Péter Szijjártó, Hungary's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, has publicly stated that David Pressman, the former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, played a direct role in influencing a recent U.S. report that critiques Hungary for its high corruption risks, particularly in public procurement.

This assertion was made during a livestream following a council meeting of European Union ministers focused on trade in Luxembourg.

Szijjártó referred to a 400-page document from the U.S. Trade Representative’s annual trade report, originally compiled under the Biden administration.

In this report, the U.S. government justified imposing tariffs on Hungary as a response to the significant corruption risks associated with its public procurement processes.

The Foreign Minister characterized the report as having been dictated by Pressman, who he claims acted as a leader of the Hungarian opposition during his tenure in Budapest.

The report’s findings led to the assertion that the tariffs levied by the Trump administration were a result of Hungary's status as a perceived 'enemy' from the perspective of the U.S. government.

Szijjártó emphasized that the recommendations in the U.S. report could be submitted until October 2024 and that the information cited was sourced from U.S. embassies.

He criticized the European Union’s failure to adequately respond to the tariffs introduced by the Trump administration, stating that the EU had been aware for months of the tariffs being part of Trump’s 'patriotic economic policy' yet had taken no substantial action.

In his address, Szijjártó expressed the necessity for a 'strategic calm' to prevent further harm to the European economy, underscoring that Hungary had voted against new tariffs on American goods.

The Minister also critiqued the European Commission's actions regarding tariffs imposed on Chinese vehicles, arguing that the EU's transition towards a green economy cannot succeed without cooperation from China.

Additionally, Szijjártó highlighted concerns regarding the impact of the U.S. tariffs on Hungary's automotive industry, particularly affecting companies such as Audi in Győr as well as others like Mercedes and BMW with manufacturing operations in Hungary.

The Minister's remarks came amidst growing uncertainty in global markets due to the ongoing trade tensions initiated by the Trump administration, with studies indicating significant risks to Hungarian exports.

U.S. interests have expressed alarm over the transparency of Hungarian public procurement processes, indicating concerns that these processes favor local and non-EU competitors, including China.

The U.S. government’s rationale for imposing tariffs included references to corruption in Hungarian procurement practices, despite the implementation of various reforms in recent years aimed at addressing these very issues.

Meanwhile, amidst the trade tensions, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán reaffirmed the government's commitment to proceeding with planned tax cuts for families despite the uncertainties posed by the escalating trade disputes.

Orbán highlighted that Hungary is preparing for all eventualities and seeks to continue its path towards what he called ‘Europe’s largest tax reduction program.’