Washington  - US President Barack Obama's will make his first foreign trip abroad with a visit to Canada on February 19, the White House said Wednesday.

Obama will meet with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper for discussions on bilateral relations between the two close allies.

Obama is sticking to presidential tradition of visiting America's northern neighbour first, a custom broken by former president George W Bush, who decided to go to Mexico instead.

Obama and Harper are expected to discuss a wide range of issues, including the global economic crisis and the conflict in Afghanistan. dpa