"I will only take a decision to bring the ministers together if I have the feeling there is a reasonable chance of reaching an agreement, and for the moment it is possible that this could happen in May," World Trade Organisation Director General Pascal Lamy told a press conference here.

Lamy said talks had not made sufficient progress to justify the calling of a ministerial meeting in April, as had been planned.

But ministers could now convene next month.

"There are already compromise proposals on the table that are extremely substantial and sophisticated," he said. "What remains to be found is a final compromise."

The Doha round of multilateral talks to reduce trade barriers, held under WTO auspices, was launched in the Qatari capital in November 2001 but has foundered ever since, principally in disputes between developed and developing countries.

Lamy said that agreements on reducing trade-distoring agricultural subsidies and on the level of customs duties on agricultural and industrial products remained the principal challenges to negotiators.

The United States and the European Union have been at odds on the scope and pace by which farm subsidies are to be eliminated.

In addition, developing nations are pressing for greater access for their agricultural products to industrialised markets. In return developed countries want a better deal for their industrial exports in the developing world.

AFP