"In terms of moving to a sort of full scale negotiation, that's something which they need to agree on, which will be a sort of recognition of where we are now," Lamy told a conference in Brussels.

"There might be, depending on their will, a signal of a sort of full scale activity," he said.

About 30 key trade ministers, including top officials from the EU, United States, Brazil and India, are to hold a meeting with World Trade Organisation chief Lamy on Saturday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

While the talks are not intended to be a negotiating session, Lamy said they would provide an opportunity for the ministers to sound each other out on their positions.

Lamy noted that there had recently been "quite a bit of seismic activity" at the technical level between negotiators but that "it remains to be seen" whether top level officials are ready to step up talks too.

The World Trade Organisation's Doha Round, launched in the Qatari capital in November 2001, is aimed at reducing tariffs, subsidies and other barriers to global commerce in order to boost development in the world's poorest countries.

Agricultural subsidies and market access are key sticking points in the Doha talks, which have been on hold since July after negotiators from the United States, EU, Brazil, India and other players failed to reach agreement.

Developing countries want lower tariffs on their agricultural exports to US and European markets, while industrialized nations seek greater access to developing nations for their industrial services and goods.