The fair trade movement claims that the products it provides are sourced
“justly” and that purchasing fair trade products brings economic benefits for
the poor. Whilst it is clear that fair trade might bring some benefits to particular
groups, whether it brings significant net benefits to the poor in general is
questionable. Moreover, the claim that fair trade transactions are more “just”
cannot be substantiated. Customers also might be surprised to learn that the
majority of the Fairtrade Foundation’s income is spent on promoting its own
brand.