“The Hungarian Government supports the European Union’s intention to conclude as many and as ambitious free trade agreements as possible, but expects Hungarian sensitivities to be taken into account”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó told Hungarian news agency MTI on Thursday at the Ministerial Council Meeting of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris.

The Minister pointed out that in recent years the Hungarian economy has proven its competitiveness. “Last year, Hungary’s export to GDP ratio reached 90 percent, which proves that the enterprises operating in Hungary and the products and services they offer are competitive on the world market”, he stressed.

“The freedom of global trade and the fact that the fewest possible barriers should restrict bilateral or multilateral trade and economic cooperation is extremely important to Hungary”, Mr. Szijjártó said.

The Minister held bilateral talks with Canadian Minister for International Trade Francois-Philippe Champagne, Australian Minister of Commerce Steven Ciobo, Argentinian Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie and Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo.

Mr. Szijjártó said he regards the acceleration of negotiations on the European Union’s free trade agreements as a fundamental requirement for the dynamisation of trade relations with far away countries.

“We expect the European Union to take into account Hungarian sensitivities during the course of these negotiations, primarily with relation to agriculture”, the Minister stated.

(MTI)