I like the concept in general. Seems very innovative.
But one thing I question is the use of focus in the process. To me, the negotiation done through the system is an OOC process, but focus use is an IC concept (as I understand it, you are applying your character's IC efforts towards something when you spend focus). To have your ability to respond based on the amount of focus you have seems like something that can be "gamed". One player tries to get the other to spend their focus under theirs where they can't respond to increasing demands at the end. Or… it bogs down as people wait for their focus to rebuild.
Or maybe I just don't understand it… which gets me to the second point. I'm unclear how this integrates with contests and wars, since it doesn't involve the determination of who "wins" a stage, but just the outcomes.
Maybe it's coming, or maybe we'll see it in playtest, but a fully fleshed out example of its use might answer this question.