Problem

Prevailing business models in the age of globalization are often characterized as a “race to the bottom," in which multinational companies based in the U.S. pursue the least expensive human and natural resources possible internationally, to maximize profits at the expense of labor, the environment, and communities around the world. Practices like these pose particularly severe threats to the international agricultural sector, and have dire consequences for farming communities worldwide.

The Gift

Fair Trade promotes more ethical and sustainable sourcing practices among U.S. companies of all sizes.

Fair Trade certification offers a uniquely equitable and sustainable approach to international trade that works as well for farmers and farm workers as it does for U.S. businesses. Fair Trade Certified™ products offer a model for American economic practices that promote sustainable development instead of exacerbating international rural poverty and environmental degradation. TransFair USA now works with more than 600 American companies that have committed to Fair Trade's high economic and social standards.