Fair Trade Wales is the national organisation for Fair Trade in Wales, the
world’s first Fair Trade Nation. We aim to develop, grow and influence on behalf of the Fair Trade movement in Wales.

We have three strategic goals, and one is to: Maintain and enhance understanding of, and commitment to, Wales as a Fair Trade Nation.

Our policy bulletin lets you know our progress towards this goal and how you can join in.

The current picture

Election

Ahead of the Senedd election, we produced policy asks for candidates and the new Welsh Government. You can share these with your six Members of the Senedd (MSs), invite them to your activities, and let them know why Fair Trade matters to you.

Following the election, Wales has a new Government and new Ministers. Sioned Williams MS, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality, is responsible for Wales and Africa, the team that has supported Wales as a Fair Trade Nation since 2008.

We want MSs to know that Fair Trade matters to their constituents. During Fairtrade Fortnight, there will be a Senedd event on 29 September at lunchtime, bringing together a Fair Trade producer and supporters from across Wales.

Procurement

Public bodies are developing their new Socially Responsible Procurement Strategies and Objectives. This is a good opportunity for Fair Trade to be included as a way of demonstrating global responsibility.

Fair Trade

Fairtrade International is carrying out a multi-year review of Fairtrade standards to address growing global challenges. Public consultations are taking place with some now open.

The House of Commons Library also produced a research paper on Fairtrade to support a UK Parliament debate in December 2025.

Progress

1. We submitted consultation responses encouraging the Welsh Government to strengthen uptake of global responsibility in procurement through explicit references to Fair Trade, and more achievable guidance. We were pleased that Fair Trade was included in their final guidance document (Annex 1).

2. Fair Trade was mentioned positively three times during a Senedd debate on International Spending.

3. We spoke at the BAFTS annual conference discussing the future of Fair Trade and the challenges and opportunities ahead.

In the spotlight: Procurement

● Public bodies are no longer required to buy the cheapest option. Under the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act (2023), they can consider wider considerations when procuring. In Wales this is called ‘Socially Responsible Procurement’ and in 2023 we campaigned on a new law about this to include global responsibility.

● Our Head of Fair Trade Wales was seconded to the Welsh Government to help develop the statutory guidance, and we responded to consultations on the accompanying guidance. We were pleased to see the statutory guidance specifically references global responsibility when setting objectives, creating a significant opportunity to embed Fair Trade within public procurement. 

● Since April, public bodies must publish a socially responsible procurement strategy and ‘socially responsible procurement objectives’ (SRPOs). These objectives must include global responsibility, creating a clear opportunity to include Fair Trade.

● You can help by contacting your local county councillor, or the councillor responsible for procurement, and encouraging them to include Fair Trade in their SRPOs. Purchasing Fair Trade is a simple and effective way for public bodies to demonstrate global responsibility under the Act.

How you can help

Read about Fair Pay, the theme for this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight (21 September – 4 October).

Share our policy asks with all six of your recently elected Members of the Senedd.

Do contact your local council, or other relevant public body and encourage them to include Fair Trade in their new Socially Responsible Procurement Objectives.