Brussels / Washington, 25/01/2000 (Agence Europe) - Mike Moore, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, said he was willing to convene a new ministerial meeting of the WTO during this year if the 135 member countries show their determination to launch a new round of talks on the liberalisation of international trade. Mr Moore was speaking after two days of talks with US trade and agriculture officials, Charlene Barshefsky and Dan Glickman announced that the WTO General Council would be meeting on 7 February in Geneva. The ambassadors of the 135 countries are expected to resume their deliberations on the follow-up to be given to the ministerial conference in Seattle (see EUROPE of 17/12/99, pp. 9-10). Initially scheduled for the end of last year, this discussion had been adjourned in order to allow Mike Moore time to consult the various capitals. Mr Moore pointed out that efforts will focus on the "built-in" agenda of the agreements of the Uruguay Round, which foresees beginning sectoral negotiations on agriculture and on services at the beginning of this year. They should also tackle reform of WTO. He recalled, moreover, that most of the developing countries (LDC) should have met obligations by 31 December last, concerning intellectual property (TRIPS) and investment measures (TRIMS). The difficulties that such deadlines entail for a large number of them will also be on the agenda of the next WTO Council meeting, as well as the opening of markets to exports from less advanced countries.