Empirical research on the issue of international trade and economic growth is unable to provide definite results. One of the main reasons is that there are many and almost quite different empirical approaches used to verify if export promotion fosters economic growth. The aim of this paper is to carry out a causality test by focusing on the mechanisms and conditions through which export promotion contributes to growth. Among the mechanisms a key role is given to structural change. While in the Philippines' case a causal relationship does not exist, empirical evidence from South Korea reveals that export promotion causes growth.