Brussels, 06/03/2003 (Agence Europe) - This week the European Union and Mercosur finally exchanged offers for scrapping tariff barriers, within the negotiations framework for an association and liberalisation agreement between the two regional groups. The new Mercosur offer covers 83.5% of European exports, indicated the Paraguay Ambassador to Brussels, Emilio Gimenez. According to the latter, this constitutes a "significant improvement" compared to the offer submitted in December 2001, which covered 40% of trade. The European offer presented in July 2001 covered 91% of trade. The next round of negotiations will take place in Brussels on 17-21 March. In a press statement Pascal Lamy, the European Commissioner for trade declared that, "Preparation for the free trade zone between the EU and Mercosur has taken a step in the right direction". He was also of the opinion that, "the same spirit will guide the exchange of offers for opening trade in services, investment and the public procurement markets in April."