Cross-border FAQ

Cross-border B2B trade is where most things go wrong on other platforms — sanctions, export controls, customs delays, documentation gaps. Here's how Haubot handles it, and where the responsibility line is.

Can I sell to / buy from country X?

For most country pairs, yes. The platform is built for cross-border trade and handles transactions globally. There are limits:

• Sanctions. Origin/destination combinations on EU, UN, US OFAC, or UK sanctions lists are not available — Haubot screens both parties and the asset against current sanctions data before listings publish and transactions open.
• Export-controlled assets. Some asset classes (military, dual-use defence components, controlled tech) need an export licence regardless of destination. See the question on dual-use below.
• Specific country restrictions. A handful of country pairs have local restrictions that Haubot enforces — these are visible on the destination-selection step.

If the country pair and asset don't trigger any screen, the deal can proceed. Compliance with both jurisdictions' laws remains the buyer's and seller's responsibility.

What about Russia, Iran, North Korea, sanctioned countries?

Haubot does not facilitate transactions involving sanctioned destinations or entities under EU/UN/US/UK sanctions regimes. Listings, business profiles and transactions are screened on creation and continuously updated as sanctions lists change.

If sanctions are added to a counterparty or country mid-deal, the active transaction is paused and the dispute/refund process handles unwinding the escrow.

Does Haubot handle export licences?

Haubot doesn't apply for licences on your behalf. The platform:

• Flags when an asset is likely to require an export licence (heavy equipment with potential military application, controlled tech, certain dual-use items).
• Asks for confirmation that licences are in place before publishing or transacting.
• Hosts the licence documents in UnitVault if you have them — making them available to the buyer and to customs as needed.

The actual licence application is between you and your jurisdiction's export-control authority (BIS in the US, BAFA in Germany, ECJU in the UK, etc.). Haubot Logistics partners can advise on which licences a specific cross-border move typically needs.

Can I sell dual-use goods?

Dual-use goods (items with civilian use that could also have military application) can be listed and transacted on Haubot, but go through additional compliance review. The platform asks for:

• The export control classification (ECCN, EU CCN, or equivalent).
• Confirmation that the appropriate licence is in place for the proposed destination.
• The end-user statement when required.

Without these, the listing or transaction won't proceed. With them, the deal is treated like any other cross-border deal.

What about purely military or restricted items?

Items that fall under munitions controls (ITAR in the US, military lists in EU/UK, equivalent regimes elsewhere) are out of scope for the standard marketplace. The platform isn't designed to substitute for a licensed defence-trade intermediary. If your business is in the defence space and you want to discuss controlled-environment access, contact the Partner program — there are structured arrangements available for vetted participants in jurisdictions that allow them.

Who is responsible for customs clearance?

Determined by the Incoterm agreed in the deal:

• EXW (Ex Works) — buyer arranges everything from the seller's site forward, including export and import customs.
• FOB (Free On Board) — seller handles export and gets the asset to the port; buyer handles ocean freight, import customs, inland delivery.
• CIF / CFR — seller handles freight to the destination port; buyer handles import customs onwards.
• DAP (Delivered at Place) — seller handles everything up to the agreed destination; buyer handles import duty.
• DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) — seller handles literally everything including destination duty.

Always state the Incoterm explicitly in the listing or in the deal agreement. "We'll figure out the shipping" leads to disputes over who pays what. See Logistics for how Haubot coordinates the actual freight under whichever Incoterm you've picked.

Does Haubot do tax / VAT compliance?

No. Haubot is not a tax intermediary — the platform doesn't compute, collect or remit VAT, sales tax, customs duties, or any other transaction-related tax.

• Sellers are responsible for their own VAT/sales tax obligations on the supply side.
• Buyers are responsible for import duties, destination VAT, customs clearance fees and any other taxes their jurisdiction imposes.

The platform records who paid whom and how much, which feeds into the parties' own accounting and tax filings. State the VAT treatment of the price clearly in the listing.

Who handles export documentation?

The seller, generally, with help where applicable:

• Title / registration transfer — seller. Some asset types need notarisation or government registration; Haubot doesn't substitute for those.
• Export declaration — usually the seller or the seller's freight forwarder.
• Certificates of origin, conformity, EUR.1 — seller, sometimes prepared by the chamber of commerce or a forwarder.
• Air waybill / Bill of Lading / CMR — issued by the carrier handling the freight.
• Inspection report — produced by the inspector (Haubot Inspect or independent).

All these documents can be stored in UnitVault attached to the listing so both parties always have the current version.

Can I use my own freight forwarder?

Yes. Cross-border deals on Haubot don't require using Haubot Logistics. Some buyers and sellers have long-standing relationships with specific forwarders for specific lanes — that's fine.

For SecureTrade purposes, the "delivered" milestone needs a verifiable handover event — typically the carrier's proof of delivery document. Whether the carrier is a Haubot partner or your own, the proof goes into UnitVault and clears the milestone.

What if customs holds the shipment?

A common occurrence on cross-border freight, especially for high-value or document-heavy assets. The platform's role:

• Pauses the SecureTrade timeline if the delay is due to documentation or customs questions (so the seller isn't pushed for delivery they can't legally complete yet).
• Hosts the documentation in UnitVault so the seller, buyer and customs broker are looking at the same papers.
• Logistics partners, if you're using them, will coordinate with the broker to resolve the hold.

Most customs holds clear within days once the right documentation is provided. If the hold is unresolvable (e.g., import licence denied), the deal can be unwound through the dispute process.

What Incoterms does Haubot work with?

All of them — EXW, FCA, CPT, CIP, DAP, DPU, DDP for any mode; FAS, FOB, CFR, CIF specifically for sea/inland-waterway. Pick the one that matches the level of seller-side coordination you've agreed.

For first-time sellers, FOB (for sea freight) or FCA (for any mode, especially air) are usually the cleanest — the seller's responsibility ends at a clear handover point and the buyer's freight forwarder takes over. DDP is convenient for the buyer but transfers full destination-side responsibility to the seller, which most sellers won't accept on cross-border deals.

What if the destination country requires specific certifications?

Some destinations have local requirements — Gulf countries' SASO/SABER, EU CE marking, EAC for Russia/EAEU, BIS for India, etc. Sellers should:

• Know which certifications are typically needed for their asset class in the target destination.
• Hold the certificates if applicable, or be able to source them.
• Disclose certification status in the listing.

Buyers should ask early. "Will this clear destination customs as-is?" is a normal pre-deal question. If certification is missing and required, the deal can either be paused while it's obtained or restructured (e.g., DDP shifted to FOB with the buyer responsible).