Modi urges Indians to get rid of foreign products amidst strained U.S. ties

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a public address on Sunday, urged citizens to stop purchasing foreign-made products and instead opt for local ones, promoting a self-reliant campaign amid strained trade relations with the United States.

Following the imposition of a 50% tariff on imported Indian goods by U.S. President Donald Trump, Modi has been advocating for the use of "Swadeshi," or made-in-India goods. His supporters have launched campaigns to boycott popular American brands such as McDonald's, Pepsi, and Apple, which have a strong presence in India.

“A lot of products we use daily are foreign-made, we just don’t realise it... we must eliminate them,” Modi said in his address, ahead of the implementation of widespread consumer tax cuts on Monday. “We should buy products made in India,” he added, without naming any specific country.

India's population of 1.4 billion is a significant market for American consumer goods, often purchased through U.S. online retailer Amazon. Over the years, American brands have expanded their reach into smaller towns across the country.

Modi also encouraged shopkeepers to prioritise the sale of made-in-India products, arguing that this would contribute to the country’s economic growth.

In recent weeks, many companies have ramped up efforts to promote local goods. India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is expected to visit Washington soon for trade discussions, a visit aimed at easing the ongoing strain in bilateral relations.

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