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Lessons for fair trade
01.12.1999
Fair trade organizations provide a market for small, inexperienced producers in developing countries, so that they can learn how to deal with commercial export organizations. However, some observers question whether the benefits of so-called alternative trade organizations are sufficiently different from those of commercial trade to balance their overall insignificance in world trade, or to justify 'subsidies' from consumers and voluntary organizations. This article describes the origins of Oxfam-Canada's Bridgehead Inc. and the problems they have faced over the years, in common with many other alternative trading organizations. The impact of fair trademarking organizations is also discussed.