Geneva: World Trade Organisation chief Pascal Lamy has sent a fax to member states of the trade bloc to prepare ministers for possible meeting starting December 13 in a bid to conclude a global trade pact, sources said today.

"We received a fax two days ago, but it is not an official invitation," a diplomatic source told AFP.

Talks on a global trade accord under the WTO Doha Round have dragged on since 2001,beset by deep differences between developed and developing countries over trade in industrial and agricultural goods.

The last attempt at a deal in July broke down owing to disputes between developed and developing countries over a mechanism to protect poor farmers from sharp increases in imports rpt imports.

There have been calls for another attempt to reach a final accord by the end of this year so as to give the economy a boost and offset the impact of the global financial crisis.

Source : PTI