World trade talks in disarray as rows rage on

HONG KONG (Reuters) - World trade talks plunged into disarray on Friday as rich nations exchanged accusations over their long-protected farm markets and struggled even to agree on a package of measures to help the world's poorest.

"It is hard to see where progress can be achieved in Hong Kong if the talks continue in their present direction," European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said.

"The level of ambition, if anything, is going backwards," he told a news conference on the fourth day of World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks in Hong Kong.

Although there were still two days of negotiations left, officials said the absence of progress augured badly for a long-elusive pact freeing up global business in farm and industrial goods and services.

Supporters of such a deal say it promises to inject billions of dollars into the world economy and lift millions out of poverty, but detractors say it would mean more profits for rich nations and companies at the expense of poorer countries.

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