Geneva, April 19:

WTO negotiators remain far from a deal on cutting customs duties on industrial goods, failing to agree even loosely on the mathematics despite a looming deadline, sources close to the talks said on Wednesday.

Diplomats from the 149 governments in the World Trade Organisation proved wary of a suggestion by Canadian Ambassador Don Stephenson at a meeting Tuesday to come up with figures “to put in the brackets of the text” of a draft accord, officials said.

Stephenson, who is steering talks on what is known in WTO jargon as “NAMA,” or non-agricultural market access, said that figures were needed if specialised negotiators were to narrow the gap and increase the chances of a deal among trade ministers who could meet in coming weeks if there is enough progress.

But a range of WTO delegates poured cold water on the Canadian’s plan at the start of the a new round of negotiations as trading nations edge towards an April 30 target for an agreement on formulas and other guidelines for reducing trade barriers.

Brazil, backed by many other developing countries felt that the “moment was not ripe to discuss ranges of numbers for the core issues”, said officials. The United States said that it was “unsure” that coming up with figures at this stage would be helpful, and Switzerland said: “If nobody wants to move, you cannot make them move.”

In response, Stephenson told the meeting, “I hear members saying that is is premature to discuss numbers. I find this striking.” The European Union also expressed concerns, with its delegate saying: “What I hear today is a step backwards.” The April 30 deadline was part of a loose, last-minute agreement at a WTO conference in December in Hong Kong.

At the conference, governments tried to bring some momentum back to the struggling Doha Round of negotiations, which was launched in 2001 with the aim of tearing down barriers to commerce and using trade to boost the economies of poor nations. But there has been little solid progress since then, because of enduring disputes.

Developing nations are pressing for more access for their farm goods on rich countries’ arkets, while wealthy WTO members in turn are pushing for more openings for their industrial and service sectors.

Meanwhile, gloom is growing among trade diplomats about the chances of meeting the deadline. WTO members are hoping to complete the Doha Round by the end of this year — 15 months later than originally planned.