With key trade talks a day away from a crunch deadline, Patricia Hewitt has renewed the UK's call for major reductions in farm subsidies.

World Trade Organisation talks in Geneva have until Friday to reach agreement on the latest set of framework documents related to the Doha development round of free trade talks.

As talks continued on Thursday, WTO officials said there had been "worthwhile progress" but discussions on the crucial agriculture issues were still underway.

With the European Union playing a key role in the talks, ministers from the bloc's 25 countries were also meeting in Geneva on Thursday to monitor developments.

French-led opposition to wide ranging farm reform has prompted the EU governments to keep a close eye on the talks, which are being conducted by the European Commission.

In contrast, British ministers have been pushing for major progress on allowing poor countries greater access to western markets.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4, the trade secretary warned of a "real resurgence of protectionism".

"What we have to do is reform the world trade system so that it is not just free but we get fair trade as well, which is what the developing countries need," said Hewitt.

"For us in Europe, that means pulling down our appalling agricultural subsidies that distort trade with the rest of the world and make it impossible for farmers in many developing countries to make a decent living."

The UK argues that the subsidies given to the agriculture sector by the EU and US were damaging "desperately poor" countries.

"We are growing sugar in Finland, which is absolutely absurd," Hewitt noted.

"Every round of trade talks had been difficult but there was no excuse for giving up.

"We just have to keep on going because the prize is enormous.

"We have got a real chance of making huge progress for people in developing countries... and we will also do a lot of good for consumers in Europe because we are paying far too much for our food as well."