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Who Owns Fair Trade?: My Response

Published April 01, 2009 @ 01:24AM PT

The other day, guest blogger Shayna Harris posed the question: Who OWNS Fair Trade? The question stems from a recent debate that took place at the London School of Economics where panelists from the Fair Trade movement came together to discuss this topic. When I first heard about the debate, I kept trying to work out the question and an answer in my mind.

It's a complicated question with an even more complicated answer. For one thing, the idea of Fair Trade is so diverse and as Fair Trade consultant, Pauline Tiffen stated during the debate, Fair Trade is a concept that is constantly evolving and being redefined. That - as Shayna points out - is why Fair Trade is not 'ownable'. "Redefinition, uncertainty, and plurality of interpretation is important, because it allows for ‘more jostling' so that we can push Fair Traders to do more and deepen their integrity."

I both agree and disagree with all that. Yes, it is hard to see 'ownership' over an idea and Fair Trade in essence started out as an idea. However, through the years, I believe that Fair Trade has grown into something bigger from an idea into a movement, a trading system, a value system, a unifying mechanism, a course of action, a platform for peace, justice and environmentalism, a tool of empowerment and so much more. Fair Trade is comprised of the concrete and abstract, and through the years has grown into something that isn't quite perfect and has sometimes been described as "slightly less unfair trade". Nonetheless, Fair Trade has grown from an idea into something that has been able to make some positive (as Pauline Tiffen put it) "Obama-esque" change.

So, if it is more than an idea, maybe it can be 'owned'. Panelist and CEO of the National Smallholder Farmers' Association of Malawi, Dyborn Charlie Chibonga mentioned the word 'partnership' and that is how I see Fair Trade -- a partnership. Looking at a tenet of Fair Trade, where the producers are organized into a cooperative where all the members have equal share, equal say and equal ownership, such is the Fair Trade movement. Everyone involved has some sort of ownership, from the producer to the retailer to the consumer to the organizations, to the activists. Everyone involved has a stake in the movement, is driving it and redefining it and working to build trust and integrity and is making sure that Fair Trade continues to grow and creating positive change. A great thing I have come to learn from being in the movement is the close relationships that are developed not only with the farmers or producers, but with fellow activists and consumers. There's a sharing of stories and ideas and cultures. Fair Trade is like a community -- a cooperative community of everyone working together for a common goal of developing a better system of trade that puts value on justice for people and for nature.

Of course, my response does not put into question the larger issues that were brought up in the debate such as the inclusion of multi-national corporations taking on the Fair Trade Mark and next steps of Fair Trade as a business model. For that, I highly recommend checking out what Pauline Tiffen has to say about the current status of the Fair Trade movement and the future of it. OR, you can actually ask me to send you over the text because I actually transcribed it for myself. (I know)

So, who owns Fair Trade? I would say the Fair Trade community and it is up to those in the community to continue to educate people about the movement in order to expand. It is not exclusive, but rather should be inclusive to make sure that all parties benefit equally.

[image: cartoonstock.com]

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Comments (5)

First off I'd like to say thank you for your article. The Fair Trade movement is helping to solve problems such as food, water, sanitation, and education. I just read a great interview with Tom Andrews of Epona Clothing at http://www.clearlyso.com/sbblog/?p=336. It is insightful into how Fair Trade companies are having much success in the economic downturn. From his view point, it seems the Fair Trade community truly works together to increase their impact. As we move forward, I believe the large companies will have to make an effort to join Fair Trade. It's not a movement they will be able to avoid forever.

Trent Wood

Posted by Trent Wood on 04/02/2009 @ 05:09AM PT
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Hi my question is... if you where bullied into signing over your company due to being pregnant. Would the business name still be mine. As I registed it and also started the business over 9 years ago.?
Ps I put on a partner 2 years ago, she partnered up with my employer stating that she did not want me as a partner due to my circumstance.
And can I but my old trade name back?
Anna

Posted by Anna Zaccomer on 04/08/2009 @ 04:56AM PT
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Good post Zarah. I think those close relationships within the fair trade movement are really important.

The speeches by Pauline and Kate at our 'Who Owns Fairtrade' debate in London really brought out the fact that fair trade grew out of strong personal relationships between people in very different parts of the world.

And it's by continually renewing and holding on to that close personal partnerships between producer and consumers that the movement will hold a steady course.

And well done on transcribing Pauline's speech! I don't suppose I could have a copy?

Posted by Tom Allen on 04/08/2009 @ 06:05AM PT
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I agree that "fair trade" must be owned by the fair trade community. It is not owned by FLO and must not be defined by FLO either. Fair trade has always been about relationships along the value chain and getting the best outcomes for those at the bottom (while ensuring each stage of the process remains sustainable, otherwise trade will cease). We work outside the FLO "box" because our core product, Virgin Coconut Oil is a new, small volume commodity and FLO have not developed any guidelines for it. And we are working with extrememly remote indigenous communities who produce small quantities of product. As such the system is too small to afford third party certification expenses. The problem is that you can have a brilliant model and fantastic outcomes for the producers but if you don't have a FLO label on the end product some people start to question your integrity ("If it is fair trade why don't you have a FLO label?"). Unfortunately this does no one any good... and sounds like fair trade is owned by FLO.

Posted by Richard Etherington on 04/28/2009 @ 10:47PM PT
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The fair trade community must own the fair trade movement and must set the standards of membership and must be able to revoke membership to those companies that stray. The standards of membership should evolve over time to meet the challenges of the growing movement. At EarthDivas.com we've always considered ourselves a fair trade organization, but we don't belong to a fair trade group. We're going to try and join one soon, but membership to me has always be secondary to the reality of what we're doing on the ground. But stores and customers are telling me that the fair trade organization "logo" is important and it means something. It's a validation. If this is going to continue to be the case then the fair trade organziation has a responsibility to police itself and maintain the integrity of the brand, or the entire movement will suffer.

Posted by Ed Edmundson on 01/25/2010 @ 03:36PM PT
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Author

Zarah is the Operations Manager for the Global Exchange Fair Trade Online Store, a project of the international human rights organization, Global Exchange. Alongside her work with marginalized communities from all over the world to get their products into the international market, Zarah serves to educate and inform the public about a more just and sustainable trading system.