Is conventional trade really unfair?
Existing problems with world trade are seen as one of the biggest issues causing world poverty. Established world trade rules are increasingly seen as grossly unequal, favouring the rich nations against the poor. Through ‘free trade’ laws and systems created by the World Bank, World Trade Organisation and the International Monetary Fund, poor nations are forced to trade with the subsidised markets of rich nations, rendering their products uncompetitive. Who certifies the product? The Fairtrade Foundation (www.fairtrade.org.uk) award the UK’s Fairtrade mark, which guarantees a better deal for third world producers. The mark also guarantees that every person and organisation along the supply chain, including retailers, has conformed to the Foundations’s standards. The Fairtrade Foundation is the UK member of the Fairtrade Labelling Organisation (FLO), (www.fairtrade.net) based in Germany.
