Trump Tariffs Spark Swadeshi Pushback Against US Giants Pepsi, McDonald’s

US Tariffs Trigger Swadeshi Wave: Pepsi, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola Face Boycott Calls in India.

A wave of anti-US sentiment has swept across India after US President Donald Trump imposed steep 50% tariffs on the country, citing its purchase of Russian oil. The move, among the highest tariffs globally, has triggered calls for boycotts of American brands.

Prominent yoga guru Ramdev urged citizens to avoid US products, saying:
“Not a single Indian should be seen at the counters of Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Subway, KFC, or McDonald’s. A massive boycott will create chaos in America.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi echoed the swadeshi sentiment, appealing to Indians to adopt a “vocal for local” mantra. “When we buy something, it must be made by Indian hands, with Indian skill and effort. That is true swadeshi,” he said, while indirectly criticizing Trump’s “politics of economic selfishness.”

The backlash mirrors boycotts already underway in France, the UK, and Canada. With India’s 1.5 billion population, a nationwide boycott could pose massive challenges for US companies.

On August 6, Trump added a fresh 25% penalty on top of existing tariffs, accusing India of profiteering from Russian oil sales. In a Truth Social post, he wrote: “India doesn’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will substantially raise the Tariff paid by India to the USA.”

New Delhi strongly rejected the move, calling the additional duty “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.” The new tariffs took effect on August 27. AAP MP Ashok Kumar Mittal, in an open letter to Trump, invoked the 1905 Swadeshi Movement: “If 146 crore Indians channel that spirit today, restricting US businesses would hurt America far more than India.”

Meanwhile, US multinationals face real risks. Westlife Foodworld Limited, which operates McDonald’s in West and South India, posted ₹2,390 crore revenue in FY24 (a 5% rise). PepsiCo India, with revenues of ₹8,200 crore, counts India among its top 15 global markets, having invested nearly ₹4,000 crore over the past three years.