World Trade Organisation head Pascal Lamy on Tuesday said that a global liberalisation deal could add between $50 and $100 bn each year to the world economy. 

Speaking ahead of last-gasp talks here next week on a trade accord, Lamy said a deal could produce savings of some "50 billion dollars per year of duties foregone with existing trade flows and double this number 10 years from now."

Some two thirds of these gains would benefit developed countries and one third go to developing countries, Lamy said as he presented the WTO's annual report on global trade.

The figures do not take into account other benefits that could accrue to the 152 WTO members if other measures were taken, he added.

Lamy said next week's meeting of the top WTO powers to thrash out a deal on trade in industrial and agricultural products was very important given the current uncertain economic outlook.

"An inability to come to a deal would be a dark signal," he said.
"With these dark clouds gathering on the economic horizon ... let me appeal to all interested parties ... to join in giving that vital push to propel the negotiations to a successful outcome," he added.

The Doha round of trade liberalisation negotiations, launched in the Qatari capital in 2001, has been bogged down as developed and developing countries alike refuse to make concessions on their core concerns.

Time is running out for a breakthrough in the negotiations, which were originally supposed to be completed in 2004, before the current US administration steps aside in January.