Thirst for control: new rules in the global water grab

During the past decade or so, international trade agreements have been dramatically expanded to encompass areas of policy, programs and law - such as those concerning water - that had always been strictly matters of domestic concern. In addition to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which has guided international trade affairs since 1947, the framework of the World Trade Organization now includes "trade" agreements relating to investment, services, procurement, intellectual property and domestic regulation, including environmental standards.
This is the context within which issues of water stewardship must be understood. Is water to be regarded as integral to the global commons? Are use and allocation decisions to respect a public trust? Or is water to be treated as a mere commodity, with access, protection, management and allocation decisions left to the market? Is water a basic human right, guaranteed to every human being, or an economic good available only to those who can pay? This paper describes the extent to which the answers to these questions will depend on the "success" of future international trade negotiations, and on the interpretation and enforcement of existing trade rules. It examines two aspects of this international trade agenda: foreign investment and trade in services. These in turn are examined in light of the enormous ecological and every region of the globe. This assessment is also framed by an analysis of the strategic objectives of the few global corporations that dominate the business of water. (taken from executive summary of author)