Getting rid of the trade dispute panels would be a good idea as they merely protect investors at the expense of taxpayers who pay the penalties as well as paying for government negotiators. The article mentions that getting rid of these panels may be what the US wants because of the favorable outcomes regarding softwood lumber for Canada. The softwood lumber agreement is not part of NAFTA, and even though the panel came out in favor of Canada (twice/three times?) the US still violated the terms of the agreement after the decision by limiting the amounts that could be sent over the border and keeping $1billion they had already siphoned off in penalties. The NAFTA panels on the other hand have repeatedly come out in favor of the US. Secret panels adjudicated by trade lawyers have no place in a "free market" and investors should understand that investing assumes some degree of risk.