Stalemate, deadlock (7)
I believe the answer is:
impasse
I believe this clue is a double definition.
'stalemate' is the first definition.
(I know that stalemate can be written as impasse)
'deadlock' is the second definition.
(I know that deadlock can be written as impasse)
(Other definitions for impasse that I've seen before include "hopeless situation?" , "I permit no further progress" , "hopeless difficulty" , "Deadlock or stand-off" , "There's no way past it" .)