Participants in the Doha world trade talks are preparing for a final deal but there is no point setting an artificial deadline, the head of the World Trade Organisation has told a German daily.

The Doha talks, launched in late 2001, are deadlocked, largely over differences between the US and the big emerging economies of China, Brazil and India.

World Trade Organisation director-general Pascal Lamy was optimistic, however, telling Handelsblatt it was the first time the G20 had had “substantial discussions” on the world trade talks. – (Reuters)