G6 talks collapse, trade round in doubt-diplomat

GENEVA, July 24 (Reuters) Last-ditch talks by major trade powers to save the World Trade Organisation's Doha Round collapsed on Monday, leaving the future of negotiations on a global free trade deal in doubt.

A well-placed trade diplomat said: ''The G6 talks have collapsed.

It's not immediately evident what options are available other than suspension (of the Doha Round).'' He said there would be a full meeting of the 149-member WTO later in the day to decide the next steps.

The diplomat spoke after a day of negotiations on Sunday between the so-called Group of Six countries -- the European Union, the United States, Japan, India, Brazil and Australia -- representing key sections of the global trading community.

The Round, officially aimed at boosting the development of poorer nations, was launched in the capital of Qatar at the end of 2001, but has long been stalled over farm subsidies and import tariffs and how to lower duties on industrial goods.

Diplomats and trade officials say the Sunday talks -- called after the Group of Eight industrial nations last week charged WTO chief Pascal Lamy to try to find a solution -- remained blocked over agriculture and never got onto the goods dossier.

REUTERS SBA RN1711