Abstract: The contribution of Jiangsu’s foreign trade to economic growth is declining, which is reflected in the decline in the contribution of trade surplus and processing trade to economic growth and the decline in the index value of the pulling degree. Although Jiangsu’s general trade’s contribution and pulling degree exceed processing trade, horizontal comparisons show that the respective contributions of trade surplus, processing trade and general trade to Jiangsu’s economic growth are weaker than those to Guangdong’s and Zhejiang’s economic growth. In order to further play the role of foreign trade in promoting Jiangsu’s economic growth, Jiangsu must resolutely transform to a structure based on general trade; promote the transformation and upgrading of processing trade, strengthen the connection between processing trade and local economic growth; attach importance to the pulling effect of capital goods imports on economic growth in general trade.
