Impacto de las certificaciones de comercio justo del café ecuatoriano en la competitividad en los mercados europeos.

Abstract

Fair trade certifications are essential to maintain the competitiveness of Ecuadorian coffee in international markets. The study uses a mixed, quantitative and qualitative methodology to examine its impact on exports. When comparing Ecuador with Colombia and Peru, a slight growth is evident in Ecuadorian coffee exports, but without a notable impact on certified products. On the other hand, Colombia and Peru show greater dynamism in their exports. Furthermore, the linear regression indicates that, although fair trade influences total coffee income, its result on market stability is not decisive. Interviews with coffee export experts provided additional information on the factors affecting the competitiveness of Ecuadorian coffee. The results suggest that, although fair trade has an impact on other sectors, its influence on Ecuadorian coffee is not entirely significant.