A European effort to update international tax rules has met suchstiff opposition from the United States that some governmentssupport waiting until after the American presidential election totry to finalize negotiations, according to an official familiarwith the discussions.

Attempts to create a global minimum corporate tax and to givecountries more latitude to impose levies on large multinationaltech companies have already been delayed, but the push may stand abetter chance of success next year should Democrat Joe Biden win inNovember, said two European officials, who asked not to be nameddiscussing internal deliberations.

President Donald Trump has disrupted trans-Atlantic relationsduring his three and a half years in office, calling the EuropeanUnion worse than China when it comes to trade and announcing a planthis week to withdraw 12,000 troops from Germany after repeatedlyhectoring the ally over its defense spending. With the electionless than 100 days away and Trump trailing in national polls,leaders are weighing whether sensitive negotiations may face fewerobstacles if a new administration takes office in January.