Varanasi, August 3: Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on Indians to buy and sell only locally made goods amid rising global economic uncertainty, days after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a 25% tariff on Indian exports and accused the country of unfair trade practices.
Addressing rallies in Uttar Pradesh and his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi on Saturday, Modi emphasized self-reliance through his government’s long-standing “Make in India” and “Vocal for Local” campaigns.
“The world economy is facing instability and uncertainty. In such times, countries are focusing solely on their own interests,” Modi said. “Whatever we buy, we should ask ourselves – has an Indian toiled to make this? That product is Swadeshi for us.”
Though Modi made no direct mention of the U.S. tariffs, his comments come in the wake of Trump’s combative remarks, in which the U.S. President labeled India a “dead economy” and criticized its defense and energy ties with Russia. Trump warned of further penalties in addition to the newly announced tariffs, which were postponed from August 1 to August 7.
“I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “We have done very little business with India. Their tariffs are too high, among the highest in the world.”
India has maintained a firm stance in ongoing trade talks, particularly resisting U.S. demands to ease restrictions on agricultural imports, dairy products, and genetically modified foods. The tariffs are seen in New Delhi as an attempt to pressure India into agreeing to a bilateral trade pact similar to those Washington has secured with Japan, the UK, and the EU.
Modi’s push for Swadeshi-homegrown products-was framed as a national movement. “This is not just about Modi saying it… every Indian should say this – if we want India to become the third-largest economy… we must awaken the spirit of Swadeshi,” he said, adding that it was vital for securing youth employment and supporting farmers and small industries.
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal defended India’s economic record in Parliament, calling it the “fastest-growing major economy” and confirmed that the government was examining the implications of the U.S. tariffs.
The political fallout continued as opposition leader Rahul Gandhi backed Trump’s “dead economy” comment, calling it a “fact”- a statement that drew strong condemnation from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Modi concluded his speech by invoking Mahatma Gandhi and calling for collective national effort: “The feeling of Swadeshi in every action will define our future. Only through collective effort can we fulfill the dream of a developed India.”
