Fair Trade

Fair trade refers to a form of social movement that is organized using a variety of mechanisms and certification regimes. In general, fair-trade initiatives [Page 437]aim to improve conditions for producers from developing countries, who traditionally have been marginalized and who grow or make goods for export to the developed world, as well as to promote economic and environmental sustainability in these regions. The main mechanism by which it attempts to produce such improvements is via the payment of higher and therefore “fair” prices for these export goods, as well as by adoption of environmental and social welfare standards on par with those in the developed countries. Organizations committed to promoting fair trade also typically engage in advocacy for changes to regulatory and legal mechanisms ...