Cargo missions is what we need.
HHC had those. I liked it.
They weren't ingame base but connected via a webplatform as far as I can remember.
That would really help with the "powertrading" and iRP stuff. You make a deal for transporting good with someone and then add a mission for him (paying with YOUR money for it, of course) and he can trade.
Mission:
Bring good to base x and you will receive y credits for every unit.
or
Bring goods from base x to base y, pays z credits per unit.
etc.
But there should be also some "admin-sponsored" missions (events, like bring "goods from base x to base y, pays z credits per unit").