With globalization has come free trade. Free trade is basically the ability for countries and companies to trade goods without being burdened by taxes and other tariffs. Because of this, it usually allows for easier flow of labor and supplies to go from nation to nation. This seems ideal because it creates more beneficial manufacturing methods as large corporations can produce more, lower costs, and improve the way many people live around the globe. Free trade also encourages competition among companies to ultimately create the best product. Sounds good, doesn’t it?
But, the reality is quite different. Dick Meyer, who I interviewed, is an advocate for fair trade, has travelled around the globe learning about trade, been a part of numerous speaking engagements, and is the owner of a Fair Trade shop in Olympia, Washington. He remarked on free trade: “the free trade pacts have sought to maximize the flow of capital in the same pursuit while ignoring environmental standards thereby leading many countries to compete with each other to the ‘race to the bottom’ by appealing for manufacturing and production with lower wages, lower regulations.” This is a clear summation of how many companies are not producing products with fair treatment and wages in mind. They are only worried about themselves and their profit, and free trade has only encouraged this. Additionally, because free trade encourages competition, in many cases, it means that developing countries and those with little technological advances find it very difficult to compete in product production with larger and more developed companies and countries. These large companies created by free trade, also known as “super power companies," dominate the market, making the gap among the rich and poor even greater. Today, “the vast majority of the world’s population [is] living on less than $2 a day” in undesirable working conditions and harmful environments increased by uneducated, careless governments and greedy companies. Some of these “super power companies," as Dick Meyer mentioned, are the most common companies known today. 
The Gap, Nike, and Walmart, among many others, have been accused of using sweatshops to make their products, keeping their workers in horrible working environments and paying them very little. Specifically Nike has shown to pay their workers far less than minimum wage, and astonishingly, Nike would plead with local international governments to be released from having to pay these minimum wages because of the heavy financial burden it would be on the factories. However, their profit reaches upward of 550 million dollars in one year. Doesn’t that seem a bit contradictory? And, although this is just one company’s information about the issue, I am hoping that it gives you a taste of the increasing inequality that globalization and free trade have sparked in many corporations, which harm innocent laborers everywhere.With all of these downfalls of free trade, we need an alternative, and that current alternative is fair trade. "Fair trade isn't a brand. It is a story," a lifestyle, as mentioned in the video below. There are several different fair trade organizations around the globe who all work toward the same cause in ensuring that farmers and artists in developing countries are paid a respectable wage for their work.
They are able to do this by cutting out the middle man and setting a minimum fair price which workers are to be paid for their labor and production of a product. Setting a minimum price gives these farmers and artists more money to improve their products, their way of life, and ultimately better their own economy, country, and environment. Thus, by buying products that are specifically labeled “fair trade,” it ensures fair payment and fair working conditions for the laborer, and it also allows for the consumer to know he or she is supporting a good cause and not consuming and using products at the expense of others. Fair trade is definitely a good alternative and a way to express opposition to free trade and corporate domination. But, there are some improvements that should be considered for fair trade to become more common and the norm to ensure equality to all farmers and artists in the world.As I have mentioned above and in my earlier blogs, fair trade is definitely a good deal and helps to treat everyone fairly. But in order for it to become a phenomenon, regularity, and necessary requirement, there are some improvements that should be considered. Some of the most common improvements that are being considered are the type of products. Currently, fair trade items are mostly centered around food – specifically coffee and chocolate, jewelry, trinkets, and clothing items. For this idea to catch on and create a larger, lasting impact, fair trade organizations need to consider widening their market and coming up with new ideas and improvements to appeal to many different types of people and consumers. Without doing so could lead to stagnation in salability. Another improvement that could be made is quality. A product’s marketability is only as great as its quality of craftsmanship and creation. If the items are undesirable and lack good craftsmanship, then the likelihood of them selling will be very slim. As fair trade items continue to sell and increase in popularity, continued evaluation and insurance that all guidelines and practices, which are unique to fair trade, need to be continuously monitored. This guarantees quality of products and ensures that farmers and artists are still receiving fair payment and treatment for their work. This could potentially become an issue as fair trade grows, because of increased numbers of fair trade farmers but lack of monitoring abilities. Dick Meyer also mentioned that in the future, “independent monitoring will be essential…to assure the consumer that what fair trade proclaims is being practiced.” Ultimately, one of the largest issues in debate today about fair trade is that it isn’t really solving the large problem at hand and sometimes promotes “over supply, low prices” of the common items which it sells. Most of the time it simply deals with the problem at the surface without creating a true, lasting solution to the unfavorable market and less than ideal treatment of workers. Although fair trade isn’t able to solve the problem at its root or completely eradicate the unfairness in free trade around the globe, it is still a definite step in the right direction. It’s definitely better than letting people suffer and doing nothing to help.
Despite the criticism that fair trade doesn’t solve the problem at the source, it still is beneficial. In addition to incorporating some of the improvements, as well as further input from the consumer, it is likely to become even more popular and well known around the U.S. and other countries in the world. While waiting for policymakers to make permanent changes to trade and its effects, or while waiting to gather enough people to lobby for change, or in addition to your campaign for change, fair trade can help. It is an alternative of the now.
It is a way to deal with the inevitable globalization of our world, and do something with it to make it better. It is a way for you to help without depending on the aid or choices of others. Upon buying a fair trade product, it directly helps the farmer or artist immediately. That’s the beauty of lobbying against free trade through consumption. Not only does it allow for immediate aid, but it also lets governments know that you do not want to tolerate the current conditions. If enough voices are heard and enough people continue and start purchasing fair trade, it can make a difference. It can slowly prove to companies, which pay poorly and are guilty of putting workers in sweatshops, and governments that such treatment is not tolerated.However, many times necessary change isn’t made because of laziness or having to work too hard, or simply the lack of desire to change because of the inability to directly see the problem. But, fair trade products tend exactly to that mentality. They are available in stores nearly everywhere you go: Fred Meyer, Safeway, Dunkin' Donuts, Starbucks, and Costco are just a few. You can simply buy your daily coffee from Starbucks, but spend a bit more to buy fair trade coffee made buy workers compensated for their labor. You don’t have to work too hard to help. Just choose to make the switch at the register. There's no harm in the decision to buy fair trade. It only helps many artisans overseas. If we all work together and support it, the fair trade mentality will become more prominent. And with prominence comes more benefit for these laborers as well as a stronger voice for a need for permanent change and trade equality.
As I mentioned earlier, the gentleman I interviewed, Dick Meyer, is the owner of Traditions Fair Trade Café. Such cafés are a perfect opportunity for you as the consumer to make conscious decisions to make a positive change in this world.
His café sells clothing, shoes, food, coffee, books, decorations, and more; it is also home to many local musical performances in the area. The best aspect of this café is that you know that anything bought there comes from one of 60 countries and communities, made carefully by fairly paid workers. You too can make an effort and buy fair trade items from some of the well known stores listed above, or you can visit some of the nearby specifically fair trade stores around the area, such as Ganesh Himal Trekking & Trading Co. in Spokane, Washington. And with the World Fair Trade Day just around the corner on May 8th, 2010, now is the perfect time to make the effort and buy fair trade products, attend fair trade events, or support other fair trade organizations. Visit their website if you’d like a little more information: World Fair Trade DayOverall, with the current issue of free trade and globalization, inequality has reached an unsatisfyingly high level. With careless governments and corporations who pay and treat workers horribly, as well as large scale companies who have squeezed out the independent worker, necessary change has never been greater. Fair trade, even though some improvements should be considered, is one of best alternatives available today. It allows for you to take this globalized world and make a positive difference. Fair trade also ensures you didn’t benefit from others misfortunes when purchasing a product. A simple switch to fair trade items at your regular coffee joint or grocery store, and a purposeful visit to specifically fair trade stores, permanent change may be on its way. If we all work together and support the fair trade lifestyle, such ideals will hopefully be able to encourage the creation of a lasting solution to bring equality around the globe.
If you would like to learn a little more about fair trade, consider reading one of my earlier blogs for more detailed information, or you can simply watch this very interesting and encouraging video:
Works Cited:
Meyer, Dick. Personal Interview. 29 Apr. 2010.
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Traditions Café image
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