Huzzah! The momentous day has arrived at last: finally Britain can reap the Brexit benefits and enjoy some delicious free-trade Tim Tams. For today is the day the UK’s trade deal with Australia comes into force. Unfortunately it seems that not all our friends down under aren’t, er, quite so sold on the mutual benefits that this new trade deal will bring.

Announcing the news this morning, Karl Stefanovic – the host of the Today show on Australia’s Channel 9 – seemed distinctly unimpressed by what the UK would be bringing to the table. Explaining that some British products would become cheaper as a result of the deal, Stefanovic exclaimed drily, ‘Exciting news!’ To peals of laughter from his co-host, he continued, ‘I just wonder, what does Britain actually have to offer us?’

Warming to his theme, Stefanovic joked, ‘I mean there’s the beautiful MG [car],’ before quipping that ‘MG is owned by a Chinese company’. Making out as though he was desperately trying to rack his mind, he continued, ‘So what else do they have? There’s black pudding, cumberland sausages, that’s about it isn’t it?’

Chipping in, his co-host jovially told Stefanovic off for ‘being so hard on the Brits’, saying that the UK also offered up ‘Spice Girl CDs and a nice cup of English breakfast tea’. Turning to the Australian Resources Minister Matt Canavan, who was appearing down the line from Canberra, Stefanovic challenged him to name ‘one good export from the UK’.

Smirking, Canavan said ‘It’s hard isn’t it. Peas? Pease pies? I don’t know, it’s very hard.’ He went on to say that actually, the deal was ‘about what we sell to them, so it’s a good thing for us’. Top of the benefits for Australians, he said, was being able to sell more beef. Charming!