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Some French firms ordered to comply with US diversity ban

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Trump's order aimed at French firms with US government

contracts

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France calls interference 'unacceptable'

By Mathieu Rosemain, John Irish

PARIS, March 29 (Reuters) - The Trump administration has

ordered some French companies with U.S. government contracts to

comply with his executive order banning diversity, equity, and

inclusion programmes, highlighting the extraterritorial reach of

U.S. policies and their potential impact on European corporate

practices.

The companies have been told to confirm their compliance in

a questionnaire entitled "Certification Regarding Compliance

With Applicable Federal Anti-Discrimination Law." Reuters has

seen a copy of the questionnaire.

President

Donald Trump's

"America First" policies have stoked economic and political

tensions between the U.S. and Europe since his January 20

inauguration.

The U.S. questionnaire raises questions about the practical

changes targeted companies may need to implement, given the

differing approaches between the U.S. and France.

U.S. companies have embraced Diversity, Equity, and

Inclusion policies, tracking race and ethnicity data and setting

diversity targets. In France, a secular approach limits such

practices, with laws restricting data collection and corporate

efforts focusing more on gender and socioeconomic background.

The questionnaire will also spark concerns in European

boardrooms that the Trump administration is widening its fight

against DEI policies overseas, at a time when Trump's actions on

tariffs and security ties have upended transatlantic relations.

French business daily Les Echos, which first reported the U.S.

demand late on Friday, said it had been sent out to firms by the

U.S. embassy in Paris.

"We inform you that Executive Order 14173, Ending Illegal

Discrimination and Restoring Merit-based Opportunities, signed

by President Trump, applies to all suppliers and service

providers of the U.S. Government, regardless of their

nationality and the country in which they operate," reads the

letter, according to a copy that French newspaper Le Figaro

published on its website.

"We would be grateful if you could complete and sign the

document in English within five days and return it to us by

email. If you do not agree to sign this document, we would

appreciate if you could provide detailed reasons, which we will

forward to our legal services," the letter added, with reference

to the certification seen by Reuters.

An embassy spokesperson did not immediately respond to a

request for comment.

'UNACCEPTABLE'

There was no indication that the companies receiving the letter

were selected based on their presence in the U.S. A source close

to the matter confirmed that France's state-controlled telecoms

group Orange, which has no U.S. presence, received the

letter.

Meanwhile, defence electronics firm Thales and oil

major TotalEnergies, both with operations in the U.S.,

did not receive it, according to spokespeople for the companies.

Orange declined to comment.

"American interference in the inclusion policies of French

companies, along with threats of unjustified tariffs, is

unacceptable," France's Ministry of Foreign Trade said in a

statement sent to Reuters.

"France and Europe will defend their businesses, their

consumers, and also their values," the ministry, which is under

the authority of the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

added.

It was not immediately clear if similar letters and

questionnaires had been sent to foreign companies in other

European countries.