Meanwhile, some American experts worry Trump's decision could come at a high price for the US economy.

MARY LOVELY ECONOMICS PROF. AND FELLOW, PETERSON INSTITUTE FOR INT'L ECONOMICS "It affects the whole agricultural supply chain in the Midwest, including the people who supply equipment to the farmers. There's likely to be collateral damage for many of our allies, particularly in Asia. I imagine that they will not respond directly --they will sit back and see what happens."

SHARYN O'HALLORAN POLITICAL ECONOMY & INT'L TRADE PROF., COLUMBIA UNIV. "The US in the long-term may wind up being the loser because it will isolate itself from, in many ways, both in global economic environment, in which it's been a huge beneficiary in the World War II era; as well as, to having the leadership role in maintaining security throughout the world. And I think those are two very important aspects that need to go hand-in-hand."