Harriet Lamb contributes to Smith Institute Booklet
Harriet Lamb, Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation has written an essay Fairtrade versus free trade for a new booklet ‘Is free trade fair trade? New Perspectives on the world trading system’, which has been edited by Frank Trentmann, Professor of History at Birkbeck College and well known commentator on trading patterns and globalisation.
Harriet’s essay talks about the early years of Fairtrade, the strength of the grassroots campaign, the benefits of Fairtrade to producers, and becoming the most recognised ethical label in the UK. UK sales of products carrying the FAIRTRADE Mark reached an estimated retail value in excess of £700m in 2008, bucking the global downturn with a 43% increase over 2007.
‘Fairtrade is unique because it takes all the rules of the free market and stands them on their head – and yet is succeeding in the mainstream market,’ says Harriet in the essay. ‘For the Fairtrade system puts social and environmental concerns first, not last; ensures prices are sustainable, not at the lowest level possible; gives information, market access and so an element of power to consumers and producers rather than taking information and power away; and enables smallholders to prosper while the mainstream market tends to ever greater consolidation.’
The booklet was officially launched earlier this year at a seminar in the House of Lords. Speakers included Gareth Thomas MP (Minister for Trade, Investment and Consumer Affairs, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform) and Professor Jagdish Bhagwati (University Professor, Columbia University, USA).
The aim of the event was to bring some of the best thinkers and commentators together with opinion formers and decision makers in Westminster and Whitehall to discuss where next for the world’s trading system.
Download the full booklet from www.smith-institute.org.uk/publications.htm