Reference no: EM132970145

Scenario: In your small business as a U.S.-based coffee distributor, you often source products from other countries where coffee beans are produced. Recently, you received an email from an international labor group alleging that some of the local middlemen you use to purchase coffee beans are unfairly compensating the small bean farmers for their crops. The labor group asks that your company only purchase "fair trade" certified coffee beans so that you have assurance that the farmers with smaller operations will receive fair market value for their crops.

Members of your management staff are concerned that "fair trade" certified beans are often more expensive, which could increase your overall import costs. However, you also must consider your long-standing relationships with the local middlemen in the coffee market, as they are often able to access coffee bean crops that other buyers cannot.

To aid you in your decision-making process, research the "fair trade" certification and its implications. You will also want to review the Unit 4 Learning Activity entitled "Ethical Approaches" to learn more about Consequentialism, Non-consequentialism, and Virtue Ethics.

I need to do the following:

• Identify which of the three ethical approaches presented in the Learning Activity would be most likely to guide your actions in this situation. Explain your reasoning. 
• Explain three considerations that will influence your decision as to what to do next. These could be financial, operational, ethical, or legal.
• Describe how you will explain to the international labor group your next steps. Include detailed supportive reasoning.