Fair Trade is Economic Solidarity

Good news, we determined that YES, Fair Trade is Economic Solidarity - as people work together collaboratively to create mutually beneficial trade, sharing skills and building solidarity.


Here's details from our NYC Fair Trade Forum PowerPoint presentation on the topic:

• ¨Fair Trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, disadvantaged producers and workers – especially in the (global) South. - Industry definition, 1998 

• Fair Trade is Solidarity Economics: “Solidarity economics embraces a plural and cultural view of the economy as a complex space of social relationship in which individuals, communities, and organizations generate livelihoods through many different means and with many different motivations and aspirations—not just the maximization of individual gain.” - Ethan Miller

 Fair Trade is getting BIG:

•  $3.47 billion dollar industry
• 126,000 tons of Fair Trade product
• 500+ specialized Fair Trade import companies 
• 433+ registered producer organizations 
• 110 million artisans, farmers, growers, producers, and supporters 
• 100,000 non-supermarkets
• 125,000 supermarket points of sale

…all around the world.  

(Source: Krier, 2007, pp 7-9; Raynolds, Muray and Johnston, 2007, p. 126; World Fair Trade Organization, 2010)

 

Bolivian Fair Trade Knitters in a 2010 Ethnographic Study Report:

SUCCESS 

• ¨Self Esteem 
• ¨Skills 
• ¨Income 

CHALLENGES

• Competition
• Culture
• Poverty

(Source: Tamara Stenn, May 2010)