diff --git a/src/AcDream.App/Interaction/SelectionInteractionController.cs b/src/AcDream.App/Interaction/SelectionInteractionController.cs
index 930bac2b..4988a28a 100644
--- a/src/AcDream.App/Interaction/SelectionInteractionController.cs
+++ b/src/AcDream.App/Interaction/SelectionInteractionController.cs
@@ -99,6 +99,9 @@ internal sealed class SelectionInteractionController
     {
         ArgumentNullException.ThrowIfNull(payload);
         uint target = _query.PickAt(mouseX, mouseY, includeSelf: true) ?? 0u;
+        if (ItemInteractionController.PhysicsDiagnosticsTradeProbe)
+            Console.WriteLine(
+                $"[trade] drag-release item=0x{payload.ObjId:X8} pick=0x{target:X8}");
         if (target != 0u)
             _query.BeginLightingPulse(target);
         _items.PlaceIn3D(payload, target);
@@ -278,6 +281,17 @@ internal sealed class SelectionInteractionController
     {
         CancelPendingApproach();
 
+        // Gate fix (2026-08-14 trade round 1): retail's use dispatch
+        // (CPlayerSystem::UsingItem @ 0x00562F70 → DetermineUseResult
+        // @ 0x00588460 result 5) routes "Use on another PLAYER" to secure
+        // trade and never sends 0x0036 for it — this path previously
+        // dispatched a plain Use the server ignores.
+        if (_items.TryOpenSecureTradeWithPlayer(serverGuid))
+        {
+            reservation?.CancelBeforeDispatch();
+            return;
+        }
+
         bool ownedByPlayer = _items.IsOwnedByPlayer(serverGuid);
         bool useable = ownedByPlayer || _query.IsUseable(serverGuid);
 
diff --git a/src/AcDream.App/UI/ItemInteractionController.cs b/src/AcDream.App/UI/ItemInteractionController.cs
index 1cb81c22..e9fd614a 100644
--- a/src/AcDream.App/UI/ItemInteractionController.cs
+++ b/src/AcDream.App/UI/ItemInteractionController.cs
@@ -1033,6 +1033,41 @@ public sealed class ItemInteractionController : IDisposable
         ClearTargetMode();
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Gate fix (2026-08-14 trade round 1): the world Use path
+    /// (<c>SelectionInteractionController.RequestUse</c>) dispatches
+    /// <c>0x0036 Use</c> directly and never consults
+    /// <c>DetermineUseResult</c> — retail's <c>CPlayerSystem::UsingItem
+    /// @ 0x00562F70</c> DOES, and routes result 5 (target is another
+    /// PLAYER) to <c>ClientTradeSystem::AttemptToOpenTradeNegotiations
+    /// @ 0x0056DEE0</c>, gated on peace mode, with no Use send at all.
+    /// Returns true when the target is another player (the use is consumed
+    /// by the trade path either way; in combat mode retail's open attempt
+    /// early-outs silently).
+    /// </summary>
+    public bool TryOpenSecureTradeWithPlayer(uint targetGuid)
+    {
+        if (targetGuid == 0u || targetGuid == _playerGuid())
+            return false;
+        ClientObject? target = _objects.Get(targetGuid);
+        if (target is null
+            || ((PublicWeenieFlags)(target.PublicWeenieBitfield ?? 0u)
+                & PublicWeenieFlags.Player) == 0)
+            return false;
+
+        if (PhysicsDiagnosticsTradeProbe)
+            Console.WriteLine(
+                $"[trade] use-on-player guid=0x{targetGuid:X8} "
+                + $"nonCombat={_inNonCombatMode()} subscribers={SecureTradeRequested is not null}");
+        if (_inNonCombatMode())
+            SecureTradeRequested?.Invoke(targetGuid, 0u);
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>TEMPORARY (2026-08-14 trade gate round 1): [trade] seam
+    /// probe lines, stripped once the two-client gate passes.</summary>
+    internal static bool PhysicsDiagnosticsTradeProbe = true;
+
     public bool DropToWorld(ItemDragPayload payload)
         => PlaceIn3D(payload, targetGuid: 0u);
 
@@ -1184,6 +1219,10 @@ public sealed class ItemInteractionController : IDisposable
                     // (ItemHolder::AttemptPlaceIn3D @ 0x00588600's option branch
                     // → ClientTradeSystem::AttemptToTradeItem @ 0x0056DF80).
                     // ObjectId = the dragged item, TargetId = the player.
+                    if (PhysicsDiagnosticsTradeProbe)
+                        Console.WriteLine(
+                            $"[trade] drag-on-player item=0x{action.ObjectId:X8} "
+                            + $"target=0x{action.TargetId:X8} subscribers={SecureTradeRequested is not null}");
                     SecureTradeRequested?.Invoke(action.TargetId, action.ObjectId);
                     break;
                 case ItemPolicyActionKind.DropToWorld:
diff --git a/src/AcDream.App/UI/Layout/SecureTradeUiController.cs b/src/AcDream.App/UI/Layout/SecureTradeUiController.cs
index 34235ef9..2cedd243 100644
--- a/src/AcDream.App/UI/Layout/SecureTradeUiController.cs
+++ b/src/AcDream.App/UI/Layout/SecureTradeUiController.cs
@@ -58,7 +58,12 @@ public sealed class SecureTradeUiController : IRetainedPanelController
         Action<bool /*selfAccepted*/, bool /*partnerAccepted*/, uint /*partner*/> AcceptTrade,
         Action DeclineTrade,
         Action ResetTrade,
-        Action<bool> SetWindowVisible);
+        Action<bool> SetWindowVisible,
+        // The authored empty-slot background for each grid, resolved via
+        // ItemListCellTemplate from the lists' own 0x1000000E cell-template
+        // attribute (0x1000033A) — same recipe as the vendor strips.
+        uint SelfEmptySlotSprite = 0u,
+        uint PartnerEmptySlotSprite = 0u);
 
     private readonly Bindings _bindings;
     private readonly UiText? _partnerName;
@@ -122,9 +127,34 @@ public sealed class SecureTradeUiController : IRetainedPanelController
         // dropped on the grid stages it.
         _selfList?.RegisterDragHandler(new SelfGridDropHandler(this));
 
+        // Gate fix (2026-08-14 round 1: "broken trade window"): the grids
+        // rendered their raw authored strip art with no cell layout at all —
+        // the same single-row 32px config + authored empty-slot fill the
+        // vendor/external-container strips use.
+        ConfigureGrid(_selfList, bindings.SelfEmptySlotSprite);
+        ConfigureGrid(_partnerList, bindings.PartnerEmptySlotSprite);
+
         _bindings.SetWindowVisible(false);
     }
 
+    private static void ConfigureGrid(UiItemList? list, uint emptySlotSprite)
+    {
+        if (list is null) return;
+        list.Columns = 1;
+        list.SingleRow = true;
+        list.HorizontalScroll = true;
+        list.CellWidth = 32f;
+        list.CellHeight = 32f;
+        list.FillVisibleEmptySlots = true;
+        if (emptySlotSprite != 0u)
+            list.CellEmptySprite = emptySlotSprite;
+        list.EmptySlotFactory = () => new UiItemSlot
+        {
+            SpriteResolve = list.SpriteResolve,
+            AllowDragSource = false,
+        };
+    }
+
     public static SecureTradeUiController? Bind(
         ImportedLayout layout, Bindings bindings)
     {
@@ -148,6 +178,10 @@ public sealed class SecureTradeUiController : IRetainedPanelController
     public void RequestSecureTrade(uint partnerGuid, uint itemGuid)
     {
         if (_disposed || partnerGuid == 0u) return;
+        if (ItemInteractionController.PhysicsDiagnosticsTradeProbe)
+            Console.WriteLine(
+                $"[trade] request partner=0x{partnerGuid:X8} item=0x{itemGuid:X8} "
+                + $"open={_bindings.Trade.Snapshot.IsOpen}");
         RuntimeTradeSnapshot snapshot = _bindings.Trade.Snapshot;
         if (snapshot.IsOpen && snapshot.PartnerGuid == partnerGuid)
         {
diff --git a/src/AcDream.App/UI/RetailUiRuntime.cs b/src/AcDream.App/UI/RetailUiRuntime.cs
index 0d81bb39..a4d2c167 100644
--- a/src/AcDream.App/UI/RetailUiRuntime.cs
+++ b/src/AcDream.App/UI/RetailUiRuntime.cs
@@ -3489,6 +3489,8 @@ public sealed class RetailUiRuntime : IDisposable
         }
 
         ImportedLayout? layout;
+        uint selfEmptySlotSprite;
+        uint partnerEmptySlotSprite;
         lock (_bindings.Assets.DatLock)
         {
             layout = LayoutImporter.Import(
@@ -3498,6 +3500,16 @@ public sealed class RetailUiRuntime : IDisposable
                 _bindings.Assets.ResolveSprite,
                 _bindings.Assets.DefaultFont,
                 _bindings.Assets.ResolveFont);
+            // The authored empty-slot art for each grid (cell-template attr
+            // 0x1000000E → 0x1000033A) — same resolution the vendor uses.
+            selfEmptySlotSprite = ItemListCellTemplate.ResolveEmptySprite(
+                _bindings.Assets.Dats,
+                Layout.SecureTradeUiController.LayoutId,
+                Layout.SecureTradeUiController.SelfListId);
+            partnerEmptySlotSprite = ItemListCellTemplate.ResolveEmptySprite(
+                _bindings.Assets.Dats,
+                Layout.SecureTradeUiController.LayoutId,
+                Layout.SecureTradeUiController.PartnerListId);
         }
         if (layout is null)
         {
@@ -3529,7 +3541,9 @@ public sealed class RetailUiRuntime : IDisposable
                     {
                         if (visible) Host.ShowWindow(WindowNames.SecureTrade);
                         else Host.HideWindow(WindowNames.SecureTrade);
-                    }));
+                    },
+                    SelfEmptySlotSprite: selfEmptySlotSprite,
+                    PartnerEmptySlotSprite: partnerEmptySlotSprite));
         if (controller is null)
         {
             Console.WriteLine("[M4] secure trade: required authored grids are missing.");