The Trade Minister's optimistic but expecting some late nights going into the World Trade Organisation meeting

Todd McClay will be vice-chair for the agricultural sessions at the Abu Dhabi meeting next week.

He says a big part of these discussions will be balancing free trade with national food security.

McClay says tensions will be between countries who would like to maintain agricultural subsidies, and developing countries trying to feed their people.

He says we need to get the balance right to get the best deal for Kiwi exporters.