Even if the automatic techology trading worked, it wouldn't be that useful in such a circumstance. Do you expect an Empire whose score is eight time lower than yours (and which gives away almost half his research points) to be really productive as far as research is concerned?
And sure, these treaties can be rather weird. You are not in war, you are not "without" treaty (Unknown status), but you are not allies either. So I wouldn't be surprised if there were an oddity here and there.