German Economy Minister Wolfgang Clement said the 147-member World Trade organization (WTO) had grasped the opportunity and achieved "a substantial step forward in world trade talks."

French Agriculture Minister Herve Gaymard told France Info radio it was a good and balanced accord that "consolidates the European common agricultural policy and does not question the reforms decided a year ago."

For Britain, the world's fourth largest economy, Trade and Industry Minister Patricia Hewitt described the accord as ..." a crucial step on the road to delivering a trade round that will benefit all of us, especially developing countries.

"An ambitious round is an important prize for the global economy and we must continue to make progress before next year's ministerial meeting."

Trading powerhouse China was more stinting in its praise.

"Generally speaking, the framework (agreement) is not bad, though the developing countries are not fully satisfied," the official Xinhua news agency quoted Sun Zhenyu, China's ambassador to the WTO, as saying.

Sun, who spoke in Geneva where the accord was worked out on Saturday, did not elaborate, but said China had played a positive role in promoting the negotiations.

The agreement holds out hope for a final pact that would cut tariffs on agricultural and industrial goods, slash farm subsidies in rich countries and make it easier for financial and service industry firms to work across borders.