It is still possible for trade negotiators to reach agreement on the Doha Round talks next year, despite the lack of major position changing since July, WTO chief Pascal Lamy said on Friday.

Skepticism is rising about a final trade package on lowering agricultural and industrial trade barriers and reducing poverty, as major WTO players like the United States, the European Union, Brazil and India remain divided five months after the suspension of the Doha Round.

But Lamy still tried to be upbeat about the fate of the talks, which was launched in 2001 and completely deadlocked in July due to sharp differences on farm subsidies and tariffs.

Speaking after a meeting of the WTO's General Council on Friday, Lamy said a window of opportunity still exists in the first quarter of 2007.

"We have a window of opportunity that remains ahead of us in the first part of next year," Lamy told reporters.

Describing 2007 as a "defining year," he urged WTO members to " maintain the rhythm" of the technical work which is now underway in Geneva and "increase it after the Christmas break."

Lamy said during the past five months, he had traveled widely and contacted many trade officials, trying to coordinate as a broker.

"My overall impression was that there was a clear and unanimous desire to come back to the negotiating table and to conclude the round."

But he added that the challenge remained, and to break the Doha Round deadlock, WTO members had to "translate their signals of political will into substantive changes in position."

Lamy warned that there was a concrete risk of failure if no breakthrough could be reached before next spring, when the U.S. Congress would decide whether to extend the Bush administration's "fast track" trade negotiating authority.

"Failure could be just around the corner," he told the 149- member General Council.

"But we need not turn that corner," he added. "With everyone contributing and playing their part, we can stay on track to take this Round to a successful conclusion next year."

Lamy said the costs of failure would be high, especially for developing countries.

A failure could also contribute to trade protectionism and pose a threat to the WTO's multilateral trade system.

Source: Xinhua