France condemns US over DEI warning to firms amid trade tensions

France condemned US interference after the American embassy warned French firms against using diversity programmes. The US letter asked companies to certify they don’t practice diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) . Economy Minister Eric Lombard’s office stated the US government’s values “are not ours”.

France’s trade ministry condemned “unacceptable” US interference on Saturday after the American embassy in Paris sent several French firms letters warning against using the diversity programmes known as “DEI” , a frequent Donald Trump target . The letters, sent to French companies currently doing or looking to do business with the United States, included an attached questionnaire asking firms to certify that they “do not practise programmes to promote diversity, equity and inclusion”, or DEI. The questionnaire, which was shared with AFP , added that such programmes “infringe on applicable federal anti-discrimination laws” in the United States, where Trump signed an order banning federal DEI programmes the day he returned to office for his second term as president.



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