Brussels, 19/08/2002 (Agence Europe) - Brazil and Australia intend to lodge complaints in Geneva against the European system of sugar export refunds. Their complaints, which open the preliminary (consultative) phase of the World Trade Organisation's arbitration procedure, are expected to be lodged in September, announced Brazilia, followed by Canberra, during the long Assumption Day weekend. Brazil's Trade Minister Sergio Amara also spoke of officially challenging US aid to its cotton producers. His Australian counterpart, Mark Vaile, limited his comments to criticisms of "European sugar export subsidies" which "exacerbate the difficulties" encountered by Australian producers on the global market. The aid scheme has artificially enabled European producers, among the world's least efficient, to become particularly competitive, he observed.