Godfried Smit

Godfried Smit

Secretary General at the European Shippers’ Council (ESC)
Netherlands

Godfried Smit is Secretary General of the European Shippers’ Council (ESC) and an expert in indirect taxation and supranational law. He is currently involved in the links between customs law and 9/11 driven security initiatives. His experience spans working in Customs, teaching at university, and representing ESG members on customs matters before EU bodies such as the Trade Contact Group.

Contact information

Content by Godfried Smit

Modernising EU Customs: a perspective from the European Shippers' Council

Modernising EU Customs: a perspective from the European Shippers' Council

Godfried Smit
Godfried Smit
15 Mar 2026

In this interview, Godfried Smit, Secretary General of the European Shippers’ Council, shares his reflections on the EU Customs Reform. From the future EU Data Hub and the growing importance of high-quality supply chain data to the practical steps companies should already be taking, the interview offers an insider’s view...

other
Perspective
EU Customs Reform & Data Hub: a turning point for European trade

EU Customs Reform & Data Hub: a turning point for European trade

Godfried Smit
Godfried Smit
05 Mar 2026

We invite you to meet Godfried Smit, Secretary General of the European Shippers’ Council. In this recording, Mr Smit shares his insights on: the EU Customs Reform, related developments, shifting responsibilities, and what businesses should already be doing to prepare how Brussels “works”, what he values about it, and what...

law
EU centralised clearance - benefits and limits

EU centralised clearance - benefits and limits

Godfried Smit
Godfried Smit
18 Feb 2026

In this session, you will learn how customs declarations can be lodged with a supervising customs office in one EU Member State while the goods are presented in another. The recording also provides insight into the scope of Centralised Clearance, its phased IT rollout across Member States, and its current...

clearance process

Popular articles

Modernising EU Customs: a perspective from the European Shippers' Council

Modernising EU Customs: a perspective from the European Shippers' Council

15 Mar 2026

In this interview, Godfried Smit, Secretary General of the European Shippers’ Council, shares his reflections on the EU Customs Reform. From the future EU Data Hub and the growing importance of high-quality supply chain data to the practical steps companies should already be taking, the interview offers an insider’s view...

Perspective
other
EU Customs Reform & Data Hub: a turning point for European trade

EU Customs Reform & Data Hub: a turning point for European trade

05 Mar 2026

We invite you to meet Godfried Smit, Secretary General of the European Shippers’ Council. In this recording, Mr Smit shares his insights on: the EU Customs Reform, related developments, shifting responsibilities, and what businesses should already be doing to prepare how Brussels “works”, what he values about it, and what...

law
EU centralised clearance - benefits and limits

EU centralised clearance - benefits and limits

18 Feb 2026

In this session, you will learn how customs declarations can be lodged with a supervising customs office in one EU Member State while the goods are presented in another. The recording also provides insight into the scope of Centralised Clearance, its phased IT rollout across Member States, and its current...

clearance process