Virtual water trade increased with globalisation. However this trade does not always flow in
such direction that water abundant regions supply water scarce regions with water intense
products. Often the opposite happens and depletive water trade intensifies causing water
scarcity. This work focuses on the Water-Energy-Soil-Trade-Nexus with each element seen as a
materialisation of discourses. Two cases illustrate specific parts of the Nexus firstly the
close relationship of market liberalisation foreign direct investment and virtual water trade
is represented with Viet Nam's Doi Moi policy and rapid economic growth. Secondly the
water-energy dimension linkages are drawn by following the case of hydraulic fracturing from
the U.S. to Australia's gas drills embedded in a global perspective. This work helps to
understand especially cases where virtual water trade dries out water resources in already
vulnerable areas.
