Final answer:
Under the CIF terms, the seller is obligated to clear the goods for export in their own country, dealing with all necessary legal and bureaucratic steps prior to shipping.
Step-by-step explanation:
Under CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) trade terms, the seller is responsible for custom-clearing the goods for export within their own country.
The CIF agreement is an international trade term where the seller must pay for the costs, the transport, and the marine insurance to bring the goods to the port of destination. However, before even considering the voyage of the goods, the seller is responsible for clearing the items through customs in their own country.
This includes preparing and submitting the necessary exports documentation, paying any tariffs, and ensuring that the goods are ready and legal for export. It is critical for the seller to fulfill these obligations, because any faltering can result in the goods not being shipped, delays, or additional costs which the seller is liable for until the goods are on board the vessel at the port of shipment. Once the goods have been successfully loaded onto the shipping vessel, the risk and responsibility then start to transfer to the buyer. Nevertheless, the buyer takes over the cost and responsibility for unloading and clearing customs in their own country.