In a declaration that was unanimously adopted at a summit here, the ministers called for "the rapid elimination of all forms of export subsidies."

"We urge the main commercial partners to demonstrate flexibility and to show the necessary political will to facilitate the full resumption of talks and to bring them out of the impasse," the declaration said.

The ministers had chosen a message of "firmness and unity", a AU Commission official told AFP.

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) suspended the latest round of trade talks in July last year after negotiators failed to reach agreement after five years of talks.

Earlier on Tuesday WTO chief Pascal Lamy, also present at the summit, called on African nations to be more flexible.

"If we conclude this round, there will be many winners. If the negotiations fail, no doubt who will be the biggest loser: Africa. We all know that. This is the reality," said Lamy.

Africa states must "alter their position in negotiations to avoid a return to deadlock," added Lamy during a visit to the African Union's headquarters in Addis Ababa for talks with trade ministers from the continent.