The economic section of the Listin Diario reveals an United States Agency for International Development (USAID) report that indicates a possible loss of 46,000 jobs if the Dominican Republic fails to enter a free trade agreement. On the other hand, such an agreement would preserve employment for 16,640. The study conducted by the agency shows that the signing of a free trade accord would certainly affect the Dominican free trade zones, as it presents three possible scenarios. The first envisions the Dominican Republic not signing any such agreement, entailing 46,000 jobs lost in the “zonas francas”. Exports from the zones would drop to 61% of current levels, generating a loss of US$850 million. In the second scenario, the DR would form part of the CAFTA and suffer the impact of textile quotas that would start in January 2005. This would be slightly attenuated by the preservation of 16,640 jobs and shipments worth US$305 million. The third possibility suggests that if the Dominican Republic were to sign on to the CAFTA and submit to the rules of origin for textiles and soft goods, the sector would have to reduce its costs by 10%, so as to mitigate the blow. The study explains that beginning in 2005, the textile quotas and limits on imports from Asia would be removed, thereby injuring Dominican Republic’s market share.