France Condemns U.S. Pressure on Firms to Abandon Diversity Programs

The French government has vowed to defend its companies after the U.S. demanded compliance with anti-DEI policies under a Trump executive order.

The Trump administration has sent letters to French companies, requiring them to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs to remain eligible for U.S. federal contracts.
The French Ministry of Commerce has officially denounced these demands as 'unacceptable interference' and pledged to defend the nation's businesses and values.
The letters reference Executive Order 14.173, signed by Donald Trump, which bans DEI initiatives in U.S. federal agencies and extends these requirements to contractors worldwide.
French companies in sectors like telecommunications, energy, and pharmaceuticals are evaluating the legal and economic implications of compliance with the U.S. directive.
Legal experts have questioned the diplomatic validity of the letters, while the U.S. Embassy in Paris has not commented on the matter.