1. Work for Free & Fair Trade Claim: I think the US should start really looking into the practices of foreign companies to ensure they are paying a fair wage to their workers, protecting the environment, and ensuring that their workplaces are safe for their employees. If the minimum standards are not being met, then the US should not allow their products to be sold in US retail stores. It is time the US consumer and the US government demand if trade will be free it must also be fair.

2. Work for Free & Fair Trade Evidence: Establishing policies that make international trade fair for all the people involved is one of my highest priorities. People need to stop buying goods from companies that promote unsafe working conditions, or pay their workers a very low wage just to increase profits. You can buy goods that are labeled “certified fair trade”, but what does this really mean. According to Rink Dickson, one of the founders of Equal Exchange, fair trade lets US buyers of coffee purchase directly from the farmer. He says that this is a good way to support coffee farmers directly, ”making the world a better place”. (1)

3. Work for Free & Fair Trade

4. Resources & Reliability (1) NPR “Fair Trade Labeling May Confuse Consumers”, Murray Carpenter 11/30/14. The reliability of the information is high. Rink Dickson is an expert in establishing what “Fair Trade” is, and has been doing work like this for some time. He is promoting buying fair trade goods, so he will only have positive things to say about the subject.