 At the peak of the pyramid of trade organizations was the Ministry of Trade USSR, which not only maintained general supervision over the conduct and development of all domestic trade but also engaged in wholesale trade and, to a relatively minor extent, in retail trade through its chief directorates.The Ministry's wholesaling functions were carried out by about a dozen chief directorates organized to deal in certain product lines or to serve special markets, for example, the Chief Directorates of Refrigeration and Wholesale Trade in Meat and Butter; Wholesale Trade in Clothing; Wholesale Trade in Sugar, Confectionery Products, Canned Goods, Tobacco Products, and Other Groceries; and Trade Enterprises for the Military Services.The ministries of trade at the republic level were dually subordinate - to the Ministry of Trade USSR, and to the councils of ministers of the republics.