BRASILIA (Reuters) - The Doha round of global trade negotiations still faces obstacles but a deal is possible by the end of the year, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Monday.

"Nothing is decided yet but I think we are close to that," Lula said on his weekly radio program.

Lula met the leaders of South Africa and India in Johannesburg in a trip to Africa last week and spoke with U.S. President George W. Bush by telephone.

Brazil, as a leader of the G20 developing countries, has been pushing the United States for deep cuts in its trade-distorting farm subsidies as part of the deal.

In turn, the United States and Europe have urged Brazil and other advanced developing countries such as India and South Africa to do their part by agreeing to open their agriculture and particularly manufactured goods markets to more imports.

"What we have is political will for a deal and, who knows by the end of the year, we can close this accord," Lula said.

Developing countries could not risk growth of their economies and industries without gaining anything in agriculture, Lula added.

"We need concessions by rich countries on agriculture."