Go raibh maith agat as Meantóireacht Clayton Yeutter

Thirty-five years ago, around 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.

D'iarr sé ar a chomhairleoirí plean a dhréachtú do thíortha a gcuid fóirdheontais a ghearradh, taraifí, agus bacainní ar rochtain ar an margadh. Tháinig siad ar ais le moladh chun iad seo a laghdú faoi 50 faoin gcéad thar deich mbliana. Nuair a chuir siad a ndréacht i láthair, D’fhéach Yeutter air agus scríob sé amach an 50 agus chuir sé ina ionad 100 faoin gcéad. As a skilled negotiator, he realized that if you want to get to fifty, ní mór duit tosú ag céad.

Clayton got buy-in from the Secretary of Agriculture, a chomhoifigeach comh-aireachta, 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, “Ráimíní le Trodaire: Státóir Meiriceánach Clayton Yeutter,” 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.

Chuir mé aithne ar Clayton sna blianta deiridh dá shaol. Rinneamar nasc ar bhunleibhéal: Ba bhuachaill feirme as Nebraska é agus ba chailín feirme mé as Iowa. Bhí suim againn beirt sa bheartas poiblí, go háirithe maidir le talmhaíocht. D'oibrigh sé do cheathrar uachtarán, agus bhí mé ag obair do ghobharnóir.

His career was prestigious—after serving as U.S. Ionadaí Trádála faoin Uachtarán Reagan, bhí sé ina Rúnaí Talmhaíochta faoin Uachtarán George H.W.. Bush—he was a busy man whose advise was sought out by many, ach ní fhaca sé riamh go raibh sé ró-thábhachtach nó gnóthach dom. Bhain mé taitneamh as cuireadh oscailte é a fheiceáil ar chuairteanna ar Washington, D.C., agus ghlac sé suim ghníomhach i Líonra na bhFeirmeoirí Domhanda mar chreid sé i misean ár n-eagraíochta faoi threoir feirmeoirí agus guthaí a thacaíonn le beartais trádála níos fearr agus rochtain ar theicneolaíocht eolaíochta-bhunaithe sa talmhaíocht.

Thar roinnt blianta agus cruinnithe bricfeasta, tháinig sé chun bheith ina mheantóir meantóireachta: a person who shared his experience and advice and expected nothing in return.  While his expertise and perspective were sought out, bhí go leor nótaí agus ríomhphoist gan iarraidh spreagtha aige a thug dearbhú caolchúiseach agus tábhachtach faoin obair agus na teachtaireachtaí a bhí á roinnt ag feirmeoirí an Líonra Feirmeoirí Domhanda ar fud an domhain.

Fuair ​​Clayton Yeutter bás i 2017, but the book brings him back to life. I can see that broad grin and hear his voice saying: “Ní mór dúinn trádáil talmhaíochta an domhain a léirscaoileadh, ionas gur féidir le soláthairtí bia sreabhadh san áit a bhfuil siad ag teastáil. Trade barriers must be made more expensive for countries that resort to them.”

Bhí an prionsabal seo bunúsach in obair a shaoil, agus é ag dul ar aghaidh chun caibidlíocht a dhéanamh ar chomhaontuithe trádála le Ceanada, An tSeapáin, an tAontas Eorpach, agus an domhan ar fad. Rinne Clayton Yeutter an saol níos fearr d’fheirmeoirí ina chuid ama féin agus leanann a thionchar ag cur feirmeoirí níos fearr as inniu.

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.