Trade, business dealings (8)
I believe the answer is:
commerce
I believe this clue is a double definition.
'trade' is the first definition.
(commercial activity)
'business dealings' is the second definition.
(I've seen this before)
(Other definitions for commerce that I've seen before include "Sales and purchases of goods and services" , "Business dealings" , "Trading exchanges" , "Transactions in goods and services" , "Business, industry, trade" .)