Fair trade – The Hard-to-Find Partnership Cover Image

Fair trade - partnerstwo odnajdywane z trudem
Fair trade – The Hard-to-Find Partnership

Author(s): Błażej Popławski
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, History, Philosophy, Economy, Financial Markets
Published by: Instytut Studiów Politycznych PAN
Keywords: fair trade;development assistance;Global South;free market;liberalism;conscious consumption

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this article is to describe and evaluate fair trade – a form of development assistance and trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. Fair trade contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to and securing the rights of marginalized producers and workers – especially in the South. Fair trade focuses in particular on commodities or products which are typically exported from developing countries to developed countries such as coffee, cocoa, sugar, tea, bananas, honey, cotton, wine, fresh fruit or flowers. The genesis of fair trade (the United Nations Conference on Aid and Development held in 1968 embraces the “Trade not Aid” concept, bringing fair trade into development policies), its main assumptions (for example: fair trading practices; ensuring no child labour and forced labour; payment of a fair price; respect for the environment; non-discrimination, gender equity and freedom of association) and controversies related to the implementation of the system are presented.

  • Issue Year: 2015
  • Issue No: 16
  • Page Range: 105-117
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: Polish