In my opinion the best way to fix the problems with the Global Trade HQ is for the mayor to indicate what they are looking for, and the quantity. Other players can then respond with an offer. The mayor can - like in the real world - select the best bid. Much better than the mayor wasting time “traveling” to another city, only to find that somebody else has yoinked it out from under them. Every time that happens I hear Nelson from ‘The Simpsons’ laughing.
When you make the gameplay more frustrating than it has to be - and by making it unrealistic, it’s frustrating enough - you will lose players. Not just of this game, but of your brand. If you truly care about the players, listen to us. So many voices rising up to tell you the GTHQ does not work should be enough to get you to change things. If you fail or refuse, we delete the game and find something else to play.