But it appears they are now picking up steam as several key WTO members, including India and the US, have expressed a desire to return to full-scale negotiations.

David Walker, the chairperson of the negotiating group on agriculture, has announced that agriculture negotiations will return to a multilateral process.

He is also establishing a schedule for negotiations before the summer break in August and early September.

Last week in Washington India's Commerce and Industry Minister said New Delhi is ready for give and take without being frozen in pre-negotiating position.

India and the US had disagreements over the level of protection subsistent farmers should have from the opening of global markets.

Meanwhile, Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean has met with his European Union counterpart, Catherine Ashton, in Brussels, with both throwing their backing behind a revival of the Doha talks.

"For my part, what I want to see is the progress that we all have been ambitious for, now that we have the government of the United States formally committed to completing the Round," Ms Ashton said.

"What I hope we'll see is progression of the discussions."

Mr Crean the major players had to to take the talks to "the next step" in order to send a "very strong signal" about the need to work within the multilateral framework to resolve the outstanding issues.

"We sense a political desire to want a move to the end game," Mr Crean said. "We have to capitalise on it."