Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto on Monday called on the European Union to take concrete steps to prevent a global tariff war and instead launch meaningful trade talks with both the United States and China, as US President Donald Trump refuses to back down on tariffs despite growing fears of a global recession.
In a statement posted on social media, Szijjarto said the Hungarian economy relies on exports.
“Exports play a major role in the Hungarian economy. Thanks to the expertise and dedication of Hungarian workers, our exports far exceed what would be expected based on the size of our population. Therefore, it is clear that our interest is in negotiating a tariff war,” he said.
“We expect the European Commission to resolve tensions with both the United States and China through negotiations,” he added.
He said Hungary expects not only talks but also serious proposals and results.
The 27-nation bloc faces U.S. import tariffs of 25 percent on steel, aluminum and cars and “reciprocal” tariffs of 20 percent on almost all other goods under Trump’s trade policy.
