WTO negotiators have hit a stumbling block on market access in agriculture, Secretary for Commerce, Industry & Technology John Tsang says, adding it does not seem likely that they will be able to settle their differences in time for the Hong Kong Ministerial Conference, known as MC6.

"Full modalities will not be achievable there, and we have had to adjust our expectations for MC6, even as we keep our ambitions high for the (Doha) round as a whole," Mr Tsang said.

Speaking at the meeting of the G90 Ministers in Brussels, Mr Tsang said there are three important tasks to accomplish in the run-up to the MC6 to be held here from December 13 to 18.

These tasks are key if Hong Kong is to be the launching pad for the final phase of negotiations leading to a successful conclusion of the Doha Round by 2006, he said.

Meaningful development package needed

The three tasks are:

* to keep up the pressure and momentum of the negotiations so that as much of an advance on the July 2004 framework can be secured as possible;

* to draw up a clear roadmap for the post-Hong Kong period so that full modalities can be sorted out as quickly as possible after MC6 to enable the negotiations to proceed towards closure by the end of the year; and

* to come up with a meaningful development package at MC6, separate from the gains which will flow eventually from the market-access negotiations, that brings real benefits to developing members.

"We simply cannot afford to wait for the end of the Round before we discuss and agree on these issues. We should aim to pocket these results now," he said.

"As chair of MC6, I truly believe that a successful conclusion of the Doha round would bring benefits to developing members, and in the longer run, will be a driving force in the alleviation of poverty," he added.