France has denounced U.S. efforts to influence the diversity and inclusion policies of French companies as “unacceptable,” following reports that the U.S. Embassy in Paris advised several firms against adopting such programs. The criticism, issued by France’s Ministry of Foreign Trade on Saturday, responds to letters sent by U.S. diplomats to French companies engaged in or exploring business with the U.S. These communications discouraged diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives—a frequent target of the Trump administration.
French media on Friday, which included a form requiring companies to certify they do not implement DEI programs. This aligns with a 2020 executive order by former President Donald Trump, signed on his first day of his second term, which banned federal DEI training. France’s trade ministry condemned the U.S. actions, including implied tariff threats, as a breach of sovereignty, asserting that France and Europe would “defend their companies, consumers, and values.”
While the ministry did not specify retaliatory steps, it emphasized resistance to foreign pressure on corporate governance. The clash highlights escalating transatlantic tensions over social policies, with France framing the U.S. stance as an overreach into domestic affairs. The embassy has not publicly addressed the letters, which critics argue undermine international norms of non-interference. The incident underscores broader debates about global corporate accountability and national autonomy in policymaking.
