The talks closed prematurely on Sunday before agenda items on agriculture were even reached as ministers had already failed to come to a resolution on a raft of other measures including competition and investment.

Ben Gill, president of the National Farmers' Union said: "While the recent EU reforms to the Common Agriculture Policy will improve trading conditions between developing countries and the EU, the WTO has enormous potential to improve trading conditions to many more markets. It is disappointing that other nations weren't prepared to do more."

He said there was now some concern that bilateral trading agreements could be struck outside the WTO, leaving those in most need out in the cold.

The next meeting of the WTO General Council is on December 15.