Trade Federation

The Trade Federation was a major trading conglomerate that existed under the Old Republic. The Trade Federation was a powerful force both economically and politically, having representation in the Galactic Senate, as well as maintaining its own military consisting of warships and armies of combat droids.

Under the control of Viceroy Nute Gunray, the Trade Federation followed the advice of Darth Sidious to blockade the planet Naboo as a protest against trade taxation laws imposed by the Senate. Sideous later instructed the Viceroy to invade Naboo, although the potential advantage for the Trade Federation wasn't clear. Although the invasion was initially successful, the Trade Federation's occupation force soon suffered an embarrassing defeat by Naboo's tiny military, lead by their 14-year-old ruler, Queen Amidala.

Nute Gunray managed to escape prosecution and lead the Trade Federation to join a Separatist movement that fought a civil war -- known as the Clone Wars -- against the Galactic Republic. The Separatists eventually lost the war, and the Trade Federation was effectively destroyed.

Military

The Federation had a large navy of refitted cargo ships and an army composed almost entirely of combat droids. Droids and vehicles in the Trade Federation army include the following:

• Battle droids
• Droidekas
• Armored Assault Tanks (AAT)
• Multi Troop Transports (MTT)
• Single Trooper Aerial Platform (STAP)
• Troop Sleds

Notes

All of the Trade Federation's major officers appear to be Neimoidian.