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.