According to the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), « Fair Trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, which seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers – especially in the South ».

In other words, the concept of Fair Trade is to establish an alternative to international conventional trade, which involves reviewing the role of each link of the commercial chain, from producer to consumer, with greater respect to human dignity. 

More precisely, Fair Trade is defined by a dozen of principles shared by most Fair Trade actors.  The practical implementation of these principles may diverge between countries, contexts or stakeholders, but Fair Trade remains nevertheless a shared ideal among all parties.