Global trade talks risk collapse

Global commerce talks at the World Trade Organisation in Geneva appeared on the brink of collapse today as top powers stumbled in attempts to agree on steps towards liberalising trade in farm and manufactured goods.

Failure at the meeting called by WTO chief Pascal Lamy with ministers from Australia, Brazil, the 25-nation European Union, India, Japan and the United States could lead to the indefinite suspension of the Doha round of trade liberalisation talks, which are already two years behind schedule and have been at an impasse for months.