French officials are denouncing what they call U.S. overreach after the American Embassy in Paris warned companies that doing business with the U.S. government requires them to abandon corporate DEI policies.
At a Glance
- U.S. Embassy in Paris demanded French companies drop DEI programs or lose U.S. contracts.
- The demand is based on Executive Order 14173, signed by President Trump.
- France’s Ministry of Foreign Trade condemned the order as unacceptable interference.
- French firms are refusing to comply, raising international tensions.
- The issue highlights a cultural rift over diversity policies between France and the U.S.
U.S. Pushes Trump’s DEI Ban Abroad
A diplomatic dispute is intensifying after the U.S. Embassy in Paris sent letters to French companies instructing them to certify compliance with President Trump’s Executive Order 14173, which prohibits federal contractors from implementing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
The letter warned that continued participation in DEI programs could jeopardize business ties with the U.S. government. French firms were given five days to sign a certification form affirming that they no longer support or sponsor DEI-related activities.
According to reporting from the Associated Press, the directive targets multinational suppliers and reflects a broader Trump administration effort to extend anti-DEI policies beyond U.S. borders.
Watch video analysis of the controversy.
French Officials Push Back
French leaders quickly condemned the move. Aurore Bergé, Minister for Equality between Women and Men, said the letter represented “a form, obviously, of interference” and accused the U.S. of trying to impose “a diktat” on sovereign French businesses.
“American interference in the inclusion policies of French companies, such as threats of unjustified customs duties, is unacceptable,” added a spokesperson for the French Ministry of Foreign Trade, as quoted by Reuters.
The French Economy Ministry further stated, “These are not our values,” highlighting the deep differences between France’s constitutional commitment to equality and America’s shifting political approach.
Cultural Divide Over DEI
The controversy underscores a sharp contrast between U.S. and French corporate cultures. France’s anti-discrimination laws largely prohibit categorizing individuals by race or ethnicity, making DEI policies as practiced in the U.S. less common. French companies tend to focus on socio-economic and gender-based inclusion, rather than race-based programming.
Nonetheless, many French firms—especially multinationals—have embraced U.S.-style DEI frameworks to align with global trends. The U.S. ultimatum, however, now puts those practices at risk.
Business and Legal Fallout
Major firms such as telecom giant Orange reportedly received the U.S. embassy letter, though few have responded publicly. French officials say many companies have refused to comply, and Paris is “following the situation very closely,” according to Bergé.
The Trump administration’s move could have legal and economic implications beyond France. Critics in the U.S. argue the order may violate constitutional protections, particularly when applied to foreign entities.
As the diplomatic standoff continues, the clash over DEI policy enforcement marks a broader geopolitical moment—where domestic U.S. culture wars spill over into international business relations.
