Walmart CEO Doug McMillon says, Walmart will announce the next goal for India once ...
FILE (Harlan Bozeman/The New York Times)
Walmart Inc President and CEO Doug McMillon emphasized the company's desire for a level playing field and consistent policies in all countries where it operates, stating that Walmart is well-equipped to navigate the current tariff challenges better than any other retailer. "We operate in many countries, and we consistently ask for a level playing field everywhere," McMillon told the Economic Times when questioned about India. "We engage with various governments, sharing our views on changes needed to better serve customers, but we don't set the rules—we comply with them."
Talking about the goal for India market, McMillion said, Walmart will announce the next goal for India once it reaches the target of annually sourcing goods worth $10 billion from the country by 2027. He went on to highlight Walmart's preference for local sourcing and job creation, noting, "We like to buy locally, create jobs, and benefit from shorter lead times, especially for food and consumables." Media reports suggest that the Trump administration is pushing India to grant full access to its $125 billion e-commerce market for companies like Amazon and Walmart as part of ongoing bilateral trade agreement (BTA) negotiations, expected to conclude by next month. McMillon clarified that Walmart is not directly involved in these government-to-government talks.
In India, e-commerce giants like Amazon and Walmart-owned
Flipkart
are prohibited from holding inventory or selling directly to consumers, unlike local firms such as Reliance Retail and Tata Group. McMillon stressed the importance of clear and predictable regulations, saying, "The more things are transparent and consistent, the better it is for business, whether in India or globally."
On the possibility of Flipkart holding inventory in India, McMillon noted, "We have expertise in inventory management and would be happy if the rules allowed it, but we leave rule-making to others."
Addressing tariffs, McMillon said Walmart's sourcing capabilities give it an edge. "We've been managing tariffs since 2018, and our experienced merchants can adapt by making different sourcing choices," he said. "We prioritize buying locally to create jobs and reduce lead times, though this is easier for food than general merchandise."
McMillon underscored Walmart's commitment to low prices, stating, "Keeping the cost of living low is our priority. Low prices are in our DNA, and we aim to maintain a price gap with competitors to deliver value to customers globally."
Regarding India, McMillon expressed optimism about Walmart's sourcing goals, saying, "We're on track to source $10 billion annually from India by 2027, with an expanding range of categories. It's encouraging to see this progress." He added that Walmart will continue sourcing from both India and China and will announce new targets for India once the current goal is achieved.
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