How to make trade routes mid game.

[SinerAthin]

Hey guys, I have a question.

How do I establish trade routes mid game?

It was fairly easy in the beginning. Anyone I had good relations with was likely to accept a trade route offer. But now as I've progressed past turn 60 and have gotten a number of different resources under my belt, such as lead, wood and gems to name a few, I've found that no one wants to trade with me! And it's not just that they're a little aversed to trade, it's that they are so vehemently opposed to the mere idea of now trading with me that they'd gladly go to war and watch their cities burn before they ever signed something as dreadful as a trade agreement with me o.O

Not even my tributary states will accept trade!(which I find quite silly imo)
I can offer them 10k gold, but that won't even come close to enticing(literally impoverished) nations.

Why is the AI so staunchly opposed to trading with me? How can I establish new trade routes when they would sooner go to war than sign a single, mutually-beneficial trade agreement?
You'd think with the amount of resistance Trade Proposals get, that there was some kind of printing error in the particular document saying that all their future generations would be my slaves or something.

[Bramborough]

Join some of their wars, or get them to join yours (which actually is often easier to do than getting a trade agreement). Military action against a common enemy seems to be the most decisive factor in driving up positive diplomatic attitude. Strong enough to overcome the massive Great Power debuffs which come from increasing imperium. Actively (and successfully) fighting one of the big factions who have many enemies (i.e., WRE/ERE, Huns, and to some extent Sassanids) can generate some widespread goodwill amongst all those enemies.

Another thing to look at are FLs' specific traits. Just because their King "hates rival empires" doesn't mean that his successor will. Once in a while, you might find a good opportunity for assassination to make a faction more friendly to you.

[Slaists]

What's your diplomatic reliability rating? If it is anything else but steadfast, you'll have a hard time signing any agreements.

Having said that, while I am steadfast, I do not have a difficult time signing trade agreements with any friendly nations at any point in the game.