Book(s) 4 of 29

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, fee 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.Despite such consequences, Argentina and Peru are currently being sued under the terms of investment and trade agreements for conflicts resulting from water utilities and control of water resources, as was Bolivia in 2002. These case are not heard by national courts, but by arbitration tribunals, which apply international investment law and procedure to the cases, even though many of the outcomes of these tribunals have serious repercussions at the local level.The Project Social water Vision, led by the Bolivian NGO Agua Sustentable and financed by IDRC commissioned several papers to identify the links between investment, trade laws an water, and to discuss related issues. The results of this important research are presented in this book, to provide a better understanding of the impact of trade agreements and water for public service operators, state negotiators of free trade agreements, national and international authorities, academics and the public.

Book(s) 4 of 29