Swap short amount of time – about time! – for confidential info (5,6)
I believe the answer is:
trade secret
'info' is the definition.
(trade secret is a kind of info)
'swap short amount of time about time for confidential' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'swap' could be 'trade' (synonyms) and 'trade' is located in the answer.
'amount' could be 'sec' (sec is a kind of amount) and 'sec' is found within the answer.
'time' could be 'ret' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'ret' is located in the answer.
This accounts for all the letters.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for trade secret that I've seen before include "Confidential commercial information" , "Hidden commercial practice" , "business confidence" , "competitive advantage" , "Information a company holds on to" .)