The World Trade Organisation (WTO) risks entering a period of deadlock if it fails to broker a global free trade deal this summer, the organisation's head Pascal Lamy told Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung daily.
Lamy was quoted as saying in Monday's edition that he was still confident that the Doha round of negotiations could be concluded successfully but warned of the risks of failure.
"I hope that all participants are clear about the risks: if we do not conclude the negotiations this year, then the WTO is threatened with a period of deadlock," he said. "The collapse of the Doha round would be a huge strategic failure."
After a number of missed deadlines, the so-called Doha round of global trade talks may collapse if the WTO does not manage to achieve a big breakthrough before the end of July. "I consider that a conclusion in 2006 - within the timeframe we are aiming for - is doable," Lamy said. "But it should be clear to everyone: this is going to be hard work."
A solution to the agricultural and industrial tariffs needed to be worked out by mid-June, he added.
"In order for that to work, there needs to be some movement in terms of negotiations soon," he said, adding that the key to a deal lay in the hands of various parties.
"Everyone needs to move, the EU as well as the United States, but also the developing nations," he said.
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