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.
Ucele abeluleki bakhe ukuthi benze uhlelo lokuthi amazwe anciphise uxhaso lwawo, amanani entengo, kanye nezithiyo zokufinyelela emakethe. Babuya nesiphakamiso sokuthi kunciphe lezi 50 amaphesenti eminyakeni eyishumi. Ngenkathi bethula uhlaka lwabo, U-Yeutter wayibuka wayiklwebha 50 futhi esikhundleni salo 100 amaphesenti. As a skilled negotiator, he realized that if you want to get to fifty, udinga ukuqala ngekhulu.
Clayton got buy-in from the Secretary of Agriculture, isikhulu sakhe seKhabhinethi, 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, “Imilolozelo neFighter: UClayton Yeutter waseMelika,†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.
Ngazana noClayton eminyakeni yokugcina yokuphila kwakhe. Sixhume ezingeni eliyisisekelo: Wayengumfana wasepulazini wase-Nebraska mina ngiyintombazane yasepulazini e-Iowa. Sobabili besinentshisekelo kunqubomgomo yomphakathi, ikakhulukazi mayelana nezolimo. Uke wasebenzela omongameli abane, futhi ngangisebenzele umbusi.
His career was prestigious—after serving as U.S. Ummeleli Wezohwebo ngaphansi kukaMongameli uReagan, wayenguNobhala WezoLimo ngaphansi kukaMongameli uGeorge H.W. Bush—he was a busy man whose advise was sought out by many, kodwa akazange azibone ebaluleke kakhulu noma ematasa kakhulu kimi. Ngajabulela isimemo esivulekile sokumbona lapho ngivakashele eWashington, D.C., futhi waba nesithakazelo esikhulu ku-Global Farmer Network ngoba wayekholelwa emizamweni yenhlangano yethu eholwa abalimi futhi ezwakalise ukugqugquzelwa kwezinqubomgomo zohwebo ezingcono kanye nokufinyelela kubuchwepheshe obusekelwe kwisayensi kwezolimo..
Phakathi neminyaka eminingana nemihlangano yasekuseni, waba umeluleki oyisibonelo: a person who shared his experience and advice and expected nothing in return. Â While his expertise and perspective were sought out, futhi kwakungamanothi amaningi angacelwanga kanye nama-imeyili esikhuthazo avela kuye anikeza isiqinisekiso esicashile nesibalulekile somsebenzi kanye nemiyalezo abalimi be-Global Farmer Network ababebelana ngayo emhlabeni jikelele..
UClayton Yeutter washona 2017, but the book brings him back to life. I can see that broad grin and hear his voice saying: “Kumele sikhulule ukuhwebelana kwezolimo emhlabeni wonke, ukuze ukudla kugeleze lapho kudingekile. Trade barriers must be made more expensive for countries that resort to them.â€
Lesi simiso sasiyisisekelo somsebenzi wempilo yakhe, njengoba eqhubeka nokuxoxisana ngezivumelwano zokuhwebelana neCanada, Japan, i-European Union, kanye nomhlaba wonke. UClayton Yeutter wenze impilo yaba ngcono kubalimi ngesikhathi sakhe futhi ithonya lakhe liyaqhubeka nokwenza abalimi babe ngcono namuhla.
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.