>India mostly allowed free access to US tech companies for a while.
Tech companies allowed it as well because they wanted to capture Indian mindshare which would eventually become their largest customer base.
Tech companies allowed it as well because they wanted to capture Indian mindshare which would eventually become their largest customer base.
No.
India has a large domestic demand but it would be awful to allow non rupee denominated assets to supply that demand.
Imagine tomorrow India got rid of its strong tariff regime.
India's inflation is under control through making it punitive to buy foreign goods which India has a strong demand for.
The idea ever since Gandhi is to use domestic capabilities to provide services India demands. Domestic tariffs are also a form of coercion - but in this case it serves India's national interest.
With the Brits the main source of oppression was through preferential trade that tilted everything in their favour - either through hard power of soft ( like they still do today ).