Join the campaign to bring justice to African cotton farmers by ending the billions of dollars the US gives its farmers in illegal cotton subsidies.

This bespoke dress for the cotton campaign features a print from our collaboration with Zakee Shariff, launching December 2011. The dress is 100% organic and Fair Trade certified cotton from Agrocel, Gujarat, India. - Model: Rim Petros, ‘Petra’ of Leni's ethical model agency http://www.lenismodels.com/ - Dress made by Andie Redman. - Photographed by Safia Minney, founder of People Tree, assisted by Jonathan Rose.

The Problem
The US government gives its cotton farmers billions of dollars in subsidies each year – over $31 billion in the last 10 years alone.

These subsidies distort the world price of cotton, meaning that millions of African cotton farmers are unable to get a fair price for their crop and struggle to make a living.

79 countries label the subsidies as ‘deplorable’ and some of them have even been ruled as illegal by the WTO.

Removing US subsidies could mean an extra $250 million for African producers who depend on cotton for their survival.

Read the position paper on cotton and the WTO. Prepared by Traidcraft and People Tree, and approved by World Fair Trade Organisation.

Because of US cotton subsidies, millions of African cotton farmers can’t get a fair price for their produce (Photo taken by Trevor Leighton)

Why campaign now?
10 years ago the World Trade Organisation passed declarations calling for issues of cotton injustice to be dealt with urgently.

6 years ago People Tree campaigned for action, holding a Fair Trade fashion show at the WTO Ministerial in Hong Kong, and gaining front page coverage.

Today still no action has been taken and, with the value of cotton at its lowest in years when adjusted for inflation, the struggle for cotton farmers in Africa is worse than ever.

This December government representatives from around the world will meet for the next stage of talks of the World Trade Organisation. We are demanding action.

All of People Tree’s garments made from cotton jersey or poplin, are Fairtrade certified organic cotton.

What we can do
• Buy Fairtrade certified cotton – this guarantees a fair price, better working conditions and the social premium for cotton farmers to invest in their communities and their farms.
• Sign the petition against US cotton subsidies, to be submitted to the US Ambassador ahead of the WTO meeting in December. SIGN NOW

US Cotton Subsidies – Facts
• In the last 10 years the US gave $9.3billion to just 10 farms.
• Cost of production of cotton in West Africa $0.35 per pound. Cost of production in the US is $0.80 per pound. Yet US subsidies mean African farmers find it hard to compete.
• 79 developing countries have described the US position on cotton as ‘deplorable’.
Growth of Fairtrade Cotton
• Sales of Fairtrade certified cotton products have doubled or even tripled year on year in some countries in the EU1.
• Fairtrade certified cotton sales in the UK alone were estimated at being worth over £100 million in 2008*.
• The global value of organic cotton products has been estimated at $5.3 billion in 2010**.
• All of People Tree’s garments made from cotton jersey or poplin, are Fairtrade certified organic cotton.

References
* The Fairtrade Foundation (2009)
** Organic Exchange