WTO members seek way out of Doha Round impasse

After nine days of marathon negotiations, trade ministers from over 30 major WTO members failed to narrow their differences on agriculture trade and industrial market access, the two key and harshly disputed areas of the Doha Round.

The meeting had been billed as the last chance for a conclusion of the long-stalled Doha Round this year, but the effort was stopped by an unresolved dispute between the United States and India on the so-called special safeguard mechanism, which would allow developing countries to raise agriculture tariffs to protect domestic farmers in the event of an import surge.

Lamy said all members now need to seriously reflect about "if and when" they can remove obstacles for a final conclusion of a new global trade pact.

"Whether it has been deadlocked, we have to find new idea and new solutions," he said.

The WTO chief said the immediate priority for WTO members is to reaffirm their commitment to the multilateral trading system.

Analysts warned the fresh failure, third in the history of the Doha Round, would deal a heavy blow to the confidence people have in the multilateral trading system and may prompt countries to seek bilateral solutions.

Lamy said although the talks failed, there were still achievements made, which can be built on for future success.

"Perhaps the dust will need to settle a bit before we can have a clear idea of those steps, but in my view, the progress we have made ... should be preserved," he said.

At the same meeting, European Union (EU) Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson urged WTO members to resume talks in autumn.