Trade in Water Under International Law: Bulk Freshwater, Irrigation Subsidies and Virtual Water

Freshwater is an increasingly scarce resource globally, and effective sustainable management will be absolutely crucial in the future. This timely book sets out future scenarios of international trade in both 'real' and 'virtual' water, examining the relationship between climate change, water scarcity, the human right to water and WTO law.

Trade in Water under International Law addresses questions of global importance such as: how can international trade in bulk water contribute to the advancement of the human right to water? Are 'green-boxed' irrigation subsidies disturbing the markets? Should water-footprint process and production methods allow for a different treatment of otherwise 'like' products? From examining the impact of water law on small-scale farmers in developing countries, to the broader issue of global environmental responsibility, Fitzgerald Temmerman explores the options available for fair resource allocation through international law arrangements such as the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade.

By taking a wide-reaching and non-technical approach, this book will capture the attention not only of international trade law professionals, but of all stakeholders in the field. With such relevance to contemporary environmental issues, this book will also interest non-legally qualified individuals who want to comprehend the future possibilities of fair water trade.