The expression “Fair trade” started approximately 40 years ago and is a system of cooperation between consumers in Northern countries and producers in Southern countries. It is shaped by three characters a) Small organized producers, b) Process of facilitating trade and c) responsible and ethical consumers.

It initiated in Europe - Holland - and at this present there exist more than 5000 specializing shops in the United States, Canada and Europe. Switzerland is the country consuming the most of these products, where every person uses an average of $ 12 a year on fair trade products.

In 40 years of existence, it has been traded for 50 million which represents at this moment 1 % of the International commerce. The producers who are integrated on this market have had positive impacts.

No political strength is provided to be able to have any affect the OMC, stock exchanges or political Governments.

It is necessary to make alliances with different sectors, such as the actions of a united and informal economy, groups, peasants, universities, etc.

Across FLO, only prime matters have been exported. It is necessary to incorporate the transformation of products. Thus there is no reinvestment in the productive thing to revitalize the rural economy

The fair trade’s challenges

To boost ideological resistance to the system neo-liberal, we must be activists of a social and united economy. Not to copy the life style of the North. To fight against the transnational companies and block the products of which are in violence of the DESCA.

The trade should be a practice to achieve the independence and democracy of the people, not a form of control. The commerce must place the humans in the center in any process of development. A new world needs a new man and a new woman.

To educate consumers to have a responsible and ethical consumption. To increase the negotiation capacities of the producers.

To achieve political support from the public. For example to create a department of economic solidarity that encourages the agricultural production, to offer subsidies for the rural production, access to productive assets, natural resources, technology, financing, etc.

To construct a fair trade across networks on a local and regional level together with the national level between southern and northern countries to power this relationship. To strengthen the post harvests and agro industrials processes, that will add a major value to the products and generate worthy employment.