Michael Smith

Michael Brackett Smith (June 16, 1936 – November 8, 2021) was an American diplomat and trade negotiator who served as the deputy US Trade Representative in the administrations of presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. In a career spanning three decades, he led the U.S. side in global negotiations on open markets, elimination of trade tariffs, and extension of trade agreements to include intellectual property and services.

Early life Michael Smith was born on June 16, 1936, in Marblehead, Massachusetts. His mother worked in a travel agency while his father owned a construction company. Growing up in Marblehead, Smith took part in ocean sailing and also participated in bicycle races as far out as in the Scandinavian countries. He ran a commissary at the embassy and also installed a Lionel model train that was given to the Shah of Iran's family. He served in this role from the mid-1970s through his retirement in 1988.

Smith retired as a trade representative in 1988 and set up his own international trade consulting firm advising companies trying to access protected foreign markets.