There's a growing number of global entrepreneurs and trade experts speaking out against America's unilateral and protectionist approach. Many of them believe Washington's policies are counter-productive, and a stronger China-US partnership would be beneficial for the whole world.

KENNETH JARRETT, PRESIDENT AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN SHANGHAI "The Trump administration has taken such a forceful stance on trade issues and this has certainly wake up Beijing for the need to take more measures to try to address the situation. We don't think tariffs is a correct way to go."

HARLEY SEYEDIN, PRESIDENT AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN SOUTH CHINA "Well except for people being worried, not knowing what is going to happen next. The facts are not really known, we've talked to many of our members. They are standing by, they are watching. They don't know how it will affect their businesses. They don't know what to order and what not to order. They are kind of worried about the future, and of course being worried is not good for business either way."

HOWARD SCHULTZ, FOUNDER STARBUCKS "I think it's in our collective interest to find ways to cooperate. And I think the world, at large, needs China and the US to be partners, to demonstrate that we have much more in common than we have differences. And for statesmanship to be alleviated, the current issue, the current tensions can be really put aside. We can do the kind of things that are necessary for the world at large."

KENNETH JARRETT, PRESIDENT AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN SHANGHAI "For tariffs, there is really no winner as you face tit-for-tat tariffs. Everybody loses. Now right now you have two governments busy trying to calculate who is going to hurt more. This is difficult to access because of the nature of the global economy today."

HARLEY SEYEDIN, PRESIDENT AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN SOUTH CHINA "The long term effect is what I'm really worried about because if it goes for a long time, and the frictions last, then both sides, the businesses from both sides are going to look for alternative sources. So if both businesses from US and China begin to look for other sources for the product, that's not good for the future. That will have serious long-lasting impact on the supply chain, on the shipping, prices in market itself."

POUL HANSEN, DIRECTOR UNCTAD "When two elephants fight, the grass will suffer. This is what happens here when two big trading countries are having disputes, many of the smaller countries are suffering."