Negotiators reconvened at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on Thursday to address the remaining challenges in reaching an agreement on agriculture, which is seen as essential for finalizing a comprehensive deal in the Doha free trade round. The dynamics of the negotiations have shifted significantly since the round began in 2001, with a focus on eliminating rich-country farming subsidies and tariffs that disadvantaged poor farmers. Rising food prices have reduced the pressure on governments to provide subsidies, leading some to lower import tariffs. However, increased protectionism in wealthy nations is complicating efforts to reach a consensus among the WTO's 151 member states. The nine days of talks, convened by New Zealand's WTO ambassador Crawford Falconer, will concentrate on technical issues such as how to classify and protect sensitive products from tariff reductions. Diplomats mentioned that senior politicians would be responsible for finalizing the major figures related to farm subsidy and tariff cuts at the peak of the round. This is considered ministerial work, and diplomats aim to set the stage for ministers to make final decisions. Agriculture plays a crucial role in the Doha process, especially for developing countries who are supposed to benefit the most from the round. Developing nations are requesting that wealthy countries reduce farm tariffs and subsidies in return for opening their markets to industrial goods and services. A key unresolved issue in the Geneva talks is the classification of "special products" in agriculture. While it has been agreed that developing countries can exclude certain farm products from tariff reductions, there is still disagreement on how these products will be treated and how many can be exempted. The G-33, a coalition of 45 developing countries, has insisted that any agreement should allow them to fully exempt certain products from tariff cuts. However, developing countries that export food, such as Brazil, Argentina, and Thailand, are aligning with wealthy nations in opposing this stance. Falconer is optimistic that the discussions taking place this week and next will help to bridge the gaps sufficiently for him to create a revised version of the negotiating document he initially authored last July. Trade negotiators anticipate that the talks, involving thirty-six important delegations, will address a wide range of agriculture negotiations. This week's discussions will focus on domestic support, particularly subsidies, followed by market access and tariffs next week, and concluding with export competition, including food aid, export credits, and the delicate issue of cotton. Falconer will update all members of the WTO on the progress of the talks next Friday. In December, Falconer distributed documents summarizing the discussions from the previous four months. They established a timetable for wealthy nations to reduce subsidies and suggested that new members of the WTO be exempt from these reductions.