free trade is where there are NO tariffs(or taxes)on imported or exported goods. But say, for example, china plants millions of acres of apples and subsidizes the market and then dumps them all in the U.S., therefore lowering the price of apples to almost nothing making it unprofitable for apple farmers to grow apples, and now most of the apple orchards have been torn down, driving the price of apples up.(BTW this actually happened) If we had a fair trade system it would have raised temporary tariffs on apples to prevent this from happening.

Hope that helps!

Fair trade - why should we care?

Fair trade - why should we care?

Fair trade. The only trade

The fair trade movement is old news. People have been talking
about it for a long time, but have we really been listening?

Surfers lead the way

Surfers are usually out there on the front line when it comes to
environmental issues but the same cannot always be said for the
big Surfwear brands. Young, environmentally conscious surfwear
and snowboarding retailer ZooZoo2 is determined to do more.

We are all used to fair trade products such as coffee, tea, and
cocoa used in thousands of good cafe's and restaurants across
the developed world. But what about surfwear and surf related
products? What are we wearing, how was it made and who actually
made it?

Fair trade is a system of economic relations in which:
sweatshops are eliminated; workers earn a living wage; the
rights of workers, producers and local communities are
respected; labor, health and safety, and environmental laws are
followed; and trade is conducted on a level playing field, truly
free and fair'. [extract from bangornews.com / PICA article]

Fair trade works to ensure producers in the developing world
receive a fair price for the goods they make and that these
goods are produced by workers in sweatshop-free environments. It
is no longer acceptable for global brands including surfwear
brands to benefit at the cost of poor producers who have no
voice of their own.

Fair trade involves practices that give producers a voice,
either by collecting them into cooperatives or by ensuring
minimum support prices for them which will allow them enough
resources to invest in further producing the raw material that
goes into producing consumer goods says Fair Trade:
Market-Driven Ethical Consumption.

"In simple terms, Fair Trade represents a new approach to
buyer-supplier transaction which aims at equality of exchange
within a partnership approach, underpinned by a developmental,
rather than confrontational, agenda. Fair trade recognises the
power discrepancy between the developing and the developed
worlds and aims to forge long-term partnerships. A firm focus on
the producer rather than the consumer, has been central to Fair
trade." [extreact from Finacialexpress India]

Child Labour Facts

The ILO estimates that 120 million children aged 5-14 work
full-time, and a further 130 million work part-time.

About 61% of working children live in Asia, 32% in Africa and 7%
in Latin America. More and more children in Europe are working.

Africa has the highest incidence of working children.
Approximately 40% of all its five to 14 year olds work full or
part-time. In both Asia and Latin America, about 20% of five to
14 year-olds are engaged in the job market. [source:
www.volunteernow.ca]

ZooZoo2 is committed to supporting the principles of third world
fair trade.

Prohibition of child labour (children should be children, to
learn and play and have fun)

Prohibition of forced labour (no sweatshop labour)

Prohibition of harassment (no sweatshop labour)

Regulated work hours

Prohibition of discrimination

Health and safety (no sweatshop labour)

Preservation of the environment

Concern for fellow human beings as well as concern for the
health of our planet seem to us to be a natural step for all
surfers and snowboarders

About the Author

Al - ZooZoo2 Young environmentally conscious surfwear and
snowboarding retailer. ZooZoo2.com