system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
[Star Wars] What is the nature of the Trade Federation?

So is the Trade Federation a collection of corporations that work together like a chamber of commerce kind of? Or are they an actual state which controls space? Considering they have their own Army and Navy it seems they are at least some sort of Corporate-proto state.
gpt
The Trade Federation was a very powerful Republic commerce guild, trade cartel, megacorporation, and lobbying group that was founded in 350 BBY as an association of business and trade groups with its own commercial trade fleet.

It grew to dominate entire star systems and all major trade routes, and possessed a formidable private military. Toward the end of the Republic, it would become increasingly dominated by the commerce-savvy Neimoidians.