La Paz, Mar 16 (Prensa Latina) The categorical "No" of Bolivian President Evo Morales to the signing of a free trade agreement with the US was Thursday praised by a parliamentary majority and criticized by business sectors and conservatives.

Members of the MAS (Movement towards Socialism) party applauded the stance of the president, who said Wednesday that such an agreement would only be good to invade the country with subsidized products, to the detriment of local producers and manufacturers.

Morales indicated he will never negotiate an agreement of that kind, but rather a trade agreement for the peoples, allowing to open markets to products by small enterprises, cooperatives and poor people.

MAS deputy chief Gaston Cornejo added it is not possible to speak of free, fair trade with the US when that country is pushing regional ones to sign a free trade agreement, aimed at "devouring them."

Such a deal would mean giving away national sovereignty to the globalized market and losing the country´s freedom of action, Cornejo stressed.

In the meantime, Morales´ stance has been criticized by business sectors, particularly exporters, and political conservatives and neoliberal economists as well.