EU, Britain restart push on post-Brexit ties amid virus gloom

UK left the European Union on January 31 and both sides have until the end of the year to forge a new basis for relations.[Photo: AFP]

Britain and Brussels embark on a third round of trade talks Monday with little hope for a breakthrough, amid the far more urgent challenge of dealing with the coronavirus crisis.

The new negotiations will begin with a virtual head-to-head between Michel Barnier, the EU's chief negotiator, and his UK counterpart, David Frost -- both of whom have recovered from a bout with the virus.