this post was submitted on 26 Aug 2023
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Outside sure, but I don't think I have seen any internally. Do you have examples?
They can just replicate the other's civilization money if it is at a lower stage of technology advancement. In the scenario of the same or later technology stage, like the Ferengi Alliance, they would trade for technology, information and/or territories.
The one resource they have a desperate need is dilithium, which they had automated the extraction using the Doctor holograms lol.
the trouble with tribbles grain deal comes to mind. The grain is being held/shipped for a member world.
Then there’s Cassidy Yates and all the federation traders in ds9 (though that’s not a solid argument.) there’s also the cargo ships frequently used in tng as background.
Dilithium deuterium minning are also frequently mentioned… usually the federation being interested in minning for its own use. (Just another reason to build the power system off something else…actually.)
Being shipped doesn't mean it is a trade deal, they offered assistance due to its strategic position as it is a disputed planet between the Federation and the Klingons. And if you're talking about the deal between the bartender and Cyrano Jones, he is independent from the Federation, like Quark's bar, any deal between would be external (and they seem to use credits as a currency?).
In a similar situation, Deep Space Station 9 is close to disputed territory and Federation candidate members. So again, they deal between Federation and others species. And the cargo ships in TNG aren't necessarily, doing any sort trade, they may simply hauling supplies for Federation planets and colonies.
Since they need it for every warp drive spaceship, I assume it would be a very well controlled resource. And due to its importance I don't think they would hire external help, so it would be fair to assume they use Federation miners and scientists to extract it. But again I don't think they mention any internal trade, so I assume they distribute it accordingly to each species or organization.
The romulans don’t need dilithium for theirs. They use singularities instead of antimatter- the stuff somehow regulates the flow or the reaction or something.
In any case…. It’s pretty inconceivable that there are that many member worlds with private captains running trade routes through ds9 without there being robust trade.
“Oh that’s just private people” is a cop out. It’s a matter of semantics- the federation has extensive trade networks and economic product. It hires people to design and build… everything… and to be baristas at StellarBucks (or did you think they were just doing that for the lulz?)