Troops abroad finally intercept import (4)
I believe the answer is:
gist
'import' is the definition.
(gist is a kind of import)
'troops abroad finally intercept' is the wordplay.
'troops abroad' becomes 'gis' (GI can informally mean a US soldier).
'finally' says to take the final letters.
The last letter of 'intercept' is 't'.
'gis'+'t'='GIST'
(Other definitions for gist that I've seen before include "Real point or substance" , "The substance of a text" , "Main idea, kernel of matter" , "The essential point of something" , "Essential point or general sense of anything" .)