Negotiates without hard menaces (7)
I believe the answer is:
threats
'menaces' is the definition.
('threat' can be a synonym of 'menace')
'negotiates without hard' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'hard' could be 'h' (abbreviation used in pencil classifications) and 'h' is found within the answer.
The remaining letters 'treats' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for threats that I've seen before include "Shatter (anag) - menaces" , "Terrifying demands" , "Sources of danger -- shatter (anag)" , "Statements of intentions to harm" , "Menacing statements" .)