Trade Federation
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The Trade Federation is a fictional organization that exists in the Star Wars universe at the time of the Galactic Republic. It was founded in 350 BBY.
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Shortly before The Phantom Menace, Nute Gunray ascended to the position of viceroy of the Trade Federation with Rune Haako as his chief lieutenant. In The Phantom Menace, Gunray was manipulated into blockading and subsequently invading the planet Naboo by the shadowy Darth Sidious, who assured him the Senate would take no action against him. He tried to force Queen Amidala of Naboo to sign a treaty which would legalize the invasion, but she escaped, and after allying herself with the native Gungans, Amidala captured Gunray himself and ended the invasion. Gunray and Haako were put on trial for their crimes, but due to the corruption of the Republic at the time, they were not punished and Gunray retained his position as viceroy. Ten years later in Attack of the Clones, seeking revenge on Amidala, Gunray and Gilramos Libkath agreed to ally the droid armies of the Trade Federation with Count Dooku's Confederacy of Independent Systems, under the condition that Amidala be assassinated. The assassination by Jango Fett failed and Obi-Wan Kenobi, following his trail, discovered the Federation's plot on Geonosis. Kenobi was able to alert the Republic, and the Clone Wars began when the new Clone troopers engaged the Federation's droids on Geonosis.
In Revenge of the Sith, Darth Vader killed Gunray along with the other members of the Separatist Council in cold blood under orders from Sidious, and Sidious ordered the remaining droid armies to stand down. After the Clone Wars, what little remained of the Trade Federation's assets were seized by Emperor Palpatine to help build the Galactic Empire. Trade Organizations were outlawed by the time of the Battle of Yavin.