GET SERIOUS ON DRUG CERTIFICATION

By law, the president is supposed to periodically certify that a trading
partner is cooperating with the United States in the war against illegal
drugs.

Too often, however, presidents haven't taken the law as seriously as they
should, prefering not to jeopardize relations with an ally.

The latest example of lax law enforcement came last month, when President
Clinton certified to Congress that Mexico is fighting hard to control drug
trafficking. In fact, Mexico remains a main pipeline for smuggling
narcotics into the United States

Mexico's opium harvest was up 25 percent in 1998, and cocaine seizures
dropped 35 percent. Those numbers are not exactly assuring.

Without certification, U.S. trade with Mexico would be curtailed and that
country would not receive aid, loans or financial credits. Moreover, the
North American Free Trade Agreement could be in danger.

Trade and good diplomatic relations are important, but more so is winning
the war against drugs. The Clinton administration should take the
certification law more seriously and not merely go through the motions.