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Last month, the U.S. Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was subsequently signed into law by President Donald Trump. The act mandates that the Department of Justice (DOJ) publish all unclassified information it has on the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein by Friday, December 19. That’s today. Here is what to know about what will likely be included in the trove of documents, as well as where and when you can view them. What documents will be included in the disclosure? When Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, it mandated that the DOJ must publish its unclassified material on Jeffrey Epstein. But what exact material will be included in the disclosure? The act was pretty specific. According to the November law, the DOJ must publish all unclassified: records documents communications investigative materials One can presume that this includes digital evidence such as emails and photos, as well as documents and communications the DOJ created in relation to the investigation and prosecution of Epstein. However, the Epstein Files Transparency Act further clarifies that the release applies to more than just files related to investigations, prosecutions, or custodial matters regarding Epstein. The law states that the following must also be released by the DOJ: materials that relate to Ghislaine Maxwell flight logs and travel records individuals named or referenced (including government officials) in connection with the investigation and prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein Entities, including corporations and governmental, with known or alleged ties to Epsteins financial or trafficking networks immunity or other deals with Epstein or his associates Files related to his detention and death Files held by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Attorneys Offices must also be released. Can the DOJ withhold any information? Yes, the DOJ can withhold information from the release of files under a few circumstances, including: If the files or information are classified If the information contains personal information about Epsteins victims If the information, if released, would jeopardize an active federal investigation However, the law specifically states that no information can be withheld solely because that information would cause embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity, including to any government official, public figure, or foreign dignitary. When will the DOJ release the Epstein files? The law states that the DOJ must release the Epstein files in a searchable and downloadable format no later than 30 days after the Epstein Files Transparency Act was enacted. The Epstein Files Transparency Act was enacted on November 19, 2025. That means that the DOJ has until 11:59 p.m. tonight to release the files. Where will the files be released? The Epstein Files Transparency Act doesnt explicitly state where or how the Department of Justice must release the files beyond saying that the files must be in a searchable and downloadable format. That clause means the DOJ must release the files digitally (since they must be downloadable). However, the law does not state which website must host the files. However, it is very likely that the files will be hosted on the Department of Justices website (justice.gov) or the Justice Department will specify via a press release on its website where the files will be hosted. Its possible that the DOJ could set up a dedicated website where the files will be available to search and download. We’ll update this story with the link once it becomes available.
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E-Commerce
Canada and the U.S. will launch formal discussions to review their free trade agreement in mid-January, the office of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said.The prime minister confirmed to provincial leaders that Dominic LeBlanc, the country’s point person for U.S-Canada trade relations, “will meet with U.S. counterparts in mid-January to launch formal discussions,” Carney’s office said in a statement late Thursday.The United States-Mexico-Canada trade pact, or USMCA, is up for review in 2026. U.S. President Donald Trump negotiated the deal in his first term and included a clause to possibly renegotiate the deal in 2026.Carney met with the leaders of Canada’s provinces on Thursday to give them an update on trade talks with the U.S.Canada is one of the most trade-dependent countries in the world, and more than 75% of Canada’s exports go to the country’s southern neighbor. But most exports to the U.S. are currently exempted by USMCA.Trump cut off trade talks to reduce tariffs on certain sectors with Carney in October after the Ontario provincial government ran an anti-tariff advertisement in the U.S. That followed a spring of acrimony, since abated, over Trump’s insistence that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state.Carney said earlier Thursday that Canada and the U.S. were close to an agreement at the time on sectoral tariff relief in multiple areas, including steel and aluminum. Tariffs are taking a toll on certain sectors of Canada’s economy, particularly aluminum, steel, auto and lumber.Carney also said trade irritants flagged this week by U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are elements of a “much bigger discussion” about continental trade. Greer said a coming review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade deal will hinge on resolving U.S. concerns about Canadian policies on dairy products, alcohol and digital services.Carney and the provincial premiers agreed to meet in person in Ottawa early in the new year.Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day.About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, as are 85% of U.S. electricity imports.Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing in for national security.Carney said U.S. access to Canada’s critical ministers is not a certainty.“It’s a potential opportunity for the United States, but it’s not an assured opportunity for the United States. It’s part of a bigger discussion in terms of our trading relationship, because we have other partners around the world, in Europe for example, who are very interested in participating,” Carney said earlier Thursday. Rob Gillies, Associated Press
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E-Commerce
Delivery company Instacart will pay $60 million in customer refunds under a settlement reached with the Federal Trade Commission over alleged deceptive practices.The FTC said Thursday that Instacart has been falsely advertising free deliveries. The San Francisco-based company isn’t clearly disclosing service fees, which add as much as 15% to an order and must be paid for customers to receive their groceries, the FTC said.Instacart has also failed to clearly disclose that customers who enroll in a free trial for its Instacart+ program will be charged membership fees at the end of the trial. The FTC said hundreds of thousands of customers have been charged but have received no benefits from memberships or refunds. Instacart+ offers members free deliveries on most orders for $99 per year.The FTC said Instacart also advertises a “100% satisfaction guarantee,” but customers who experience late deliveries or unprofessional service are typically only offered a small credit that can be used toward a future order and not a refund.“The FTC is focused on monitoring online delivery services to ensure that competitors are transparently competing on price and delivery terms,” said Christopher Mufarrige, the director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.Instacart denied the FTC’s allegations of wrongdoing Thursday but said it reached a settlement in order to move forward and focus on its business.“Instacart is proud to offer a transparent, affordable and consumer-friendly service. We provide straightforward marketing, transparent pricing and fees, clear terms, easy cancellation and generous refund policies all in full compliance with the law and exceeding industry norms,” the company said in a statement.Instacart shares fell nearly 2% in after-hours trading Thursday.The settlement comes as Instacart is facing separate questions about its pricing practices.Earlier this month, a report by Consumer Reports and two progressive advocacy groups Groundwork Collaborative and More Perfect Union found that Instacart charged different prices for the same grocery items even though online shoppers were filling their Instacart baskets at the same time and at the same stores.The report suggested that Instacart may be using artificial intelligence tools to drive up costs for consumers.The FTC said Thursday that it wouldn’t comment on whether it will open a separate investigation into Instacart’s pricing policies, following longstanding policy.“But, like so many Americans, we are disturbed by what we have read in the press about Instacart’s alleged pricing policies,” FTC spokesperson Joe Simonson said in a statement.Instacart said Thursday that the FTC requested information on its pricing tools and the pricing practice of the retailers it works with as part of the investigation that led to the settlement. It noted that the settlement didn’t contain any allegations about its pricing practices.In its own blog post Thursday, Instacart stressed that it isn’t a retailer and doesn’t control base prices listed on its website. It said retailers often test prices in order to see how sensitive consumers are when prices go up or down, and that’s what was happening in Consumer Reports’ case.Instacart also said the company and its retailers don’t use information about shoppers’ income, zip code or shopping history to set prices.Instacart said it encourages retailers to charge the same amount on its website as they charge for in-store shoppers. Some retailers, including Lowe’s, Ulta Beauty and Best Buy, already do that, Instacart said, but many others don’t. This story clarifies an earlier version, which suggested the FTC opened a new investigation to examine Instacart’s pricing practices. They were examined as part of the current investigation. Dee-Ann Durbin, AP Business Writer
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E-Commerce
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