The worlds top commercial powers on January, 27 2007 make their first joint attempt at reviving global trade talks since their collapse last summer. Ministers from 24 key trading countries and the European Union met on the final day of the Davos forum in a bid to breathe fresh life into stalled global trade negotiations. They expressed a strong wish for a quick resumption of full scale activity in Geneva, the ministry, which hosted the meeting with World Trade Organisation.

Although a pledge of commitment is expected from all sides, little is foreseen in terms of negotiating action and World Trade Organisation (WTO) officials already have played down the meeting. The return to talks comes amid increased support from global business leaders and top politicians and the WTO negotiations have been the subject of repeated discussions during the first three days of the Forum.

But while pledges of commitment have never lacked, getting countries to open up their markets to foreign competition has been much more difficult since the rounds inception in Qatars capital five years ago. There have been notable clashes over the farm subsidies and tariffs in rich countries that poorer nations say are preventing them from developing their economies.

In recent days, key countries including India and the United States had played down hopes of an immediate breakthrough in Davos, although they hinted at some progress. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, an influential member of the G20 group of developing countries in the WTO, said during an appearance at the Forum that Brazil was willing to make concessions.

However to persuade the G20 to accept a deal if the EU and United States bridged their gap over farm subsidies and tariffs first.