France’s commerce ministry condemned “unacceptable” US interference Saturday after the American embassy in Paris despatched a number of French corporations letters warning in opposition to utilizing the variety programmes often known as “DEI”, a frequent Donald Trump goal.
The letters, despatched to French corporations at present doing or seeking to do enterprise with the US, included an connected questionnaire asking corporations to certify that they “don’t observe programmes to advertise range, fairness and inclusion”, or DEI.
The questionnaire, which was shared with AFP, added that such programmes “infringe on relevant federal anti-discrimination legal guidelines” in the US, the place Trump signed an order banning federal DEI programmes the day he returned to workplace for his second time period as president.
France, already bristling at Trump’s strikes to slap hefty tariffs on imports, hit again by the ministry of international commerce.
“US interference in French corporations’ inclusion insurance policies is unacceptable, similar to its unjustified tariff threats,” the ministry mentioned.
“France and Europe will defend their corporations, their shoppers, but in addition their values.”
Designed to supply alternatives for Blacks, girls and different traditionally excluded teams, DEI programmes have drawn the wrath of Trump and his followers, who say they’re discriminatory and incompatible with meritocracy.
The letter, first printed Friday by newspaper Le Figaro, instructed corporations that Trump’s January 20 govt order in opposition to DEI programmes “additionally applies to all contractors and suppliers of the US authorities, no matter nationality or nation of operations”.
It offers them 5 days to fill out, signal and return the questionnaire.
Financial system Minister Eric Lombard’s workplace mentioned the letter “displays the values of the brand new US authorities”.
“They don’t seem to be ours,” it mentioned. “The minister will remind his US counterparts of that.”
‘Assault on our sovereignty’
It was unclear what number of corporations received the letter.
The financial system ministry estimated “a number of dozen” had acquired it, however mentioned it didn’t but have a ultimate determine.
The US embassy didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
As printed within the press, the letter was not on US embassy letterhead.
“If corporations acquired it in that format, it is not an official communication, a lot much less a diplomatic one,” Christopher Mesnooh, an American enterprise lawyer based mostly in Paris, instructed AFP.
The US authorities can’t pressure French corporations to comply with its legal guidelines, added Mesnooh, from regulation agency Fieldfisher.
“French corporations will not now be required to use US labour regulation or federal regulation in opposition to affirmative motion insurance policies,” he mentioned.
The truth is, most affirmative motion insurance policies are unlawful in France, which bans therapy based mostly on origin, ethnic group or faith, although many massive corporations have sought to diversify their recruitment swimming pools.
France does nevertheless require corporations with greater than 1,000 staff to advertise equality for ladies beneath a 2021 regulation, with benchmarks reminiscent of having at the least 30 % girls executives.
Meaning a French firm that adheres to the necessities stipulated within the US letter may threat breaking the regulation in France.
The pinnacle of French enterprise group CPME, Amir Reza-Tofighi, referred to as the letter an “assault on the sovereignty” of France, and urged political and enterprise leaders to “stand collectively” in opposition to it.
Gerard Re of French labour confederation CGT referred to as on the federal government “to inform corporations to not undertake any coverage that hurts equality between women and men or the combat in opposition to racism”.
This story was initially featured on Fortune.com
