BRUSSELS, May 30: Top EU and US trade and farm officials will meet in Brussels on Friday for talks on the WTO trade negotiations, a European Commission spokesman said on Wednesday.

EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson and EU Farm Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel will hold a “bilateral” with US trade representative Susan Schwab and US Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, said Michael Mann.

“It's basically part of preparatory work for the G4 ministerial in June,” said Mann in reference to a meeting next month of the four major WTO players: the EU, the US, India and Brazil.

The four sides agreed earlier this month to meet in June to try to break the deadlock that has plagued the current round of negotiations at the World Trade Organisation for years.

WTO negotiations aimed at reducing barriers to global commerce have made little progress over the past five years. Differences, notably on trade in agricultural products, have blocked progress in the Doha Development Round, launched with great fanfare in the Qatari capital in 2001.—AFP