Trade Justice and the EU

The Fair Trade definition in the Charter of Fair Trade principles clearly lays down the importance of “campaigning for changes in the rules and practices of conventional international trade”.

The Lisbon Treaty recognises that sustainable development (in the EU and beyond), free and fair trade and poverty reduction are objectives of the EU. Yet the EU has failed so far to move away from its “business as usual” approach to trade policy.

This means the FTAO and the Fair Trade movement work on or has worked on the following policy areas:

To achieve the following objectives:

2.1. EU promotes equitable North-South trade rules

2.2. EU policies encourage the buying policies and practices of companies operating in the EU to reflect the principles behind Fair Trade and improve the livelihoods of marginalised producers and workers in the South