WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION (WTO) CHIEF PASCAL LAMY THREW DOWN THE GAUNTLET ON WEDNESDAY TO MINISTERS GATHERING FOR A CRUCIAL MEETING, SAYING A DEAL MUST COME IN FARM AND INDUSTRIAL GOODS OR GLOBAL TALKS COULD FAIL, REUTERS REPORTED. MINISTERS FROM SOME 60 COUNTRIES -- AROUND A THIRD OF THE WTO MEMBERSHIP -- MEET FROM THURSDAY UNDER PRESSURE TO AGREE DEEP CUTS TO FARM SUBSIDIES AND STEEPLY LOWER TARIFFS IN AGRICULTURE AND MANUFACTURING. "IN ANY NEGOTIATION, THERE IS A MOMENT WHEN THINGS BECOME TOO LATE. THE MOMENT WE NEED MINISTERS TO CRACK THE NUT IS NOW, NOT LATER," LAMY TOLD A NEWS CONFERENCE. HE BRUSHED ASIDE SUGGESTIONS FROM THE UNITED STATES AND OTHERS THAT NEGOTIATORS HAD UNTIL THE END OF JULY TO CLOSE THE CHAPTER ON FARM AND INDUSTRIAL GOODS, THE TWO BIGGEST OBSTACLES IN THE UPHILL STRUGGLE FOR A NEW FREE-TRADE TREATY. "I DON'T THINK WE CAN POSTPONE ANY LONGER. IF WE WERE TO DO THAT, WE WOULD PUT THE PROJECT AT RISK. THE TIME IS NOW ... POSTPONING A DECISION ON CUTS IN SUBSIDIES AND TARIFFS IS A RECIPE FOR FAILURE," HE DECLARED. THE WTO'S DOHA ROUND HAS ALREADY MISSED DEADLINES SINCE ITS LAUNCH IN 2001 WHEN IT WAS BILLED AS A CHANCE TO BOOST THE GLOBAL ECONOMY AND LIFT MILLIONS OUT OF POVERTY. FAILURE COULD HEIGHTEN PROTECTIONIST PRESSURES, OFFICIALS HAVE WARNED.
