With talk cheap, trade negotiations set to drag past 2011

BEIJING - The Doha round of trade talks is highly unlikely to be concluded this year because the United States lacks the motivation to reach an agreement, according to the former Chinese ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Sun Zhenyu said the prospect of a breakthrough was "not hopeful".

"There is little possibility that the Doha round of talks will be wrapped up this year as hoped, because we cannot see a strong willingness shown by the US in concluding the global trade talks and making compromises on some key issues, for political reasons," Sun said.