Comércio internacional justo: um modelo econômico alternativo: estrutura, dificuldades e impactos

Abstract

This paper deals with the International Fair Trade, alternative economic model whose origin dates back to the 1950s with the marketing of handicrafts by Christian NGOs from Europe and North America. This type of trade main objective is to establish different economic relations between the actors involved in the production chain in that it is based on principles and dimensions of sustainability and valuing human life, from the producer to the final consumer. As theoretical and methodological support, the research was based on ideas and works of authors who deal International Fair Trade and was made a reading of International Fair Trade through the Social and Solidarity Economy, but without neglecting the critical literature aimed at establishing the same, especially in Brazil. To support the ideas presented in the text, and better understand the development, structure, difficulties and the main impacts caused by Fair Trade, it were made interviews with two exporting agents and four brazilians producers. The main result of this study was identified that, despite the development of Fair Trade as an alternative economic model, it faces important challenges that require initiatives to their development.