Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó blames Ursula von der Leyen for the 30% U.S. tariff, and urges leadership change in Brussels. Continue reading
Hungary is reporting significant progress in its bilateral relations with the United States under President Donald Trump, while also launching a coordinated response to what it calls a damaging transatlantic trade agreement under current EU leadership.
Speaking in Washington, Levente Magyar, Parliamentary State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said Hungary achieved “three major breakthroughs” in ties with the U.S. during Trump’s tenure.
These included the lifting of Obama-era sanctions against Hungary, the exemption of the Paks II nuclear project from secondary sanctions targeting Russian entities, and a new agreement to develop small modular nuclear reactors in Hungary using U.S. technology.
Magyar characterized the recent developments as proof of “high-quality political relations,” adding that under Trump, the U.S. was working to reverse the diplomatic damage allegedly caused by the Biden administration.
Back in Budapest, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced the creation of a working group with 10 major companies — including Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Samsung SDI, and CATL — to mitigate the negative effects of a new EU–U.S. tariff agreement. The deal, he said, unfairly favors the U.S. by eliminating tariffs on American exports to Europe, while imposing a 15% tariff on European goods exported to the U.S.
Szijjártó called the agreement a “major failure” of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, accusing her of compromising Europe’s competitiveness. He added, pointedly, “Donald Trump ate Ursula von der Leyen for breakfast,” criticizing what he described as one-sided concessions to the United States.
Hungary, he noted, has become a key export hub for global manufacturers, many of which rely on access to U.S. markets. The working group aims to deliver an industry and job protection action plan within two weeks.
Together, the developments reflect Hungary’s ongoing pivot toward stronger bilateral cooperation with Washington and a more confrontational stance toward Brussels on trade and industrial policy.
Via mti; Featured image: European Commission/ Fred Guerdin