Global trade talks collapsed on Tuesday after a clash over agriculture between the United States and emerging powers, including China, India and Indonesia. The breakdown came on the ninth day of marathon talks.

The United States and India failed to find a compromise on measures intended to help poor countries protect their farmers against import surges, a diplomat said.

“We were so close to getting this done,” US Trade Representative Susan Schwab told reporters at World Trade Organisation headquarters in Geneva.

Global negotiators have worked on the Doha trade round for seven years. “The US remains committed to the Doha round. This is not a time to talk about a round collapsing,” said Schwab, who looked frustrated.