Trade Federation

"Supreme Chancellor, delegates of the Senate, a tragedy has occurred, which started right here with the taxation of trade routes, and has now engulfed our entire planet in the oppression of the Trade Federation!"

- Sheev Palpatine

The Trade Federation was an interstellar shipping and trade conglomerate during the waning days of the Galactic Republic, one so powerful that it had its own representatives in the Galactic Senate. Its ultimate goal was to control all galactic trade routes, ports and freighters, and was willing to do anything to increase profits and avoid Republic taxes.

History
In response to the taxation of the Free Trade Zones, and while under the manipulation of the Sith, the Trade Federation blockaded and invaded Naboo with its droid army. In reality, the invasion was a pretext for Naboo's Senator, Sheev Palpatine&mdash;secretly the Sith Lord Darth Sidious&mdash;to be elected Supreme Chancellor. During this period of time, the Trade Federation was headed by Viceroy Nute Gunray.

A decade after the war on Naboo, the Trade Federation pledged support to the Confederacy of Independent Systems, becoming a major military benefactor during the Clone Wars. Publicly, however, the Federation denied all links to the Confederacy of Independent Systems, while maintaining a seat in the Republic Senate. The Federation leaders were killed by Darth Vader at the end of the war on the volcanic world of Mustafar following the Outer Rim Sieges, and the corporation was nationalized by the newly formed Galactic Empire, while its accounts were plundered by Imperial financier Arsin Crassus.

Appearances

 * Darth Maul, Part I
 * Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars Journeys: The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars: Galactic Defense
 * Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones
 * Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Tarkin
 * Servants of the Empire: Edge of the Galaxy
 * Battlefront: Twilight Company
 * Shattered Empire, Part III
 * Aftermath
 * Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Tarkin
 * Servants of the Empire: Edge of the Galaxy
 * Battlefront: Twilight Company
 * Shattered Empire, Part III
 * Aftermath
 * Aftermath

Non-canon appearances

 * William Shakespeare's The Phantom of Menace: Star Wars Part the First