Fair trade connects producers and consumers

As WFTD 2008 approaches, we take this opportunity to remind the public of the importance of Fair Trade to our producers and of the invaluable Fair Trade work that has been undertaken by our colleagues in Japan, Korea, Taiwan and the world.

As the growing impacts of globalization and economic activity cross national borders the imbalance between the strong and the weak is accentuated. Cooperation between consumers is now more than ever crucial. Fair trade connects producers and consumers and this is essential to finding a remedy to this imbalance.

Japan has also been rocked by global warming, as it has by such problems as the illegal dumping of poisonous waste and the recent food labeling scandal. Here as elsewhere the environment is a central concern. Food security is also a main concern.

We feel good about contributing towards a solution to these problems through our work in Fair Trade and our collaborations with our Fair Trade producers.