In Hong Kong, considerable divisions between industrialized and developing countries at the ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization are lowering expectations for significant agreements before talks end Sunday.

• European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson: “It is hard to see where progress can be achieved in Hong Kong if talks continue in their present direction. I do not want to contemplate failure at Hong Kong. So much is at stake. Equally, I see no point in an outcome here that simply locks in low ambition, diminishes benefits for developing countries and falls short of our responsibilities to the global economy.”

EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson. Negotiations have stalled on a number of key trade issues. On Thursday, the Group of 77 — the coalition of 132 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries in the Third World — announced they would reject any deal that eliminates protections for their farmers and access to foreign markets. Another group of developing nations, the Group of 20 — which represents half the world’s population — accused the US and European Union of holding up talks by refusing to cut state agricultural subsidies.

Meanwhile, outside the meetings, thousands of protesters continue to make their voices heard.

• Oxfam’s Alison Woodhead: “The system in theory should work, but at the moment it’s riggedin favour of the richest countries. The rich countries benefit from the trade rules as they exist at the moment. They’re able to protect their own markets and destroy the markets of poorer countries.”