Rio trial will not affect China trade - Aust Govt

CANBERRA, March 19 (Reuters) - The trial of four Rio Tinto (RIO.AX) staff charged with commercial spying will not affect Australia's resource trade with China or sensitive iron ore sales negotiations, Trade Minister Simon Crean said on Friday.

"If there were links you would have expected the trade had fallen, yet last year China became our largest trading partner. The two matters are separate," Crean told Australian radio.

"We've never sought to make any link and neither have the Chinese in their discussions with us." (Reporting by Rob Taylor; Editing by Gyles Beckford)