Water and free trade: a social vision of water

Very few water experts are aware that water resources and water services can be subject to the terms of investment and trade agreements. In fact, free trade agreements can blur the boundaries of national jurisdiction and the control of water resources and public utilities, often producing negative social and economic consequences. The project social water vision commissioned several papers to identify the links between investment, trade laws and water, and to discuss related issues. The results of this important research are presented in this book, to provide a better understanding of the impacts of trade agreements and water.