We didn't cede anything.
If a country is using unfair trade practices (take the US Steel Tarrifs, for example) the protesting country can take punitative action. By going to the WTO there is some kind of standard that confirms that the trade practices are indeed unfair, and that counter action is fair.
By going to the WTO, the offended country agrees not to take punative action until the WTO rules. If they don't want to take it to the WTO, then go ahead and take what ever action you want to, but the people you take the action against may be upset, and take a further action against you. Too much of this and poof, a trade war.
The US is currently subsidizing a number of export products, and has tarrifs on other goods. The people who want to compete are offended, and all they want to do is to sell their stuff for what they can get. The subsidy and tarrif distort the market, and hurt them.
Free trade doesnt need 700 plus pages. Canada has placed a tarrif on some US goods, because the US subsidizes other goods under the "Byrd Amendment" which prohibits dumping. If dumping is charged, the supplier who provides cheap stuff is fined, and the fine goes to his US competitor.
Of course US competetors all agree on one thing: that overseas competition has to be dumping! The fed pays for the prosecution and the corporation gets the money... great work, if you can get it.