Fair Trade Certification
|
To: |
|
|
From: |
|
| |
|
|
Date: |
3/1/2009 |
|
Subject: |
Fair Trade Certification |
| |
Fair Trade Certification:
Free Trade is a trade model based upon the principles of:
? Comparative advantage
? Trade of goods and services without barriers to trade
? Free access to markets and market information
? The free movement of labor and capital within and between countries
? Profit as the only driving objective
Fair Trade is a trade model based upon the principles of:
? Fair prices
? Fair labor conditions
? Direct trade
? Democratic and transparent organizations
? Community development
? Environmental sustainability
In an ideal world, Free Trade would increase the overall production of goods and services around the world, thereby improving the lot of the majority of the world’s population. However, Free Trade in its present-day incarnation does not take into account the market failures often caused by Free Trade policies and the resulting unbridled abuse of labor and the environment.
Fair Trade is a solution to the market failures produced by Free Trade policies. Fair Trade empowers consumers to choose goods and services produced with fairness and justice. While the Free Trade model ignores the damage done by its policies to low-income workers and the environment, the Fair Trade model takes as its objective the defense of workers’ rights and the protection of the environment.
You can support the NYSUT/Labor-Religion Coalition Fair Trade Project by ordering Fair Trade goods at www.labor-religion.org. |
| |
|
