Fair Trade

Fair Trade improves the lives of over 5 million farmers and their families in the Global South.   By choosing Fair Trade products and building support for Fair Trade on your campus, you can become apart of a global movement that’s helping to achieve the Millennium Development Goals!       

Global Trading System
Approximately 65% of the world’s population depends on agriculture for its livelihood, largely through small family farms of a few hectares. In the mainstream market, small-scale farmers face huge obstacles when trying to sell commodities like tea, sugar, rice, cocoa and coffee:
- Low, fluctuating world market prices
- Unfair trade regulations and subsidies
- Lack of access to markets, small loans and technology
- Poor work and environmental conditions
Farmers are able to overcome many of these challenges by organizing into democratic producer groups that sell through the Fair Trade market to conscientious consumers… like you!

Fair Trade
Fair Trade gives farmers a fair deal, not only through a just and stable price for their products and labour, but also by enabling partners in the South to get better market access, protect the environment, and invest in community development and social services.  Long-term trading relationships and pre-financing are also important benefits of Fair Trade. (More on Fair Trade and the Uniterra program).

Fair Trade is an effective strategy to overcome poverty and reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): it reduces poverty (MDG #1) and emphasizes a global partnership for development (MDG #8).  Fair Trade also complements the goals of the Make Poverty History campaign, which emphasizes trade justice and making the rules of international trade more equal.  Fair Trade provides an opportunity for both producers and consumers to act on their commitments to these goals.  

What you can do
Here are a few ideas to get you started.  Click here for more!

Choose Fair Trade
Make Fair Trade part of your daily life by purchasing Fair Trade products at home and in your activities as a Local Committee:
- Seek out Fair Trade products on your campus and in your community
- Commit to using Fair Trade products for fundraising activities and at events
- Give Fair Trade gifts during the holidays and throughout the year

In Canada, products that are Fair Trade certified are sold with the TransFair Canada logo on their package.  You can also purchase Fair Trade products at businesses and organizations that are members of the International Fair Trade Association (IFAT). 

Raise Awareness and Promote
The success of Fair Trade depends on our demand as consumers.  The more you promote and talk about Fair Trade, the more people will understand and support the movement.
- Host a Fair Trade booth or fair on your campus and invite the participation of local Fair Trade vendors
- Show a captivating film on trade justice like Black Gold, Big Sugar, or Black Coffee
- Urge grocery stores and cafes in your area to supply Fair Trade Certified products

Campaign for an Ethical Purchasing Policy on Campus
Forging a formal commitment to purchasing Fair Trade products at your institution is a valuable way to generate a long-term and large-scale impact.
- Form a coalition of students, faculty and staff committed to Fair Trade
- Research how purchasing decisions are made on your campus
- Develop an action plan
- Lobby your institution’s administration and food services company to establish and implement an Ethical Purchasing Policy on campus

Don’t forget to involve the media and invite them to your activities. Write articles and take photos for World Wide WUSC, your campus newspaper, and community media outlets.

Want to get involved?
Using the online My Committee activity sign-up form, your Local Committee must identify a contact person for this activity in order to receive support, tips and tools from other committees and the WUSC campus engagement team.