US Tariffs Spark Swadeshi Backlash: Pepsi, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola Face Boycott Calls in India
A wave of anti-US sentiment has gripped India after President Donald Trump imposed steep tariffs on the country, prompting calls to boycott American multinational brands such as Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Subway, KFC and McDonald’s.
Trump recently slapped a 50% tariff on Indian goods, citing New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil. The duties — among the highest in the world — were later raised by an additional 25% on August 6, taking the total penalty to 75%. On Truth Social, Trump accused India of profiting by reselling Russian oil on the open market and said, “They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine.”
The tariffs have triggered strong reactions in India. Yoga guru Ramdev urged Indians to shun all American products, declaring: “Not a single Indian should be seen at the counters of Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Subway, KFC or McDonald’s. There should be such a massive boycott that chaos ensues in America.” Anti-US boycotts have already surfaced in parts of Europe and Canada, giving further momentum to the campaign.
With a population of 1.5 billion, a full-scale boycott in India could inflict massive losses on US corporations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also encouraged Indians to embrace “swadeshi,” or homegrown goods. “When we decide to buy anything, there should be only one measure: whether it has been made by the people of India, using the skill of India. We will have to adopt the ‘vocal for local’ mantra,” he said, framing Trump’s move as part of a global “politics of economic selfishness.”
New Delhi responded calmly but firmly, describing the increased tariffs as “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable,” and pledged to “take all actions necessary to protect national interests.”
The growing backlash has also drawn political voices. AAP MP Ashok Kumar Mittal, in an open letter to Trump, evoked the historic Swadeshi Movement of 1905. He argued that if modern India — with 146 crore citizens — embraced a similar economic strategy today, the impact on the US would be far more severe than the colonial-era boycott against Britain.
As tensions escalate, American brands face not only tariffs and regulatory hurdles but also a potential crisis of consumer sentiment in one of their largest markets.
