"This country is not the free-trading nation that it once was. We have become too lazy, and too fat on our successes in previous generations," Fox stated, speaking at a Conservative Way Forward reception.
His remarks were made public as The Times unveiled a recording of the event.
According to Fox, British business executives are generally more interested in playing golf on a Friday afternoon than in exporting. He called on those contributing to national prosperity to consider exporting as a duty, and devote more time and conscious approach to it.
Fox assumed office on July 13 in the new cabinet headed by Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May, as then-Prime minister David Cameron resigned following the country's popular vote to leave the European Union.
