Trials or trade agreements? (7)
I believe the answer is:
ordeals
'trials' is the definition.
(I know this)
'or trade agreements?' is the wordplay.
'trade agreements?' becomes 'deals' (deal is a kind of agreement. I am not sure about the 'trade' bit.).
'or'+'deals'='ORDEALS'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ordeals that I've seen before include "difficult tests" , "Testing experiences" , "Trying experiences" , "Tribulations" , "Difficult experiences, hard times" .)