India’s 1.4 billion population is a huge market for US consumer products
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a public speech on Sunday requested citizens to refrain from using foreign products and use domestic ones instead, embarking on a self-reliant campaign when economic ties with the United States have turned sour.
Since US President Donald Trump had put a 50% tariff on Indian imports, Modi has been pushing for the adoption of “Swadeshi”, that is, products made in India. His supporters launched campaigns to boycott American brands like Apple, which are extremely popular in India.
Many of the items we use every day are made abroad, we simply don’t know. we will have to dispose of them,” Modi said in a national address before Monday’s imposition of mass consumer tax reductions.
“We should purchase products that are produced in India,” he added, without specifying any country.
India’s 1.4 billion population is a large consumer market for US consumer products, which they mostly buy from US-based online shopping giant Amazon.com. The penetration of US brands has grown over the years into rural towns.
Modi calls on Indians to discard foreign goods in face of strained US relations
Modi also requested traders to emphasize selling locally made products, citing that this will increase the economic growth of the nation.
Several firms have boosted advertising local products in recent weeks.
India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal will likely travel to Washington in the coming days for trade negotiations, a visit that would occur in the context of attempts to ease tense bilateral relationships.
