In Context: 5 Web Perspectives On A Story In The News

Fair Trade USA plans to lower certification standards

(NY Times) Fair Trade USA announced in November that they would cut ties at the end of 2011 with the main international fair trade group. In a move that angered critics, the group also described drastic changes to the fair trade certification program. Under the new proposed rules, large plantations would be able to get certified, and the requirements for the percentage of fair trade ingredients would be cut down to 10 per cent. Others countries have a minimum of 20 per cent. Critics have accused Fair Trade USA of lowering its standards because the group earns fees off the number of products that are certified. More certified products means higher fees. However, Fair Trade USA say the changes make it easier for large corporations to sell fair trade products, which in turn will benefit a higher number of poor farmers and farm workers around the globe.

1.

Should Fair Trade USA certify giants like Nestle and Folgers?

Mother Jones
Tom Philpott looks at the ramifications of allowing huge, multi-national conglomerates like Nestle and Folgers to become fair trade certified. While Fair Trade USA says having large corporations on board will benefit farmers, Philpott researches the economics behind this potential move. Large companies like Nestle and Folgers "dominate trade and drive prices down, reaping windfalls," says Philpott. The fair trade movement began with the aim of giving small, artisanal operations a way to escape the globalization of a commodity market in which they would not survive, according to Philpott. Large plantations that employ workers on poverty wages will push out smaller operations because corporations look for the highest profit. 

2.

Fair Trade USA standards

Fair Trade USA
Take a look at the review and development of Fair Trade USA's standards on their own website. The organization offers an in-depth look at the process behind its review and development of new standards. Several full PDF documents are available for download, including an overview of the organization's three main standards - the driving force behind the changes. Fair Trade USA says these standards allow many different producers to participate and compete in the international markets. Also included: the proposed work plan of Fair Trade USA to put the changes into effect.

3.

Implications of Globalization

Bank of Canada
In 2008, the Governor of the Bank of Canada, Mark Carney, addressed the British Columbia Chamber of Commerce and the Business Council of British Columbia in Vancouver. In his speech, he chose to talk about the implications of globalization on both the economy and public policy. During a time when the world was experiencing a huge wave of globalization, this address offered great insight into the phenomenon itself and how it affected governmental policy in Canada. From a economical perspective, this speech looks at the many advantages globalization has offered a large, industrialized country like Canada.

4.

Fairtrade International Standards

Fairtrade International
The official website of the Fairtrade International group. A useful tool to look into how Fairtrade International sets its standards for certifications. Full documents are available for download including the development of standards, development of prices, and complaints against the standards. Minutes from standards committee meetings for 2011 are also available. All news and events surrounding fair trade standards are offered. You can also view standards that are currently being in the development phase.

5.

Fair trade labels not helping poor farmers

Science Daily
A 2009 article criticizing the practise of labelling foods as fair trade and how it is not helping poor farmers. The article is based around a report by the AgriFood Economics Centre at Lund University in Sweden that says fair trade labelling is not leading to change. The article looks into the simple economics that drive the idea of farmers receiving a minimum price for their production and how this does not work on a global scale. The experts in this article say that the theory of fair trade labelling on a small scale could work well.