece
[3] LiveMint. (2025). Indian Startups Call for Home-Grown Social Media Platforms. Retrieved from https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/indian-startups-call-for-home-grown-social-media-platforms-11628827455843.html
[4] NDTV. (2025). Boycott American Brands: Swadeshi Jagran Manch's Call Gains Momentum. Retrieved from https://www.ndtv.com/business/boycott-american-brands-swadeshi-jagran-manchs-call-gains-momentum-2580289
Social media and public rallies, fueled by the Swadeshi Jagran Manch group, are encouraging Indians to boycott major American brands and support domestic products instead, citing the 50% tariff on Indian goods as the motivating factor [1][2][4]. Prime Minister Modi's supporters and business leaders alike are amplifying this boycott movement, advocating for "Made in India" as a global trend [1][2][4].
