Rio Tinto CEO urges governments against protectionism

LONDON, July 1 (Reuters) - The head of global mining firm Rio Tinto (LSE: RIO.L - news) urged governments on Wednesday not to be tempted to introduce protectionist measures as they aim to preserve revenue at a time of weakening commodity prices.

Rio Tinto, with most of its large mines in Australia, has come under increasing criticism, along with peer BHP Billiton (NYSE: BBL - news) , for flooding the market with new supplies of iron ore, contributing to the commodity's price fall.

"In times of economic uncertainty it must sound seductive or comforting to want to put up the barriers but we must keep markets and trade open," Rio Tinto CEO Sam Walsh said, speaking at a mining dinner in London.

The chairman of rival Fortescue Metals Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest has called on the Australian public to ask the government to intervene to stop Rio and BHP's expansion plans, saying they were jeopardising the economy.

"Of course a raising tide lifts all boats and when things are good public support is high, but when it changes, criticism inevitably follows," Walsh said.

(Writing by Silvia Antonioli, editing by David Evans)