While most trade reforms had a positive impact, some trade reforms proved unsustainable and others did not have a meaningful impact on growth. This chapter discusses the various reasons for these outcomes in order to draw lessons for the design of aid-for-trade projects and programmes and to increase their effectiveness. It argues that aid for trade should not only focus on helping developing countries to turn trade opportunities into trade but also tackle the binding constraints that choke the impact of trade on economic growth. Moreover, it argues that aid for trade can effectively support the compatible policies that make reforms sustainable and the complementary policies that increase the role of trade as an engine of growth.