Groundbreaking Trade Agreement for Ethiopian Coffee Farmers Launches in the UK

(CSRwire) August 27, 2007 - A unique trading agreement that will benefit some of the world's poorest farmers launches in the UK on 5 September 2007.

Newly established trademarks on speciality Ethiopian coffees, which have previously sparked controversy in the USA, mean that from September only officially licensed distributors will be able to sell certain coffees in the UK.

Fairtrade food pioneers Equal Exchange will be the first company to become licensed distributors when their Fairtrade and Organic Yirgacheffe Ground Coffee is included under the Ethiopian Coffee and Trademarking Initiative. The company will sign the licensing agreement at a ceremony at the Ethiopian Embassy on 5 September 2007.

The Trademarking Initiative, that was originally contested by Starbucks and has been a focus of an international campaign by Oxfam, is a collaboration between Ethiopia's government, coffee exporters and farmers' organisations. It aims to develop the country's coffee industry and keep more of the value of its internationally-renown coffees with farmers and their communities.

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