Oslo/Stockholm - Nordic countries Wednesday expressed disappointment over the collapse of the World Trade Organization (WTO) talks over farm import rules.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store, who attended the nine-day talks in Geneva and was also assigned to help broker some issues on patent matters by WTO Director General Pascal Lamy, said he was "disappointed over the failure to reach an agreement."

"We came a long way towards a new agreement. But on critical issues the gaps between the key nations was too big," Store added.

Swedish Trade Minister Ewa Bjorling said "all parties have to take their responsibility and see how the Doha round can carry on."

Sweden will continue to press for free trade "but did not expect fast results," she added.

Finnish Trade and Development Minister Paavo Vayrnen said he was "disappointed," over the breakdown saying that "during roughly a week negotiators achieved progress on several issues," Finnish news agency STT reported.

"Finland did not lose anything specific but as a EU country with an open economy we are very interested in making world trade more open," he added.

The talks in Geneva broke down late Tuesday. The trade round was launched in Doha, Qatar seven years ago. (dpa)