The outspoken Democrat, who served in Congress from 1955 to 1981, died peacefully at his home in Jupiter, Florida late Wednesday.
In 1974 he co-sponsored the Jackson-Vanik amendment along with fellow anti-communist politician Sen. Henry Jackson, which denied normal U.S. trade relations to countries with non-market economies that restrict their citizens' right to emigrate. The controversial amendment is still applied to Russia, and has proved a key barrier for the country's entry to the World Trade Organization.
The amendment, originally designed to encourage the Soviet Union to allow its Jews to emigrate, was also applied to China and Vietnam. Critics, including within the U.S., say the rule amounts to trade discrimination, and have called for its abolition.
Charles Vanik was also known in the U.S. for his criticism of special-interest lobbying and tax favors for corporations, and for his trademark bow tie.
