From Warm Relations To Hot Water

Guadalajara will be the scene of some interesting discussions between the "Three Amigos" of North America this week-end. One way or another, all three countries have managed to cause some level of disgruntlement between one another. Canada has offended Mexico by launching a bit of a visa requirement bombshell for the purpose of making it more difficult for Mexican economic migrants to claim refugee status in Canada.

The United States has offended Canada, Mexico and its other trading partners by invoking a "Made in America" clause associated with infrastructure projects related to its huge economic stimulus package, ruffling the financial feathers of its closest trading partners in the North American Free Trade Agreement. Coming at a time when finances everywhere are in a fairly fragile state, requiring the finesse of co-operation not alienation between partners.

And the United States is also being pressed by Mexico to fully release the pledged support promised to President Felipe Calderon's administration in anti-narcotics aid. Mexico's three-year-old battle with increasingly-bold and hideously violent drug cartels appears to be going nowhere but deeper into the depths of vicious lawlessness. The ten thousand troops Mexico has deployed, along with countless police units, have been unable to stop the deadly drug wars.

Needless to say, beyond the anti-drug equipment and training in a $1.4-billion plan promised by the previous administration, the population of the United States is also responsible in part of encouraging the Mexican drug trade, as steady and reliable clients. It is fully as much in the interests of the United States as it is Mexico's to extend an all-out effort to exert control over the drug gangs.

As for Canada's little problems, Mexico hints at retaliation; that it too can impose visa requirements on the vast numbers of Canadian tourists visiting that country yearly. As if. Not likely Mexico is ready to curtail the avails of its lucrative tourism industry by imposing visa restrictions on Canadians. But perhaps another kind of agreement could be worked out, for Mexico to vet potential Mexican refugee seekers to Canada and crack down on unscrupulous brokers urging Mexicans to seek asylum.

President Obama can expect to have some interesting discussions with Prime Minister Stephen Harper who has provincial premiers pushing and shoving at his back to inform the United States that their "Buy American" legislation doesn't sit very well with their largest trading partner, and next-door neighbour. Bringing the message back to Washington may not increase Mr. Obama's popularity among the protectionist Democratic Congress.

On the other hand, it's in everyone's best interests to restore that warm and fuzzy feeling that all three experience when they're in accord on matters of import to all three countries. They'll give it a good go, reasonable people all. Ho-ho.