1. What impact does fair trade have on people?
Fair Trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers - especially in the South.
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2. The debate You will be taking part in a debate
One group will work with Mrs Robertson, arguing that Fairtrade has a positive impact on people
One group will work with Mrs Owen, arguing that Fairtrade has a negative impact on people
You will be given an outline of this presentation. Annotate it to show how you can justify the point made
You will then be ready to take part in the debate!

3. Fair trade benefits the producers in poorer countries
Fair trade increases the amount of money paid to the workers, for example…

4. Fair trade doesn’t pay the producers in poor countries enough
Although the workers in poor countries receive more money than they would if they weren’t involved in fair trade, the amount they are paid is still pitiful, for example…

5. The social premium charged on fair trade goods enables communities to build schools etc
When you buy a fair trade product some of the money charged forms a social premium, which is spent to improve the communities that the producers live in.
An example of this is…

6. The social premium is just an excuse for not paying producers more
If the producers received truly fair pay for their work they wouldn’t need to receive the charity of the social premium.
The alternative would be…

7. To earn the fair trade mark companies have to treat their workers well
To be approved as a fair trade supplier companies have to show…
This benefits the workers because…

8. Companies have received the fair trade mark without passing the benefits on to their workers
Newspaper reports have claimed that some companies have received fair trade status without being properly inspected, for example…

9. Fair trade producers work in an environmentally sustainable way
Fair trade producers often take care to produce their goods sustainably; many use organically grown products.
This provides a healthier environment for local people and farm workers.
An example of this is…

10. Fair trade may not be environmentally sustainable trade
Fair trade doesn’t always mean organic etc.
Most fair trade products are transported vast distances to get them from producers in LEDCs to the customers in MEDCs.
This causes a large carbon footprint.
For example…

11. Supermarkets stocking fair trade goods show that they are trying to be ethical
Many supermarkets are now stocking fair trade goods, showing that they want to play a part in helping producers to earn more.
An example of this is…

12. Supermarkets are exploiting fair trade producers for bigger profits
Supermarkets charge much more for fair trade goods, but only pass a small amount of this extra money on to the producer.
Supermarkets in the UK make obscene profits.
For example…

13. It makes customers happy to buy fair trade goods
When customers buy fair trade goods they feel happy because they know that they are helping a poor producer to improve their quality of life.
For example…

14. Customers are tricked into thinking they are making a difference by buying fair trade goods
Buying fair trade goods only provides a marginal improvement for producers.
It would be much better for customers to put pressure on governments and supermarkets to trade in a truly fair manner with people from poorer countries.
This could be done by…

15. Fair trade could be made even more sustainable by…

16. Fair trade needs to become more sustainable by…

17. What is your view?
The second after school session focussing on Fair trade is on 17th September
We would like you to think carefully about fair trade before this session, carrying out further research
Decide what you view of fair trade is and be prepared to share this during the next session
Remember that you need to justify each point

18. Some sources of information
Fair trade foundation -
Fair trade clothing –
Oxfam and fair trade -
Complicated, but interesting -
Interesting, but how is this biased? See
Are consumers being conned? See