I wouldn’t be so quick in lumping these two (fair trade labeling vs agricultural subsidization) together. I agree that fairtrade has problems. However, I see me

I wouldn’t be so quick in lumping these two (fair trade labeling vs agricultural subsidization) together. I agree that fairtrade has problems. However, I see merit to the idea to inform consumers about the background of certain products (information is vital to market economy, right?). Fairtrade certification doesn’t just mean “fair” prices but also some restrictions on slave labor, the right to unionize, and conservation of the environment and some other network externalities. Product labeling is a classic direct action tactic and I think it’s a great way to concisely provide information that would otherwise be obscure. This is not a subsidy and it’s not a tariff. It’s (an attempt at) providing information.