When I saw the thread title and who started it, my first thought was that it was another rant at CA. *hangs head in shame* But you are entirely right Dayve, things like this are a real pain. In my anticipation for the next patch, in the hope that it will solve more basic problems, I must try to remember that there are more issues with the game than will be solved in one more patch, no matter how large it is.

I suspect some of the trade/war/blockade system is working as CA intended - being a neutral whose trade is suffering due to a war between third parties makes some sense to me. Unfair maybe but I can see it being to an extent realistic. But even if some of it is meant, the inability of the AI to properly prosecute wars and manage its trade (Great Britain in your example) makes it ultimately too frustrating.