BERLIN, Feb 26 (Reuters) - The European Union's trade chief called on Thursday for the United States to give a sign soon of what it wants from the next round of world trade talks.
The Doha trade talks launched in 2001 were intended to open up new opportunities and give developing countries a bigger stake in global trade, but differences between rich and poor states have blocked a breakthrough despite several meetings.
"The Doha round is my highest priority," EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton told reporters during a visit to Berlin.
"I expect signals from the U.S. government in March.... I hope it can come to a meeting in Geneva in early summer."
German Economy Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, speaking at the same news conference, said he would address the issue during a visit to the United States in March.
Ashton and Guttenberg voiced concern about rising protectionism, saying leaders of the G20 group of 20 countries should send a strong signal against protectionism at their meeting in London in April.
(Reporting by Gernot Heller; Writing by Kerstin Gehmlich; Editing by Michael Roddy)