Prospects for world trade deal in doubt

IT will take a political miracle to agree a new world trade deal this year, according to experts monitoring the talks.

World Trade Organisation (WTO) officials will hold a stock-taking meeting in Geneva this week but the expectations of a breakthrough in the eight-year old negotiations known as the Doha Round are seen as slim.

An indication that the prospects of an imminent deal have been scaled back is reflected in the fact that this week’s stock taking will be conducted by officials rather than ministers.