Cutting a Bilateral Path

Less than a month into his presidency, George W. Bush has chosen neighboring Mexico for his first official trip abroad. The high symbolism of the visit, however, does not promise that history will be made Friday in San Cristobal, the site of President Vicente Fox’s ranch in central Mexico. This is just the beginning of a dialogue on long-standing issues like immigration, the border, trade, water and cooperation against narcotics. New issues such as energy are expected to be on the table as well.

Relations between the two countries have been positive for more than a decade but could be better. Fox is the first Mexican president to be elected from the political opposition in 71 years, and he has not been timid about expressing his goals in contacts with U.S. officials.

He has called for an end to the U.S. congressional “certification” process, in which countries found not to be cooperating with the United States in fighting narcotics face unilateral sanctions. President Bush should express his support for a bill sponsored by Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.) that would abandon this humiliating, selective process. The matter is now before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Another topic demanding the immediate attention of the two presidents is immigration. Although Fox has said his long-term aim is an open border, working groups to be established in San Cristobal should explore more practical ideas. There is, for instance, the proposal by Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Texas) regarding a comprehensive guest worker program. Mexican workers needs jobs and the United States needs to import labor in a regulated program that benefits both sides. There should be a way to couple these ideas.

The California power crisis has led some Americans to expect help from Mexico. But problems stand in the way. Aside from many technical difficulties, under the Mexican constitution energy is owned by the state, which makes a normal commercial investment impossible. To strike a deal, both countries would have to find a formula that private industry and the Mexican government could accept. That wouldn’t be fast or easy.

The talk in Washington is that the presidential meeting will venture beyond bilateral concerns and compare notes on such key hemispheric issues as Colombia and Cuba. The Bush administration thinks Mexico could play an important role in constructing a diplomatic framework for resolution of the Colombian narco-guerrilla war. FARC, the largest Colombian guerrilla group, has an office in Mexico City.

Bush has great interest in Latin America, and Mexico’s integration with its North American neighbors deepens every day. These talks, if not laden with too many expectations, could set a path for the benefit of both the U.S. and Mexico.