SNIP
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>These problems seem to indicate, to me, that some superior authority is needed (some sort of World court), whose authority is superior to individual nations - just like the Federal government in the U.S.A. is above the state authorities (in some instances; the states still have a certain autonomy in others).

That's what GATT is - the ultimate authority on (member) trade issues.
But it is DESIGNED to favour the richer nations by the simple fact that issue raising/presentation/examination/decision takes time. And it is WHILE that process is underway that the CLAIMING (aggrieved) nation's affected business caves in.

The only possible way that this could be prevented that I can think of is to force all trade-related actions to be GATT-approved PRIOR TO their enactment. I don't see any larger country agreeing to that because it is another example of sovereignty intruded.