On Thursday, June 23, President Donald Trump unveiled a new $ 16 billion aid package to help farmers caught in the fire of their trade war with China.

"Farmers were attacked by China ... and we are going to help our farmers ... Part of this money will go to help farmers at a time when trade was very unfair for them," Trump told reporters in the White House.

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Purdue said most of the money will go towards direct payments to producers of crops and livestock, and a small portion will be used to buy food for use in US assistance programs, such as school lunch programs.

“The plan that we are announcing ensures that farmers will not bear the bulk of the unfair response tariffs imposed by China and other trading partners. Farmers would rather trade than help, but without trade they will need some support, ”Purdue told reporters at a telephone conference.

The Trump administration increased aid from $ 12 billion last year, but officials said they expanded and redesigned the program this year to make it easier to understand. Officials have not yet indicated the expected size of payments.

U.S. Department of Agriculture officials said the amount each farmer would receive would be based on the damage calculated for each U.S. county, with equal payments to all farmers based on the acreage, regardless of the crop, to prevent distortion of planting decisions.

Assistance will be given to farmers involved in the cultivation of alfalfa, barley, rapeseed, corn, lentils, rice, peanuts, chickpeas, sorghum, soybeans, sunflower seeds and wheat.