In the case of standards and conformity assessment, the wide range of actions necessary to upgrade efficiently implementation, monitoring and certification capacities is difficult to bring to fruition without long-term commitment and extensive planning. Satisfactory access to finance appears as a prerequisite not only for undertaking export activities but also for addressing a number of productive capacity constraints that limit agricultural growth. Policy conclusions for aid for trade investments should be drawn by comparing these outcomes with the cost and feasibility of lifting the different constraints identified.