Vol 46 No. 43, October 26, 2026

U.S. prosecutors have brought an alleged cryptocurrency scam money launderer from the Netherlands to a California courtroom, advancing a case involving more than $36.9 million in victim funds routed through U.S. bank accounts, a Bahamian bank, and stablecoin wallets to Cambodian scam operators.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced separate developments under the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement’s Rapid Response Labor Mechanism: successful resolution of the Amphenol Optimize México case and a remediation plan for Newmont’s Minera Peñasquito mine. Both matters concern interference with union activity and retaliatory dismissals.

The Bureau of Industry and Security’s Affiliates Rule remains scheduled to return on November 10, 2026. The reported extension of the U.S.–China Busan trade agreement through January 10, 2027, could prolong the suspension, but Commerce has not confirmed that the extension covers the rule. Once reinstated, the rule will extend specified Export Administration Regulations restrictions to unlisted foreign entities owned at least 50 percent, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, by covered parties on the Entity List, Military End-User List or SDN List under sanctions programs identified in EAR § 744.8(a)(1).

 The proposed GAO investigation would extend oversight of the $166 billion IEEPA tariff refund program beyond compliance with court orders to examine whether CBP is accurately distributing refunds, preventing improper payments and accounting for the economic benefits.

A Miami-area cryptocurrency broker faces a federal money laundering conspiracy charge over his alleged role in a Russian network that converted drug proceeds into cryptocurrency and bank payments through an international system of brokers and cash couriers.