Overview

• The US Embassy in Paris sent letters to French companies requiring compliance with President Trump's Executive Order 14173, which bans diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in organizations with US government contracts.
• The letters demanded companies confirm compliance within five days or provide detailed reasons for non-compliance, sparking backlash from French officials and businesses.
• The French Ministry of Foreign Trade condemned the US actions, labeling them as an infringement on national corporate policies and values.
• Reports indicate similar letters were sent to companies in Belgium and Eastern Europe, though no evidence suggests German firms were targeted.
• The controversy has heightened existing trade tensions between the US and Europe, already strained by recent US tariffs on European imports.