fair trade

IPA/ˌfeə ˈtreɪd/
IPA/ˌfer ˈtreɪd/

fair trade — noun

1. a trading system that ensures farmers and workers in poorer countries earn enoug

1.nounB2
Definition

a trading system that ensures farmers and workers in poorer countries earn enough to live on, work in decent conditions, and invest in their communities

Example

Heather always looks for the fair trade logo when she buys coffee.

collocation: fair trade logo

Sana's shop sells fair trade chocolate made with cocoa from Ghana.

fair trade as modifier before a product name

Common collocations
  • fair trade logo
  • fair trade certification
  • fair trade coffee
  • fair trade chocolate
  • fair trade bananas
  • fair trade premium
  • fair trade movement
  • fair trade principles
Synonyms
  • ethical trade

    broader term that includes fair trade but also covers other ethical concerns

  • sustainable trade

    overlaps with fair trade but emphasises environmental sustainability more strongly

Antonyms
  • free trade

    a system focused on removing tariffs and trade barriers, not on fair producer pay

  • exploitative trade

    trade where producers are paid unfairly or work in poor conditions

Usage Note

Often used as a modifier before a product name (fair trade coffee, fair trade chocolate). The two-word form 'fair trade' describes the system; 'Fairtrade' (one word, capital F) is a specific certification mark.

Common Mistakes

The government supports fair trade to remove tariffs on imports.
The government supports free trade to remove tariffs on imports.
'fair trade' is about ethical producer pay; 'free trade' is about removing trade barriers between countries.

Word family

  • fair-trade
    adjectiveB2
  • Fairtrade
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Fair trade, ethical trade, sustainable trade, and Fairtrade are related but distinct. Fair trade focuses specifically on fair prices and decent working conditions for producers in developing countries. Ethical trade is broader, covering fair trade concerns plus issues like animal welfare and avoidance of child labour across all supply chains. Sustainable trade adds environmental protection to the mix, emphasising that trade should not deplete natural resources or harm ecosystems. Fairtrade (one word, capital F) is a registered certification label — you can only use it on products that meet the Fairtrade Foundation's standards, whereas 'fair trade' is a general term any company can claim. When shopping, a 'fair trade' sticker may mean the shop's own policy, but a 'Fairtrade' mark guarantees independent inspection.

ethical tradesustainable tradeFairtrade

Common collocations

Nouns

  • fair trade logo
  • fair trade certification
  • fair trade movement
  • fair trade principles
  • fair trade premium

Phrases

  • buy fair trade
  • switch to fair trade
  • support fair trade

Etymology

English

The term 'fair trade' emerged in the mid-20th century from alternative trade organisations that sought to pay fair prices to producers in developing countries, bypassing exploitative middlemen. The movement grew in the 1960s and 1970s through charity shops and church groups, and gained mainstream recognition in the 1980s and 1990s with the introduction of official Fairtrade certification labels.