"We remain committed and hopeful that our efforts, coupled with the work being done at the multilateral level in Geneva, will lead to a successful conclusion of this Round by the end of this year," they said.

The remarks came in a joint statement from representatives of the G4 following two days of intense talks in Brussels.

"Our meetings were productive and included discussions in all the core negotiating areas with a particular focus on agriculture, NAMA (non-agricultural market access) and services," the statement said.

It was made by European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson, US Trade Representative Susan Schwab, Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim and Indian Trade Minister Kamal Nath, who met behind closed doors here.

At the top of the agenda remain questions on trade in agricultural products that have blocked progress in the WTO's Doha Development Round, launched with great fanfare in the Qatari capital in 2001.

Negotiators are under growing pressure ahead of a June 30 deadline when US President George W. Bush's "fast track" trade authority expires.

Under current legislation, the US Congress is entitled to approve or reject trade deals signed by the administration but is unable to amend them.

Without the "fast track" provision, a Doha Round trade liberalisation accord approved by the US administration could be picked apart -- and neutralised -- by members of Congress defending constituents' interests.

Rich traders, the United States and the European Union in particular, are under pressure to slash trade-distorting farm subsidies and to lower customs duties on agricultural goods from the developing world.

Emerging market powers such as India, China and Brazil, have for their part been pressed to make their markets more accessible to industrial goods and services from developed nations.