WASHINGTON

US President Donald Trump signed separate executive orders Monday imposing 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports.

"It's a big deal. This is the beginning of making America rich again," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

"It's 25% without exceptions or exemptions, and that's all countries, no matter where it comes from, all countries," he said, adding if it is made in the US, there is no tariff.

The president said he was also looking at tariffs on cars, semiconductor chips and pharmaceuticals.

"But the biggest thing is reciprocal. We want tariffs to be fair. If they charge us, we charge them. Reciprocal," he added.

Trump said he would give "great consideration" to Australia's request for an exemption to the steel tariffs.

"We have a surplus with Australia, one of the few. And the reason is they buy a lot of airplanes. They are rather far away, and they need lots of airplanes, and we actually have a surplus," he said.

Asked what would happen if other countries retaliate against the new tariffs, Trump said: "I don't mind."

"If they raise it a little bit, then we raise it automatically. So I don't think it helps for them to retaliate," he added.