It's Monday morning but that's not why I'm taking issue with Radio Scotland. This morning at about 18 minutes to 8 there was a discussion about Fair Trade towns and shops, and the Chief Executive of Fair Trade was explaining how buying Fair Trade goods helps local farmers in the producing countries. Several times the Radio Scotland interviewer asked about fair trade goods being a bit more expensive. Each time he was given an answer that showed why his assertion wasn't true, or wasn't the whole truth.
Once the Fair Trade spokeswoman was off air, he came back saying he was still convinced that Fair Trade goods were a bit more expensive. Now apart from the unfairness of taking the last word to contradict the person interviewed, I have another complaint.
Health warning – long sentence looming. If something is called Fair Trade, and it does cost a bit more (I say this without conceding the point), but let's say for argument it is a bit more expensive – shouldn't it be rather obvious to someone who is supposed to be clued up on finance, business, trade, the market, and who is supposed to report on National Radio, news and not personal opinion unsupported by evidence other than his own anecdotal impressions, wouldn't it occur to such a person that in a market where there is unfairness, that to achieve cheap prices Fair Trade goods may well cost a bit more, and that is the acceptable premium for trading fairly, and is an ethical choice to be made by the buyer? Fair Trade is about the purchaser playing fair, not going for the cheapest and to hang with the consequences for the producer.
All of which is not to concede the point that Fair Trade bananas are more expensive than other commercial options. But even if they are more expensive to the buyer, me … isn't there an obvious, and morally significant explanation, and an ethical reason for paying a fair price, not the cheapest price? The idea that fair trade and cheapest price are always or ever compatible is an economic chimera out there in the market.
But please, Radio Scotland, don't use the privilege of access to my ears as an opportunity to contradict a guest once they've left the studio. That's not Fair either!
You can hear the interview for yourself on the BBC Iplayer, Good Morning Scotland at about 1 hour 43 minutes to 46 minutes
Leave a Reply