The Obama team hits the road in fresh directions

PRESIDENT Obama's first official foreign travel is to Canada, a longtime friend, ally and primary trading partner. The choice is not going unnoticed.

Likewise, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's decision to head west instead of east for her get-acquainted trip as America's top diplomat is rich with symbolism.

The president and his secretary of state are both saying they will not take old friends for granted.

Obama will only be in Ottawa long enough Thursday for a cup of tea, but he is making the point about America's best-friend-forever. Former President Bush opted to visit Mexico first, hardly a diplomatic faux pas, but feelings were hurt north of the border.

Obama can use his trip to smooth any lingering trade ruffles over "Buy American" language in his economic-stimulus plan. Congress retreated from the most chauvinistic sentiments to adopt what amounts to support for the home team, but no substantial, unavoidable imperatives.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is expected to restate Canadian frustrations with U.S. anti-terrorism activities and policies that complicate commerce and annoy his citizens.

Clinton is visiting Japan, Indonesia, South Korea and China. Or, in other words, not Europe. First impressions count, and the new administration is saying this is where the action is for trade, consequential political friction and sustaining alliances.

Her first stop in Japan is especially interesting in light of a comment by a recent Seattle visitor, Adm. Timothy J. Keating, head of the U.S. Pacific Command. He described the U.S. and Japan alliance as arguably the most important.

Clinton's look toward Asia and the value of good relations and strong partnerships is reinforced by another distinguished visitor, Zhou Wenzhong, the Chinese ambassador to the United States. Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell and the ambassador were at the U.S.-China Clean Energy Forum on Tuesday in Bellevue. Clean-energy technologies and job creation are the topics for the weeklong conference.

Every move of a new administration is watched and analyzed, even the choices of where to go first.