Why Trump? Because right now? What is behind Andrés Manuel López Obrador's great trip to the US

Expectation for the first meeting between AMLO and Trump 2:07

Mexico City (CNN) - If you are not a close follower of relations between the United States and Mexico, you could be forgiven for assuming that President Donald Trump and the President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, would not get along.

The two share a famous and controversial border. Demonizing people on the Mexican side has long been a key part of Trump's political playbook, while López Obrador, known as AMLO in Mexico, has accused Trump of inciting racism. But when the two men meet this week to celebrate the implementation of the trade agreement between the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA or T-MEC), they expect smiles everywhere.

This is the first time that the President of Mexico has left the country since he took office in December 2018. The fact that he is addressing the White House speaks volumes, both practically and symbolically. Both leaders seek victories beyond their losing battles with the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump said last month that López Obrador was "a great guy," and López Obrador said he would go to Washington, DC, "to thank Trump for his support and solidarity." They still have a lot to disagree about, but there also seems to be many points in common, among which could be their styles of government similar to those of two populists who have created political marks in a cult of personality.

LOOK: Trump and AMLO: expectation for the issues of the first bilateral meeting

The T-MEC or USMCA

Their meeting focuses on the USMCA, an agreement that was approved after months of difficult negotiations.

The timing of the meeting amid the rampant spread of the coronavirus in both countries has been questioned by critics. But for two men who have seen their approval ratings drop steadily during the outbreak, the meeting presents an opportunity to talk about something else.

"Right now, neither of them is getting high marks for their handling of the health crisis, making the visit a welcome distraction," said Christopher Wilson, deputy director of the Mexico Institute at the Wilson Center.

The implementation of the USMCA represents one of the Trump administration's biggest foreign policy victories, and arguably one of the only important examples of the President creating new and lasting deals with foreign countries rather than breaking existing ones.

Trump will promote this deal as a victory and a follow-up to a 2016 campaign promise to rework previous free trade deals, even when Democrats say the only reason they voted to approve the USMCA is because they revised the original framework during the talks.

“López Obrador's visit will allow [Trump] to show how he has doubled Mexico to his will by reminding voters that this is a 'very good deal' for the United States, while pointing out his achievements in immigration policies for Mexico, ”said Gladys McCormick, an expert on US and Mexican affairs at Syracuse University.

Meanwhile, López Obrador has also wagered a large amount of political capital on the USMCA and will probably want to make sure that the Trump administration invests in solving any problems that arise during its implementation.

Mexico's economy was stirring even before the pandemic. Now, with the IMF forecasting a 10.5% contraction in GDP in 2020 and with his party facing critical midterm elections next year, propping up Mexico's most important economic relationship is probably most important to López Obrador.

"Almost 85% of all [Mexican] exports go to [the United States], which is obviously a huge number," said Larry Rubin, president of the American Society of Mexico. "Mexico is highly dependent on trade with the United States."

"Mexico will benefit the most by sending very clear and positive messages that if investors want to come and invest in Mexico, their investment will be protected," said Rubin.