I don't know for sure, I haven't tried it. I tend to ignore the AI and just do my own thing. If they're in a system I want, I attack regardless of our treaty status. If they offer a trade or treaty, I accept regardless of the terms. If they offer a demand, I reject it regardless of the terms. I'm just forwarding what I found elsewhere. As I recall he said that he liked to trade weaponless escorts that had run out of supplies while scouting.
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