Welsh Government says "good progress" is being made on having a freeport in Wales in its most positive statement yet on the issue.
UK and Welsh governments have been at loggerheads over freeports in Wales - with rows about who will pay and how they will operate.
Welsh Government had previously said they were being shortchanged - with a Wales freeport securing less funding than those in England.
But last month UK levelling up minister Michael Gove said a deal could be imminent and today UK ministers and the Scottish Government reached a deal over two proposed green freeports in Scotland.
Now Welsh Government has released a statement that indicates progress has now been made in talks.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We remain committed to working in a partnership of equals with the UK Government to implement their Freeport policy in Wales, provided we can secure a fair deal that delivers clear benefits for our economy, respects the devolution settlement and aligns with our policies on fair work and the environment.
“Good progress is being made in our discussions, and we remain keen to reach an agreed position soon in order to provide certainty for partners, based on funding and governance guarantees from the UK Government.
"We hope to be able announce more details in the near future.”
UK Government has named eight English freeports where goods could be imported, manufactured, and exported again without facing standard tariffs or requiring normal customs checks.
Supporters say it will boost the economies of local areas but critics warn they would simply displace existing firms and employment and act as tax havens.
If a single freeport is confirmed for Wales then the debate would then switch to where it would sited - with Holyhead and sites in south and west Wales already signalling an interest.
Mr Gove last month told the House of Commons: “I can confirm that we have had very fruitful negotiations with the Welsh Government.
“I want to place on record my thanks to Vaughan Gething and other ministers in the Welsh Government, and I hope that we will be able to make an announcement shortly about the process by which we will allocate freeports in Wales.
“At the moment the proposal is for one freeport in Wales, but I recognise that both South Wales and North Wales have significant potential for freeports in the future.”
