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Trump Admin Pressures French Firms to Drop DEI Policies
The Trump admin has ordered French firms with U.S. contracts to follow his DEI ban, sparking concerns over U.S. influence on European businesses. France’s finance minister plans to take up the issue with Washington.
ND
by News Desk
2025-03-29
Trump Admin Pressures French Firms to Drop DEI Policies

The Trump administration has demanded compliance from certain French companies with its executive order banning Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, underscoring the extraterritorial reach of U.S. policies and sparking diplomatic tensions between the two allies.

Affected companies have received a questionnaire titled "Certification Regarding Compliance With Applicable Federal Anti-Discrimination Law," according to Reuters, which reviewed a copy. The order applies to all suppliers and service providers of the U.S. government, regardless of their nationality or location.

Transatlantic Friction Over DEI

The move comes amid growing tensions between the U.S. and Europe, particularly following Trump’s re-election on an "America First" agenda. While U.S. firms have actively pursued DEI initiatives, setting diversity targets and tracking race and ethnicity data, France has taken a secular approach, focusing more on gender and socioeconomic backgrounds due to legal restrictions on racial and ethnic data collection.

French Business Community on Alert

The Trump administration’s push against DEI policies abroad has caused concern in European boardrooms, particularly given the broader economic and security disputes between Washington and its transatlantic partners.

According to Les Echos, which first reported the issue, the U.S. Embassy in Paris sent letters to several French firms, asking them to sign the compliance document within five days or provide detailed reasons for refusal, which would be forwarded to legal authorities.

Among the French firms notified:
✅ Orange (ORAN.PA) – A state-controlled telecom company with no U.S. presence.
❌ Thales (TCFP.PA) and TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA) – Both firms operate in the U.S. but did not receive the letter.

French Government’s Response

An official close to Finance Minister Eric Lombard confirmed that the issue would be raised with U.S. counterparts.

“This practice reflects the values of the new U.S. government. They are not the same as ours. The minister will remind his counterparts in the U.S. government of this.”

There is no confirmation yet on whether other European companies outside of France have received similar demands.

What’s Next?

With DEI policies becoming a flashpoint in U.S. politics, the Biden administration’s rollback of such programs has already impacted American firms. Now, Trump’s policies appear to be extending their reach into European corporate governance. The situation could further strain U.S.-EU business relations, particularly if European governments resist compliance demands.
Tagged:

france

USRelations

CorporateGovernance

TrumpPolicy

DEI
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