STORY: From McDonald’s and Coca-Cola, to Apple and Amazon – giant U.S. brands are facing calls for a boycott in India.
It’s a protest against Trump’s 50% tariffs on Indian goods…
With business executives and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s supporters stoking anti-American sentiment.
India’s a key growth market for American companies…
With increasingly affluent consumers often associating international brands with moving up in life.
The world’s most populous nation, for example, has more Domino’s restaurants than any other brand.
Drinks like Pepsi and Coca-Cola often dominate store shelves, too.
And people still queue up when an Apple store opens or a Starbucks cafe gives out discounts.
Despite no immediate indication of sales being hit, there’s a growing narrative to buy local instead.
It’s rattled exporters and damaged ties between New Delhi and Washington.
And on Sunday, Modi made a “special appeal” for becoming self-reliant.
McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Amazon and Apple did not immediately respond to Reuters queries.
