The Trade Union was a Republic commence guild, trade cartel, megacorporation and lobbying group that was founded in 5 ABY as an association of business and trade groups with it's own commercial trade fleet. It grew to dominate entire star systems and all major trade routes, and possessed a formidable and private military. Towards the end of the Republic, It would become increasingly dominated by the commence-sawy Twi'leks. It was dissolved and transformed into the Imperial Workers Union by the Dark Empire.