The era of inexpensive Fourth of July fireworks is soon to be a thing of the past as the Trump administration’s draconian tariff policies have rendered America’s most patriotic holiday suddenly pricey. With tariffs on Chinese imports already standing at 59.3% on consumer fireworks, communities and families nationwide are being confronted with a cold reality: the sparklers, roman candles, and aerial showers that have illuminated American skies for decades are becoming progressively harder to find and progressively pricier by the day.
The tariff explosion: From 5.3% to 59.3%
The fireworks business has been rocked by a series of climbing tariffs, which have converged to make for a maelstrom of increasing costs. What started as a humble 5.3% general duty rate inflated to a smothering 59.3% total tariff burden. This sharp escalation is made up of an initial 20% tariff and an additional 34% tariff on countries conducting business with Venezuela, targeting China—the origin of nearly all US fireworks.
The President’s timing of the tariffs could not have been more inopportune for the business. On February 1, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order that raised 10% on all Chinese imports, and within a few weeks, by April 10, 2025, these reinforced tariffs came into full effect. Some cases saw tariffs rise by as much as 145%, which resulted in many importers ceasing shipments altogether instead of absorbing the astronomical costs.
America’s complete dependence on chinese fireworks
America’s dependence on Chinese fireworks is so massive and nearly impossible to substitute that it is overwhelming. China manufactures 99% of consumer fireworks and 90% of professional display fireworks sold in the United States. With this near-monopoly reliance, alternatives are non-existent when tariffs make Chinese imports prohibitively costly.
The numbers don’t lie: in 2023, the U.S. imported 203.7 million kilograms of fireworks, of which 201.4 million kilograms (nearly 99%) came from China. In dollars, Americans imported $803 million of fireworks in 2022, of which $786 million’s worth were made by Chinese makers. From February 2024 to January 2025, the U.S. imported $508 million of fireworks, of which $481 million (a fraction above 95%) came from China.
Small family enterprises bear the brunt
The fireworks business is comprised predominately of small, family-run businesses that have operated for centuries, with most firms having an average of over 130 years in existence. They are distinctive in that the difficulties which they must endure to cover tariff expenses come close to impossibility. They possess minimal season revenues tied to the weeks of July 4th and New Year’s, making them have marginal profit margins and little financial leeway.
American Pyrotechnics Association executive director Julie Heckman described the financially crippling effect: “They’re all little family businesses. They have to calculate how much can a business afford to take in, and how much do they really need to charge the consumer.” The industry generates over $2 billion per year for the American economy and provides 70% of consumer fireworks sold to raise money for charitable organizations.
Most of them are tied up in perpetual contracts that don’t allow them to raise prices suddenly to make up for tariff expense. John Sorgi, whose great-grandfather founded the American Fireworks Company in 1902, said he adjusted prices four times during the tumultuous 2025 season, sometimes every other week.
Supply chain mayhem and inventory nuisance
The fireworks supply chain operates on a year-ahead planning cycle that makes it vulnerable to sudden policy changes. Retailers place their fireworks order from China a year ahead of time, and the manufacturers produce the goods between autumn and winter and transport them during spring and summer months before July 4th. It is such a long lead time that firms cannot change so readily when tariffs are imposed.
Anders Nelson, who owns Fireworks Nation, explained the tough choices the importers had to make: “We had boats out on the water, and so, of course, we had to bring them in, so we did have some charges on tariffs. But all the ones who hadn’t shipped yet, we suspended the orders.”
The business has seen overall supply deficits as a consequence. Patrick Spielbauer, CEO of third-generation Spielbauer Fireworks, indicated that he got only 20-25% of anticipated deliveries from China. Phantom Fireworks was among large importers to cancel all Chinese production orders when tariffs hit 145%.
Impact on consumers and communities
The effects of these tariffs are being felt directly by American consumers and communities. Fireworks retailers are struggling to maintain inventory while managing dramatically increased costs. Bruce Zoldan, CEO of Phantom Fireworks, reported that while his 100 stores and 1,600 seasonal stands have seen sales almost 30% higher per day than last year, he warns customers that “if you wait until July 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, half the merchandise is sold out and the lines are long”.
Professional display companies are facing even more severe challenges. Mike Hartman, president of Zambelli International, explained that for professional shows, “there are no domestic manufacturers, so they’re reaching out to their customers” to share the increased costs. Some professional displays that typically cost $13,000 have seen prices rise to $50,000.
