Nathaniel Harrison

Global trade talks were on Thursday confronted with growing pressure from poorer countries, with African cotton producers and Latin-American banana exporters leading the charge for fairer treatment. The conflicts threaten the outcome of the six-day World Trade Organisation (WTO) gathering.

Trade ministers from around the world opened a fresh quest for consensus on Wednesday on a new pact to boost global commerce, with a possible showdown on cotton trade looming at the end of the day. Ministers from 149 countries are meeting in Hong Kong under the auspices of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).