"We have been very focused in calling for a breakthrough now, " says Mary Irace, vice president of trade and export finance for the National Foreign Trade Council, a pro-trade industry group in Washington.

FORBES: Restarting Doha

It is also the surest way to deflect protectionist pressure, because the prospect of greater access to foreign markets should rally export lobbies to the free-trade cause.

ECONOMIST: Storm over globalisation

Another of Sir Richard's recommendations was that the decision on export licences should not be left to a kind of "wrangling" between the Foreign Office, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Defence.

BBC: Act on arms exports, warns Scott