Child Labor and Chocolate Consumption 1

Labor practices in another country should be a relevant consideration in international trade if ethics matters at all. In the U.S., slavery was ended in the 19th century—but it is disconcerting to hear that in reality it hasn’t ended but has rather simply been relocated. Essentially today’s world consists of a globalized economy, which impacts all societies (Meyer, 2000). If slavery and child labor is deemed unethical in the West, it should not be allowed that Western companies can profit from these practices simply by outsourcing the work to regions of the world where slavery and child labor is routine. Fair Trade certification helps companies to be honest, but it is still a shame that so few companies care to be ethical about their products. Just because the slavery is not happening on domestic shores does not mean it is somehow okay: those people abroad are still being exploited and profits made by Westerners from their labor. People who consume those products also share some of the guilt: after all, if it weren’t for them, there would not be a market for such products. By only buying chocolate that is Fair Trade certified, consumers could really make an...