In 1968 the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) used the slogan “Trade not Aid” to emphasise the need for fair trade in relations between developed and developing countries. Since then  “Fair Trade” has become a world-wide social movement aimed at helping producers in developing countries achieve better trading conditions and at promoting sustainable farming. Members of the movement advocate the payment of higher prices to exporters, as well as improved social and environmental standards.

Fair Trade fits in with almost all the following Sustainable Development Goals:

• Poverty – End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
• Hunger and Food Security – End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
• Good Health and Well-Being – Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
• Education – Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
• Water and Sanitation – Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
• Energy – Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and clean energy for all.
• Economic Growth – Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
• Infrastructure, Industrialization – Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.
• Inequality – Reduce inequality within and among countries.
• Sustainable Consumption and Production – Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
• Climate Change – Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
• Life on Land – Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
• Peace and Justice – Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
• Partnerships – Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

Fairtrade Foundation

Within the UK the group promoting Fair Trade is the Fairtrade Foundation.

They organise Fairtrade Fortnight each year to promote the concepts behind Fair Trade.