Wabtec, the Pennsylvania-based locomotive manufacturer, has finalized a $4.2 billion deal with Kazakhstan, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Under the agreement, the company will supply 300 Evolution Series ES44Aci heavy-haul locomotive kits to Kazakhstan’s national railway, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), over the next ten years.
The deal is expected to support around 11,000 jobs in the United States, underscoring the importance of U.S. manufacturing in international trade. Following the announcement, Wabtec shares rose by nearly 4.7 percent, reflecting investor confidence in the company’s expanding global footprint.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick noted that the agreement followed a call between President Donald Trump and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. He described the deal as a milestone that not only advances American manufacturing but also strengthens connectivity and growth opportunities between the U.S. and Central Asia.
The partnership comes at a sensitive time, as Kazakhstan, which shares borders with both Russia and China, has faced a 25 percent tariff rate on its exports to the United States under Trump’s trade policies. In a letter to Trump in July, President Tokayev expressed willingness to pursue constructive dialogue to resolve trade issues.
This major locomotive agreement highlights the evolving economic ties between Washington and Nur-Sultan, offering both job creation at home and deeper trade relations abroad.
