Unlike any other carmaking power, China requires multinationals to produce cars in 50-50 joint ventures with local companies, to help its domestic businesses learn the latest manufacturing techniques. But in statements over the past two weeks, the government has said that it may relax that rule somewhat for electric cars made in foreign trade zones.

China also said right after President Trump left Beijing a week ago that it would consider a gradual cut in its import tariffs. China charges a 25 percent tax on imported cars, compared with 2.5 percent in the United States.

Cars made in free trade zones must still pay the 25 percent tariff if they are shipped to Chinese dealers instead of being exported. But those rules also appear to be softening. In recent discussions with Tesla, the American electric car company that wants to build a wholly owned factory in a Shanghai free trade zone, Chinese officials have been looking into possibly reducing the tariff as well, two people familiar with the discussions said.

A formula being considered would apply the 25 percent tariff only to imported components in each Tesla car, said one of these people, who insisted on anonymity because the discussions were continuing. That would cut Tesla’s financial burden, while also putting heavy pressure on it to shift as much production as possible to Chinese suppliers.

Tesla declined to comment, except to repeat that it is in talks to set up a factory to supply the Chinese market.

Starting in 2013, Commerce Ministry officials have suggested they might lower China’s own automotive trade barriers once Chinese manufacturers were ready to sell abroad, to prevent them from being used as justification by other countries for reciprocal trade barriers. Indeed, carmakers from China that export electric vehicles to the United States could even find advantages.

Yu Jun, the president of GAC Motor, said in an interview on Friday that the company planned to export electric cars to the United States and Europe as well as gasoline-powered vehicles. If it does so, it could benefit from the United States’ $7,500 tax credit for electric car buyers.