In an open letter, Rob Cameron, CEO of Fairtrade International, wrote: ?I, the staff at Fairtrade International, and the entire global Fairtrade network sincerely regret FTUSA?s decision to pursue its own approach, rather than continue working within the global system. It is a decision they have taken themselves, and we have to respect their choice.?

Here at the Fair World Project (FWP), Fair Trade USA?s move raises many questions for fair trade producers in the Global South, as well as for fair trade advocates, businesses, and consumers. A major point of contention in the split and ?Fair Trade For All? is FTUSA?s unilateral decision to initiate certification of Fair Trade coffee on plantation and hired labor operations. FTUSA intends to open other commodities, like cocoa, to plantation and hired labor for certification as well. Fair trade was established on the values of supporting small-scale, disenfranchised farming communities, most often organized in democratic cooperatives. Despite claims to the contrary, hundreds of thousands of small producers organized in cooperatives still lack access to fair trade markets. To continue to make progress and expand the benefits of fair trade, these producers must be given priority and support when considering further expansion of the fair trade system. Without strict standards and implementation, the expansion of fair trade to include plantations in coffee and other sectors will most certainly erode standards and dilute fair trade?s impact.

For more details, read FWP’s Statement on Fair Trade USA?s Resignation from Fairtrade International (FLO).

Perhaps the most relevant of posts on FTUSA?s decision to resign from FLO has come from the three key fair trade producer networks, including the Network of Asian Producers (NAP), Latin American and Caribbean Network of Small Fair Trade Producers (CLAC) and Fairtrade Africa. Their perspective can best be summed up in CLAC statement, asserting “we as CLAC join the regret caused by the departure of FAIRTRADE USA and we express the fact that we cannot share its new vision of expansion, since it threatens the empowerment, development and self-management of small organized producers.”

Equal Exchange, fair trade pioneer and coop, supports the position of the fair trade producers networks.? Equal Exchange’s Rob Everts “In our opinion, this represents a continuation of Transfair?s years-long practice of playing to its own set of rules, almost always to the benefit of large scale players in the commodities world and against the interests of Fair Trade?s original primary stakeholders:? organized groups of small scale farmers.”

Vancouver Fair Trade did a good job summarizing some of the background information regarding the split. Read more to learn up on the issue. CRS has also done a good job of unpacking the implications for fair trade producers.

The post Roundup on the Fair Trade USA/FLO Split appeared first on Fair World Project.

FLO seems intent on forging ahead in new sectors, including certifying small-scale fishing operations, despite concerns regarding the development of new standards, as well as FLO-Cert?s capacity to adequately monitor operations. FLO and TransFair USA have come under fire for both their standards and practices, ranging from TransFair USA?s Fair Trade Garments Pilot Project to TransFair’s bid to rebrand itself as Fair Trade USA. While the ensuing dialogue within the movement has been largely constructive, including an insightful webinar sponsored by the Fair Trade Resource Network, we risk losing consumer confidence in “fair trade” while we work to improve the system. FLO and TransFair are in a bit of a sticky situation. While it is unclear if they currently have the capacity to adequately address the challenging and contentions labor situation in new sectors and complex supply chains, they must respond to calls from producer and consumers for standards for new fair trade sectors.

In some aspects, the fair trade market is falling deeper into disorder, with new products and new self-anointed fair trade programs springing up around every corner. Continuing this trend, “fair trade” is now being applied to virtually anything, with hundreds of ethical, social, and “fair” labels emerging over the course of the last five years. Case in point: fair trade condoms are poised to enter the market in the UK. Though proliferation of fair trade schemes and certifications reflects? greater public awareness, we do risk increased consumer confusion and the risk of “fairwashing.”

Despite the current state of disarray in the world of fair trade, there are positive signs on the horizon for cross-sector collaboration. The Fair World Project (FWP) recently joined certifiers, producers and other NGOs endorsing ?Fair Trade Certifiers and Stakeholder Groups Sign Agreement to Work Toward Collaboration and Accountability in Domestic Fair Trade?.? Meanwhile, Fairtrade International, SAN/Rainforest Alliance & UTZ CERTIFIED pledged to continue their collaboration. Some in the fair trade movement have called for greater government intervention of fair trade labelling and standards. Fair trade is now recognized and regulated under federal law in France. Federal regulation recognition of fair trade in the United States represents both an opportunity and risk, especially given the mixed experience of the USDA National Organic Program.

In the end, this discussion brings us full circle to one of the original tensions of fair trade: shall we continue focusing on improving and expanding the patchwork of sector by sector market standards or will we insist on strengthening public institutions to protect and support farmers, workers and artisans across the board? Or both? Stay tuned.

The post Fair trade gold, fish, and condoms, oh my! appeared first on Fair World Project.

Changing the Way We Do Business: Fair Trade Certification and Sourcing

Join us for a panel discussion regarding fair trade certification of products and companies at home and abroad. Fair trade certifiers will discuss how to certify your company and products and source fair trade ingredients. Fair trade membership organizations will talk about raising awareness and participation in your stores.

Panelists:

The Institute for Marketology (IMO) – Dr. Wolfgang Kathe

Fair Trade USA – Cate Baril, Director of Business Development, Grocery?& Ingredients

Agricultural Justice Project (AJP) – Michael Sligh, Founding Partner

Domestic Fair Trade Association (DFTA)? – Kerstin Lindgren, Executive Director

Fair?Trade?Federation (FTF) – Carmen Iezzi, Executive?Director

Fair Trade Resource Network (FTRN) – Jeff Goldman, Executive Director

Fair?World Project (FWP) – Dana Geffner, Executive Director

Please visit the Expo West website for more information.

The post Changing the Way We Do Business: Fair Trade Certification and Sourcing appeared first on Fair World Project.