Commercial fleets, trade area and maritime trade box

[Kaiser85]

Hi guys
I'm actually a noobish in this monster game which I'm learning little by little, but I have been a long player of Victoria and I love in general this historic period.
Playing a GC as Sardinia Piemonte, I sent a new commrcial fleet in the North America maritime trade box in order to trade with the Usa. Well, all the east cost of the Usa belongs to the North America maritime trade box, but when I press "T" over some regions (the region of south states and the region of North states which belong to North America trade box) the screen with the goods is empty.
Only the area "Cheaspeake" (I don't remember exactly the name, that one with New York, Philadelphia..) is entitled to trade with me. Why?

[Kensai]

Welcome, Kaiser!

This is normal. Nations (AI always, afaik) will generally trade only from their capital regions. You don't have to worry sending ships to other American MTBs if you want to trade with the USA.

[Kaiser85]

Thank you Kensai
So, supposing that all United States from east to west are well developed and connected by roads, when I open the T screen on capital region will it display me all resources that are producted in Usa?

[Kensai]

Not exactly. It will show you precisely what the US government wants (allows) to sell. Nations tend to sell what they have in abundance and keep what is in demand, especially if they need to satisfy their internal markets.

But yes, technically to trade with the an overseas nation you only need commercial ships to the MTB that connects to its capital region.

[Kaiser85]

Ok, it should work as for me when I use T and B screen and I decide what sell and what retain.

[Christophe.Barot]

an other point is that if the nation you trade with has a trade ship connected to your capital, you have access to his market too (basically, he tries to export to you, not just fetching resources)

still it's better to have your own ships, not only you get a slight benefit, but you're no longer dependant of placing aleas (he can move his fleet so you no longer have access to his market)

[Jim-NC]

Kaiser85 - welcome to the forums . We are here to help answer questions.

[Kaiser85]

Hi Jim
Thank you for the welcome and thanks to kensai and christophe for the help, now this part is more clear

[Kensai]

an other point is that if the nation you trade with has a trade ship connected to your capital, you have access to his market too (basically, he tries to export to you, not just fetching resources)

still it's better to have your own ships, not only you get a slight benefit, but you're no longer dependant of placing aleas (he can move his fleet so you no longer have access to his market)

Yes. There is also another minor technicality: if a nation is major (all the playable, flag in the settings IsMajor=1) it can buy and sell wherever it wants as long as it has ships or another trading nation arrives at its own MTB. A minor nation can buy only from major or where it sends its own trade ships, but will NOT trade with another minor that simply is at its own MTB.

(I hope I remember this correctly, it is not important, only if you play a minor nation: as I do with Greece in the GoVT)

[Kaiser85]

So guys, if I have understood, if Russia has some merchant ships on Mediterranean MTB (as it actually is), so I (Piemonte) can trade with her even if I have not ships on Russia's MTB (Baltik and Black sea). Right? Trade is quite hard...
Again:
What does influences the probability to sell something to Russia in this case?
Why I always see selling my stuff to my neighbours as switzerland, german states, France.. and not let's to say, USA or Russia? They don't need buy products? do they prefer other nations? protectionism?
What collection points are?
Does trade influences relationships?

Last, on center-top of the screen, where you can see 5 main resources, the stock of coke is every turn slightly less (-4) than the stock when I press f4. Why?

I know i should open a thread for each question, but they look all connected each other..

[Jim-NC]

Yes, if a major has ships in the MTB next to your capital, you can trade with them (so in your case, S-P can purchase from or sell to Russia)
Trade is influenced by want/need. If they don't want or need your product, they won't purchase it. Most likely, what you are trying to sell the USA and Russia don't want/need what you are selling. Or it could be that the other countries are purchasing all you are selling (I can't tell which is the case from you post).
Collection points are the areas where you collect things you made. Cities that are larger than 3 will collect and send goods to your capital, as will ECCs (Exploitation and Collection Centers). You will need ECCs for your colonies mostly, as most regions in Europe have or are next to a size 3 city. They also send raw materials back to your capital (like trade posts).
Trade does influence relationships a little (not as much as diplomacy). Also, your tariff levels can negatively effect your relations with others, as can their tariffs (high tariffs tend to lower relations).
The coal (you said coke) is lowered by your need to provide coal for ships and railroads. That is taken off the display that is in the main screen, but is not shown in top of the F4 screen.

It's OK to post a lot of questions, we are here to help explain things.

[Kensai]

Demand and supply creates a competition. Competition decides which country will manage to buy a resource/good in short supply. Nations that are closed economies (F1) have penalties in respect to open economies. To this success also applies relationships and the extra premium (+25%) a nation can pay to get a needed resource.

And let's don't forget that competition can be influenced by how many (combined trade value) commercial ships you have in an MTB.