WTO talks on safeguard obstacle continue at technical level

He told journalists it was necessary to overcome the safeguard technical issue that had caused the negotiations to break down.

The clauses would protect some WTO members against certain categories of imports if they rose above pre-set levels.

Lamy said that the participants could not throw the towel in, adding that he would visit India in a week's time and then "probably" the United States.

He made his remarks during the signing with the Swiss government of an agreement for the extension and renovation of the WTO headquarters here.

His comments came amid disarray and uncertainty over the implications of the breakdown in the talks, and over what happens next regarding global or bilateral trade agreements.