&w=3840&q=100)
Trump's tariff tirade evokes calls to boycott American companies in India
President Donald Trump with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House. The overall 50 per cent tariff and Russian penalty on India comes even as officials continue to hammer out a trade deal, which has been ongoing since February. File image/AP
From McDonald's and Coca-Cola to Amazon and Apple, American multinationals are facing boycott calls in India as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's supporters and business leaders rail against steep new US tariffs.
India, the world's most populous nation, is a crucial market for US brands that have rapidly expanded to tap a growing base of affluent consumers.
India is the biggest market by users for Meta's WhatsApp, and Domino's operates more restaurants there than any other brand. Pepsi and Coca-Cola dominate store shelves, while queues still form when a new Apple store opens or Starbucks offers discounts.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
The backlash follows President Donald Trump's imposition of a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods, a move that rattled exporters and strained New Delhi–Washington relations. While there is no immediate sign that sales have been hit, calls to 'buy local' and shun American products are spreading both online and offline.
Business leaders urge self-reliance
Manish Chowdhary, co-founder of skincare company Wow Skin Science, posted a video on LinkedIn urging support for Indian farmers and startups, calling for 'Made in India' to become a 'global obsession.' He pointed to South Korea's success in making its food and beauty products internationally recognised.
'We have lined up for products from thousands of miles away. We have proudly spent on brands that we don't own, while our own makers fight for attention in their own country,' he said.
Rahm Shastry, CEO of driver-on-demand service DriveU, wrote on LinkedIn that 'India should have its own home-grown Twitter/Google/YouTube/WhatsApp/Facebook — like China has.'
Foreign competition, domestic ambition
Local retail brands do compete with foreign players like Starbucks in India, but expanding abroad has proved more difficult. By contrast, Indian IT services firms such as Tata Consultancy Services and Infosys have become firmly embedded in the global economy, providing software solutions to clients worldwide.
Whether the current nationalist calls will dent the popularity of US brands in India remains unclear, but the tariff dispute has added fresh strain to an otherwise deep trade relationship between the two democracies.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
'In the first 2 minutes, I'll know…': Trump says he will 'feel out' Putin on ending Ukraine war
US President Donald Trump said Monday that he expected to determine mere moments into his meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin this week whether it would be possible to work out a deal to halt the war in Ukraine. 'At the end of that meeting, probably the first two minutes, I'll know exactly whether or not a deal can be made,' Trump said at a White House press conference that he called to announce plans for a federal takeover of Washington's police force to help combat crime. He said he thought Friday's sitdown with Putin in Alaska would be "really a feel-out meeting." Trump added that 'it'll be good, but it might be bad' and predicted he may say, "lots of luck, keep fighting. Or I may say, we can make a deal.' Show more 08:29 13:09 03:43 08:47 08:32 03:39 10:05 08:54 08:07 08:10 03:15 08:02 23:22 05:05 03:33 04:07 01:48 37:32 08:26 10:00 03:48 08:50 10:03 13:39 03:38 03:29 09:03 03:04 08:25 09:34 01:31
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Trump extends China tariff deadline for another 90 days
Washington, DC [US], August 12 (ANI): United States President Donald Trump on Monday (local time) signed an executive order extending the China tariff deadline for another 90 days, Al Jazeera decision came just hours before the midnight deadline in Beijing, when the previous 90-day pause was set to expire, CNBC reported on Monday, citing a White House official, quoted by Al on Monday, Trump said he has been 'dealing very nicely with China" as Beijing said it was seeking positive US and China have a history of escalating trade tensions, with tariffs on each other's products reaching prohibitive levels. In April, the US imposed a staggering 145 per cent tariff on Chinese goods, while China retaliated with 125 per cent tariffs on US in May, both countries agreed to temporarily lower tariffs during a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. The US reduced its tariffs from 145 per cent to 30 per cent, and China cut its tariffs from 125 per cent to 10 per cent. But the pause comes as negotiations still loom. Asked about the deadline on Monday, Trump said: 'We'll see what happens. They've been dealing quite nicely. The relationship is very good with [China's] President Xi [Jinping] and myself."'We hope that the US will work with China to follow the important consensus reached during the phone call between the two heads of state," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian in a added that Beijing also hopes Washington will 'strive for positive outcomes on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit."In June, key economic officials convened in London as disagreements emerged and US officials accused their counterparts of violating the pact. Policymakers again met in Stockholm last month, according to Al as both countries appeared to be seeking to push back the reinstatement of duties, US trade envoy Jamieson Greer said last month that Trump will have the 'final call" on any such extension. (ANI)
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Ukraine may freeze frontline, let Russia keep occupied territories in European-backed peace plan: Report
Ukraine may agree to halt fighting and accept Russian control over some of the territory Moscow currently occupies as part of a European-backed peace proposal, according to a report by The Telegraph. This plan envisages freezing the front lines in their current state, effectively allowing Russia to retain control over areas including Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Crimea. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has told European leaders that any peace settlement proposed by US President Donald Trump must not include additional Ukrainian territorial concessions beyond what Russia already occupies. However, Zelensky signaled openness to freezing the frontline at its current position. The news outlet quotes a Western official describing the intense diplomatic efforts ahead of the anticipated Trump-Putin talks in Alaska this Friday: 'The plan can only be related to the current positions held by the militaries.' European capitals have expressed growing concern that Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin could negotiate an end to the war without adequately consulting Kyiv. Poland's Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, said on Monday, 'I have many fears and a lot of hope,' adding that US officials pledged to consult European leaders before the Alaska summit. Tusk underscored Europe's firm stance on Ukraine's territorial integrity: 'For Poland and our partners, it is clear that state borders cannot be changed by force. Russia's war with Ukraine must not bring benefits to the aggressor.' European diplomats remain wary of any peace plan Moscow endorses. The Telegraph notes that a peace proposal backed by Russia involves freezing front lines in southeastern Ukraine but requires Kyiv to withdraw from areas of Donetsk and Luhansk it currently controls. According to a report by the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War cited by then news publication, Russia continues to seek the 'full capitulation' of Kyiv, including blocking Ukraine's NATO membership and enforcing demilitarization. European leaders have rallied behind Ukraine's vision for a peace settlement that includes strong security guarantees such as weapons deliveries and a clear path to NATO membership. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also voiced strong opposition to territorial concessions during weekend statements, reinforcing the hardline European stance. In a joint declaration, the leaders of the European Commission, France, Italy, the UK, Poland, and Finland said, 'The current line of contact should be the starting point of negotiations,' according to the news report.
