States chairman tore round (5,7)

I believe the answer is:

north america

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'states chairman tore round' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'chairman tore round' is the wordplay.
'round' is an anagram indicator.
'chairman'+'tore'='chairmantore'
'chairmantore' is an anagram of 'NORTH AMERICA'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for north america that I've seen before include "Continent believed to be once linked to Asia" , "USA and Canada" , "Canada, US and Mexico" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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