TIMELINE: Key dates in WTO's Doha round

(Reuters) - Talks between four of the world's big trade powers collapsed on Thursday, throwing the future of global World Trade Organization (WTO) talks on free commerce into deeper crisis.

Following are some of the key dates in the WTO's Doha round:

Nov 2001 - WTO members meeting in Qatar agree to launch Doha round of multilateral talks with an emphasis on development and opening markets in agriculture, manufacturing and services. Countries set a goal to finish the round by Jan 1, 2005.

Jan 2002 - Talks get off to promising start with quick selection of chairman to head negotiating groups in Geneva, the WTO's headquarters.

Oct 2002 - WTO Director-General Supachai Panitchpakdi expresses concern about the slow pace of talks.

March 2003 - Countries miss deadline for deciding on formula to cut agricultural tariffs, domestic support and export subsidies. Similar deadlines are missed in the manufacturing talks and services negotiations begin to fall badly behind.

Sept 2003 - Developing countries savage U.S.-EU agricultural proposal at a ministerial meeting in Cancun, Mexico, and form the G20 negotiating block led by India and Brazil. Conference chairman Luis Ernesto Derbez ends the acrimonious conference, saying it was impossible in the time left to bridge differences.

Jan 2004 - U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick encourages countries to pick up pieces from Cancun and begin again.

July 2004 - Negotiators agree in Geneva on a framework for finishing the round, but put off the toughest decisions.