WASHINGTON, March 19 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. State Department said on Tuesday that the nation has signed an agreement with Brazil to protect U.S. technology associated with U.S. participation in space launches in the South American country.

According to a statement issued by the State Department, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation Christopher Ford and Brazilian Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo on Monday signed the Technology Safeguards Agreement between the two governments.

The agreement is about "technology safeguards associated with U.S. participation in space launches from Brazil," the statement read.

It added that "upon entry into force, the Agreement will establish the technical safeguards to support U.S. space launches from Brazil while ensuring the proper handling of sensitive U.S. technology consistent with U.S. nonproliferation policy, the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), and U.S. export control laws and regulations."

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is scheduled to visit the White House and meet his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump on Tuesday, during which the two leaders will discuss opportunities for defense cooperation, pro-growth trade policies, combating transnational crime, and situation in Venezuela, the White House said on March 8.

Bolsonaro visited the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency headquarters in the state of Virginia on Monday as part of his first official trip to Washington.