Trade is one area where presidents can act without congressional approval. And several European diplomats and analysts said they expected Trump to keep the conflict with China alive, or even intensify it, as his domestic agenda stalls.
Troubles at home also increase the likelihood that Trump follows through on his threats to confront Europe on trade, including punishing Germany with tariffs on car imports.
A visit to the White House in June by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker brought a ceasefire. But last month, U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross accused the EU of holding up progress on trade and said Trump's patience was "not unlimited".
"Trump deeply believes that the EU and especially the Germans are taking U.S. to the cleaners," said Jeremy Shapiro, a former State Department official who is research director at the European Council on Foreign Relations.
"I fully expect that if he is encountering political problems at home he will look for new confrontations."
