Crossword Genius

Dispersed, as licensed trade could be (13)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

decentralised

'dispersed' is the definition.

'licensed trade could be' is the wordplay.
'could be' indicates anagramming the letters.
'licensed'+'trade'='licensedtrade'
'licensedtrade' anagrammed gives 'DECENTRALISED'.

'as' is the link.

(Another definition for decentralised that I've seen is " Put out to local government".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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