Where does Traidcraft stand on the various issues implicit within these definitions?
Our starting point is to recognise that trade is the most sustainable way of addressing global poverty, and is essential if other initiatives such as aid and debt relief are to be followed through to good effect. Some of the more extreme advocates of “fair trade” merge into elements of the anti-globalisation and anti-capitalist movements, but Traidcraft believes that business, whilst it has the potential to do harm, also has significant potential to do lasting good, and indeed will be the most essential part of any programme to combat world poverty effectively. On issues of trade liberalisation, we recognise that no western economy has developed without the use of protection during the early stages of its development, and although once sufficiently developed economies benefit hugely from more open markets, undue liberalisation at an early stage will tend to consign less developed countries to volatile and low margin commodity production and to other low added-value activities. Free mar
