UK confronts threat of food crisis as coronavirus surge blocks trade

The disruptions are exposing Britain's trade vulnerabilities just as a 4 1/2-year odyssey to leave the EU moves from political rhetoric to economic reality.

The UK confronted threats of food insecurity and panicked shopping days before Christmas as European nations restricted trade and travel to guard against a resurgent coronavirus, offering Britain a preview of the border chaos to come in the absence of a Brexit deal.

Fearing a fast-spreading new strain of the virus that forced a strict lockdown across England, France on Sunday suspended travel from the UK for 48 hours and Germany halted arriving flights from Britain. The crisis gave renewed urgency to negotiations for a trade deal with the European Union that remained at a critical stage after weekend talks. The