Many guests at the forum are movers and shakers in governments and companies across the globe and some offered their opinions on the options China has to counter American measures.

FAN GANG, DIRECTOR NATIONAL ECONOMIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE "The trade friction between China and the US will cause economic fluctuations in Asia. The region has an integrated industry chain. China assembles many goods and the parts come from countries like South Korea and Malaysia. The trade friction will affect this whole chain and hence the economy of Asia."

DAI XIANGLONG FORMER GOVERNOR, PEOPLE'S BANK OF CHINA "The little reduction of the trade surplus does not necessarily have a great impact on the Chinese economy. Not to mention China can import from countries other than the United States. It is critical to regard this as a political issue. It is also possible to achieve development through negotiations."

ZHANG YUYAN, DIRECTOR INSTITUTE OF WORLD ECONOMICS AND POLITICS CHINESE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES "China may promote exports by lowering its exchange rate to offset the impact brought about by higher US tariffs on Chinese goods. Trade is trade, finance is finance. There are some concerns in the markets that China may sell large amounts of US assets. Personally, I think it is very unlikely."