A Tale of Two Continents: The Impact of US DEI Policy on European Businesses
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Navigating Washington: Insights for Business

A Tale of Two Continents: The Impact of US DEI Policy on European Businesses

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As the first quarter of 2025 drew to a close, the new US administration sent letters to major EU corporations outside the US demanding compliance with a January 20 executive order banning diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI) programs. Distributed by US embassies to companies in France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, and elsewhere, the letter requires recipients that provide services to the US government to certify that they do not operate DEI programs that violate US antidiscrimination laws.

Shortly before European business leaders received the letters, The Conference Board Europe convened a roundtable of 176 executives from Europe and the US who do business or are stationed in Europe to discuss concerns regarding the administration’s DEI directives and potential impact on European firms with commercial ties to the US. Executives were surveyed about how their European operations are approaching DEI in the current landscape and what their current DEI-related priorities are. The discussion and survey show a mix of defiance and considerable nervousness about political pressure in and from the US.

As the first quarter of 2025 drew to a close, the new US administration sent letters to major EU corporations outside the US demanding compliance with a January 20 executive order banning diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI) programs. Distributed by US embassies to companies in France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, and elsewhere, the letter requires recipients that provide services to the US government to certify that they do not operate DEI programs that violate US antidiscrimination laws.

Shortly before European business leaders received the letters, The Conference Board Europe convened a roundtable of 176 executives from Europe and the US who do business or are stationed in Europe to discuss concerns regarding the administration’s DEI directives and potential impact on European firms with commercial ties to the US. Executives were surveyed about how their European operations are approaching DEI in the current landscape and what their current DEI-related priorities are. The discussion and survey show a mix of defiance and considerable nervousness about political pressure in and from the US.

Authors

Marion Devine

Marion Devine Marion Devine

Principal Researcher, Human Capital, Europe
The Conference Board

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Allan Schweyer

Allan Schweyer Allan Schweyer

Principal Researcher, Human Capital
The Conference Board

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