What is 'Fair Trade'?

What is 'Fair Trade'?

Sam Bills (Manager) gives expert video advice on: How do I know if something is Fair Trade Certified?; What is the difference between 'Fair Trade' and 'ethical trading'?; Do Fair Trade goods cost more than comparable non-fair trade goods? and more...

Fair trade is a movement of consumers, based in countries like the U.S. and the U.K. It is a movement of consumers who appreciate the power that their purchases have, to either exploit or to empower. Our purchases have the power to exploit, or the power to empower, because we are buying things and the money that goes into all of these different countries, and has the power to build up local economies around the world. Understanding that both of those powers are present in what we purchase, fair trade is an effort to make sure that the money that we spend is going to empower rather than exploit.