In the seven years since the Doha Round of WTo global trade talks there have been countless stalemates, stumbling blocks and stoppages.

Whatever the number is, add one more.

WTO Director General Pascal Lamy has announced that the ministerial meeting that has been running in Geneva since July 21 has failed to reach agreement.

"It is no use beating around the bush. This meeting has collapsed," he said.

"Members have not been able to bridge their differences."

Access to developing countries' markets was a major factor in the collapse of talks.

Many thought that issue had been worked out last Friday, but China and India refused to open their markets further.

US Trade Representative Susan Schwab said the US had already made substantial concessions and that with an agreement so close to getting done, the two countries' refusal wasted the compromise deal that had been reached last week.

Now there is little hope for an immediate revival to the talks, with Mr Lamy saying that ministers "need to let the dust settle".

"WTO members will need to have a sober look at if and how they bring the pieces back together," he said.

New Zealand Trade Minister, Phil Goff, says "we won't see a conclusion to the round this year".

"I hope that what we've achieved this week can be used at least to build on as a foundation for the future," Mr Goff said.