The US is pressuring European companies to abandon diversity programs.

247 - The United States government has sent a letter to major European companies, warning of the need to comply with an executive order from former President Donald Trump that prohibits diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. This information was published by the Financial Times, which had access to the document sent by the American embassy in Paris and other embassies in the European Union.

The document, titled "Certification on Compliance with Applicable Federal Anti-Discrimination Legislation," states that the new rules implemented in the U.S. also apply to suppliers and service providers to the U.S. government outside the country. "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 to the U.S. Government, regardless of their nationality and the country in which they operate," the text says, according to a copy published by the French newspaper Le Figaro.

According to the Financial Times, embassies also sent a questionnaire to companies to confirm their compliance with the new policy. "State Department contractors must certify that they do not operate any program that promotes DEI and violates any applicable anti-discrimination laws, and agree that such certification is essential to the government's payment decision and therefore subject to the False Claims Act," the document highlights. The move is seen as an expansion of Trump's campaign against DEI to foreign companies, following the offensive against media groups in the US, such as Disney.

The reaction in Europe was immediate. According to the Financial Times, the French Ministry expressed concern. “This practice reflects the values ​​of the new US government. They are not the same as ours,” said a source close to Economy Minister Eric Lombard. “The ministry will remind its American government counterparts about this.”

The context of sending this letter coincides with increased economic tensions between the US and Europe, especially after Trump imposed additional 25% tariffs on automotive imports and raised taxes on European steel and aluminum. The European Union has already indicated that it is preparing reciprocal tariffs, although it has not yet decided which products will be affected.

Cultural and legislative differences between the two continents also complicate the situation. In the US, companies have adopted DEI initiatives to combat historical inequalities, driven by events such as the murder of George Floyd. In France, however, DEI policies face legal limitations due to the country's secular approach, which prohibits the collection of racial and ethnic data.

According to the Financial Times, French companies in the aviation, defense, consulting, and infrastructure sectors could be impacted by the new American rules. However, the newspaper was unable to determine which companies received the letter.

In the United States, several corporations have backed away from diversity initiatives under political and public pressure. Companies like Victoria's Secret, Target, Meta, and Walmart have abandoned goals related to hiring and promoting diversity, reflecting a shift in stance toward the conservative agenda that has strengthened in recent years.