The Impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement on the Water Resources of Mexico
Abstract
The North American Free Trade Agreement between the United States, Mexico, and Canada contained so-called Environmental Side Agreements designed to enhance and protect the environment during the course of the expected increase in trade between the three countries. while some U.S. environmental groups hailed the Side Agreements as a first step toward linking increased trade with regional sustainable development, others saw the Side Agreements as a means to simply shift environmental degradation to countries with the weakest environmental protection. Much of the debate surrounding the efficacy of NAFTA centers on Mexico's water resources. As trade surges along the US-Mexico border region, population growth and increased demand has stressed both water quality and quantity in this already water-stressed region. This paper examines NAFTA in light of these water resources issues, and the effectiveness of the Environmental Side Agreements to find solutions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 10, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA427653
Entities
People
- Ronald N. Light
Organizations
- Naval War College