France's Ministry of Foreign Trade on Saturday said US interference in the diversity and inclusion policies of French firms is "unacceptable", reports Deutsche Welle.
The ministry statement was in response to a letter sent by the US embassy in Paris to several French firms warning them against using diversity programs, a frequent target of the Trump administration.
"American interference in the inclusion policies of French companies, along with threats of unjustified tariffs, is unacceptable," the trade ministry statement said.
"France and Europe will defend their companies, their consumers, but also their values," it added.
Copies of the US letter were first published in French media late on Friday. It was apparently sent to some French companies currently doing or looking to do business with the United States.
It included an attached form, seen by several news agencies, that asked firms to certify that they "do not practice programs to promote diversity, equity and inclusion," or DEI.
Such initiatives "infringe on applicable federal anti-discrimination laws" in the United States, the questionnaire says.