Tatlumpu't limang taon na ang nakararaan, sa paligid ng Thanksgiving, Â Clayton Yeutter was focused on using American trade laws to negotiate on behalf of the United States for the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. As the U.S. Trade Representative in the Reagan administration, one of his main goals was to make it easier for farmers to buy and sell their products across borders.
He had asked his advisors to draw up a plan for countries to cut their subsidies, tariffs, and market-access barriers. They came back with a proposal to reduce these by 50 percent over ten years. When they presented their draft, Yeutter looked at it and scratched out the 50 and replaced it with 100 porsiyento. As a skilled negotiator, he realized that if you want to get to fifty, you need to start at one hundred.
Clayton got buy-in from the Secretary of Agriculture, his fellow cabinet officer, and the United States set the table for what became one of the most important trade pacts ever negotiated in human history.
This story and many others are included in a new biography that talks about his role in global trade at this point in America’s history. The title, "Rhymes with Fighter: Clayton Yeutter American Statesman,†is a reference to what Yeutter would say when a person asked the pronunciation of his last name. He was an extraordinary public servant and statesman whose efforts in support of cross-border business and free trade are still having a positive impact on agriculture and farmers.
Nakilala ko si Clayton sa huling taon ng kanyang buhay. Nakakonekta kami sa isang pangunahing antas: Isa siyang batang magsasaka mula sa Nebraska at ako ay isang batang babae mula sa Iowa. Pareho kaming interesado sa pampublikong patakaran, lalo na may paggalang sa agrikultura. Nagtrabaho siya para sa apat na pangulo, at ako ay nagtrabaho para sa isang gobernador.
His career was prestigious—after serving as U.S. Kinatawan ng Kalakalan sa ilalim ni Pangulong Reagan, siya ay Secretary of Agriculture sa ilalim ni Pangulong George H.W.W. Bush—he was a busy man whose advise was sought out by many, ngunit hindi niya kailanman nakita ang kanyang sarili na napakahalaga o abala para sa akin. Nasiyahan ako sa isang bukas na paanyaya na makita siya sa pagbisita sa Washington, D.C., at kinuha niya ang isang aktibong interes sa Global Farmer Network dahil naniniwala siya sa misyon ng aming magsasaka na humantong sa mas mahusay na mga patakaran at access sa science-based na teknolohiya sa agrikultura.
Sa iba't ibang taon at mga pulong ng almusal, siya ay naging isang modelo mentor: a person who shared his experience and advice and expected nothing in return. Â While his expertise and perspective were sought out, ito rin ay maraming mga hindi hinihiling na mga tala at email ng panghihikayat mula sa kanya na nagbigay ng tuso at mahalagang pagpapatibay ng gawain at pagmemensahe sa mga magsasaka ng Global Farmer Network ay nagbabahagi ng pandaigdigang global.
Namatay si Clayton Yeutter noong 2017, but the book brings him back to life. I can see that broad grin and hear his voice saying: "Kailangan nating palayain ang mundo agrikultural na kalakalan, upang ang mga suplay ng pagkain ay maaaring dumaloy kung saan sila ay kinakailangan. Trade barriers must be made more expensive for countries that resort to them.â€
Ang alituntuning ito ay mahalaga sa gawain ng kanyang buhay, nang magpatuloy siya sa pakikipag-ayos sa mga kasunduan sa kalakalan sa Canada, Japan, ang European Union, at ang buong mundo. Mas naging mas mabuti ang buhay ni Clayton Yeutter para sa mga magsasaka sa kanyang sariling panahon at ang kanyang impluwensya ay patuloy na nagpapabuti sa mga magsasaka ngayon.
As I prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States with my family this week, I have much to be thankful for. Included in that long list are the mentors I have been privileged to have in my life. And this year, special gratitude for the remarkable legacy and friendship of Clayton Yeutter.