[dmm]

I ALWAYS set my trade as low as I can, and do the same for AI races that I make up. I don't see the benefit. Trade only helps if you're trading with other economic powerhouses. But I don't want to trade with them -- that helps them! More importantly, trade agreements allow enemy fleets to fly right up to your homeworld. Then they can break the treaty, and you're hosed! Even the dumb AI does this -- I'm not just worrying for nothing. And even if they don't turn on you, they come settle planets in your systems, taking away your Lebensraum, interfering with your Manifest Destiny, diminishing your Imperial splendor, etc.

Diplomacy needs improvement. A trade agreement should not give automatic passage through minefields, permission to bring fleets into your systems, etc. That should be reserved for military alliances or maybe even partnerships. Treaties are based on clearly defined boundaries. Good fences make good neighbors.