Hungary's Orban expects business deal with US in six months

BUDAPEST (Reuters) -Hungary expects to sign a business deal with the U.S. in six months that could help to offset the likely impact of tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban told website www.ot.hu late on Thursday.

European Union member Hungary's car industry is a key driver of its economy but faces a potential hit from U.S. tariffs while the country contends with a slower than expected economic recovery and tries to curb inflation ahead of 2026 elections.

"We are in talks with the Americans about economic issues which would be advantageous for us. The tariffs will be negative for us but we negotiate about other economic deals to offset those (tariffs)," Orban said in the www.ot.hu interview without providing further detail.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni each expressed confidence on Thursday that the United States and Europe would be able to negotiate a trade deal before the end of his 90-day pause on some tariffs.

The EU faces 25% import tariffs on steel, aluminum and cars, and broader tariffs on almost all other goods under Trump's policy to hit countries he says impose high barriers to U.S. imports.

Nationalist Orban, who has been a Trump ally for at least a decade, also said he expected the Republicans to stay in power for 12 years that will be characterised by this kind of patriot Republican American thinking.

(Reporting by Krisztina ThanEditing by David Goodman)