20091130

GENEVA (Reuters) - It is "far from certain" the Doha Round accord will be clinched next year, South Africa's trade minister said on Tuesday, cautioning it was a mistake to rush the agreement to an end.

"The issues that are stopping its conclusion are issues of substance, of content," Rob Davies told Reuters on the sidelines of a World Trade Organisation ministerial in Geneva, where many officials stressed the need for an agreement in 2010.

He said it would not be possible for South Africa to agree to the tariff- and subsidy-cutting deal -- which needs consensus among the WTO's 153 members -- unless it provides tangible gains for poorer countries. "Even if we have to wait for it, we would rather wait for it," Davies said.