Jesus Seade, Mexico's deputy foreign minister for North America. AP Photo: Manuel Balce Ceneta

After months of arduous talks, Mexico's chief trade negotiator says he believes U.S. legislators could be headed for a vote on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade deal in the coming weeks.

Jesús Seade, Mexico's deputy foreign minister for North America, stood alongside the Mexican President on Friday to dispel concerns about the treaty and lay out all the work officials like him have done to convince organised labour and legislators in the U.S. that Mexico is committed to improving labour rights and raising wages.

"We think the end of this complex history is near and that soon we will see the United States initiate a formal approval process for the accord… in a few weeks," said Seade.

In early October, Mexico received a visit from House Ways and Means chairman Richard Neal, who was concerned that Mexico was not allocating sufficient funds to fulfil its commitments under the labour reform approved this year.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador sent Neal a followup letter after the visit, assuring him that "our government supports this labour policy out of its own conviction".

If not approved this year, the trade agreement could get pushed to the back burner as the 2020 U.S. presidential election nears.

Mexican officials feel that, while not ideal, the country could live with the terms of the existing North American Free Trade Agreement, which U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to cancel even before he took office.

Mexico's $1.2 trillion manufacturing-heavy economy is highly dependent on the U.S. market, which absorbs more than 80% of the country's exports.

López Obrador emphasised on Friday that Mexico remains an attractive place for foreign investment. This is due to its extensive trade agreements but also its strategic geographic location and large economy with 120 million consumers.

Seeing increased opportunities, global law firms are keen to expand in Mexico even as its preferential trade status with the U.S. is in question.

Andersen Global chairman Mark Vorsatz said his firm is in talks to add lawyers in Mexico, a country he sees as "key" in Latin America because it's home to many corporate headquarters. Andersen has undertaken an ambitious global expansion in recent months via collaboration agreements with local firms in dozens of countries.

Mexican officials said they are committed to collective bargaining and secret union votes under the current progressive government, which took control of Mexico's congress and the presidency in 2018, as well as to lifting wages.

"We are transitioning from a system of total corporate management of the labour issue to a free system of authentic negotiation," said Seade.

Mexican businesses have long appointed union bosses known as 'charros' – or cowboys – who protect owners' interests without real support from workers. Many blame the charros for suppressing wages. About 13% of salaried workers in Mexico are represented by unions.

Now, even Mexican business chambers concede that wages need to rise above a monthly average of $315 nationwide.

Seade sees "national consensus" for better wages in Mexico, with different corners acknowledging that repressed salaries are not only unfair, but also hurt the economy by reducing the buying power of consumers.

But Mexico still has had to convince the U.S. that it is serious about improving wages and labour rights. "I think we have gone far enough to say we now understand each other and let's turn the page," Seade said of his outreach to U.S. Democrats and labour representatives.

"If there ends up being no treaty, it's because the two main political parties of the United States have not reached an understanding," Seade said, noting that both parties recognise that Mexico has been "a positive partner that has negotiated in good faith".