DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Trade ministers were sceptical about the prospects of concluding stalled global trade liberalisation talks this year, with some blaming the United States for foot-dragging.

Ministers from about 20 major economies held informal talks on the sidelines of the annual World Economic Forum meeting in the Swiss ski resort of Davos, but Washington only sent a deputy ambassador and no political representative.

"We would like to see the (Doha) round completed as soon as possible, but for that everybody will have to be there," European Union Trade Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said.

Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim told reporters: "We cannot expect more than that because of course one of the main partners is not represented at a ministerial level.