Assessed potential trade (5)
I believe the answer is:
rated
'assessed' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'potential trade' is the wordplay.
'potential' is an anagram indicator.
'trade' anagrammed gives 'RATED'.
(Other definitions for rated that I've seen before include "Castigated" , "Graded by trade" , "Classified or graded" , "Was worthy of" , "Highly valued" .)