BEIJING, June 19 Reuters Chinese automakers have urged Beijing to hike tariffs on imported European gasolinepowered cars in retaliation for Brussels39; curbs on Chinese EV exports, the statebacked Global Times newspaper said on Wednesday.

In a closeddoor meeting on Tuesday also attended by European car companies, China39;s auto industry called on the government to adopt firm countermeasures and suggested that positive consideration be given to raising the provisional tariff on gasoline cars with largedisplacement engines, according to the report.

The meeting, organised by China39;s Ministry of Commerce, was held in Beijing and attended by SAIC, BYD, BMW, Volkswagen, and Porsche , two people with direct knowledge of the matter said.

The main aim of the meeting was to put pressure on Europe and lobby against the tariffs, they added.

EU trade policy is turning increasingly protective amid concerns that China39;s productionfocused, debtdriven development model could see the 27member bloc flooded with cheap goods, including electric vehicles, as Chinese firms look to boost sales overseas due to weak demand at home.

The European Commission39;s June 12 announcement that it would impose antisubsidy duties of up to 38.1 on imported Chinese EVs from July followed a move by the United States to hike tariffs on Chinese cars in May, and opens a new front in the West39;s trade war with Beijing.

The Global Times first reported late last month that a Chinese governmentaffiliated…