Summary
Denmark and the Netherlands criticized Trump’s demand that foreign companies with U.S. government contracts eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
Denmark called for a coordinated EU response, labeling the move a potential trade barrier.
The Trump administration sent letters to European firms—including in France and Belgium—warning they must comply with a DEI ban or risk losing U.S. contracts.
European officials condemned the letters, defending DEI as essential to corporate responsibility. The EU Commission is reviewing the situation, while the U.S. State Department called the effort a compliance measure.
I’m pretty sure that eliminating DEI is against EU law, so I’m not sure how they are supposed to conform (and, of course, they shouldn’t). Maybe sue the US government for breach of contract and move on.
Suing won’t have any effect as the US can simply refuse to follow the rules. There is a simpler way: don’t do business with them. Let them find the hard way that the world can and will go on without them but they can’t go on without the world.
Ericsson did it, so can’t be that much against EU law. Though maybe they can sneak around it by being huge and multinational?