President Bush has rightly ordered his administration to review new rules requiring U.S. citizens to show passports when re-entering the country from Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean.

As the former governor of a border state, Bush appears to have a better understanding of the economic and social impact such a restriction brings than do other members of his staff. Last week, he told Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the Department of Homeland Security to look for flexibility, especially for people who make frequent trips across the border.

Maine has a 316-mile border with Canada, and the country represents the state’s largest trading partner. Maine business exported $827 million in goods to Canada in 2004, while Canada sent about $4.6 billion to Maine, mostly in petroleum products and oil. More than 4 million people crossed the border last year, making the traffic an important part of the state’s economic activity.

The Border Patrol and departments of State and Homeland Security should be looking to find ways to streamline that legitimate traffic, not create new roadblocks that slow trade, commerce and tourism.

With President Bush onboard with both Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, the federal government should be able to find a way to improve security without hurting life along the border.