Berlin: Developing nations must open their markets to more foreign goods and services before Germany signs off on a World Trade Organisation agreement lowering barriers to commerce, German economy minister Michael Glos said.

"There are very serious questions remaining whose solution depends on the political will of all participants to find a compromise," he said in a statement on Saturday after meeting with WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy in Berlin.

"I made clear that improvements in market access are essential for an export nation like Germany - and we're not prepared to pay any price to reach a conclusion of the Doha Round," he said.

His comments echo those of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has threatened to veto any WTO deal, saying nations such as India and Brazil are not offering enough access to compensate wealthy economies for cutting farm assistance.

France took over the rotating European Union presidency on July 1.

Global accord

The Doha Round of talks, which began in November 2001, seeks to create a new global accord to ease trade barriers and spur cross-border commerce.

The round has been stymied by disagreements between the US and the EU and between industrialised and developing countries over agriculture, manufactured goods, services and the overhaul of rules that govern WTO procedures, such as the determination of anti-dumping.

Ministers from about 30 countries will meet in Geneva starting July 21 in a bid to clinch a deal

Sources said the meeting could last the entire week.

Agricultural and industrial tariffs and the reduction of farm subsidies are the stickiest issues.

Glos said both he and Lamy "agree that a successful conclusion of the Doha Round at the July 21 meeting of ministers in Geneva is possible".

The German minister said he gave Lamy "assurances of my support for reaching a conclusion of the round this year."