What is Fair Trade’s Role in Globalization?
Globalization has connected markets across the world, and Fair Trade USA™ works to ensure it also connects people with dignity and fairness.
Global trade has the power to create opportunity, but too often, the people behind our products are left behind. Fair Trade helps rebalance this system by fostering mutually beneficial trade where farmers, workers, and fishers are treated as equal partners in the global economy. By putting people and planet first, Fair Trade creates pathways for more equitable, resilient, and sustainable supply chains that work for everyone.
Fair Trade Principles in Global Supply Chains
Globalization has transformed the way goods, services, and labor move around the world. This benefits producers around the world, as their products are exposed to wider audiences and increased opportunity for sales. But globalization has also exposed deep inequalities in the global trade system.
Fair Trade USA’s model aims to correct some of those imbalances. It introduces ethical standards into global trade by focusing on the rights and well-being of workers and producers, particularly in developing countries. Fair Trade Standards also require environmental protections, which safeguard against the ecosystem destruction that often comes along with free trade.
Promoting Sustainable Development
The Fair Trade model was created with producer-led sustainable development in mind. Producers working on Fair Trade Certified™ farms, factories, and fisheries receive Community Development Funds that can be reinvested in their communities—supporting education, healthcare, and environmental initiatives. This adds a layer of social and environmental accountability to global trade and empowers workers to succeed while building strong futures.
Building a More Equitable Future
Fair Trade plays a vital role in reshaping global trade systems to prioritize equity and sustainability by integrating fair wages, ethical sourcing, and sustainable development into supply chains. Our principles not only address the ethical shortcomings of globalization, but also create pathways toward a more equitable global economy for all.