Market of free commerce, initially (3)
I believe the answer is:
eec
'market' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both groups as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'of free commerce initially' is the wordplay.
'of' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'EEC' is hidden in the letters of 'free commerce initially'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for eec that I've seen before include "Organisation created by the Treaty of Rome in 1957" , "It's now the EU" .)