President Donald Trump’s massive Chinese tariffs are putting American fireworks shows at risk, threatening to raise prices and limit supplies.
US fireworks wholesalers and distributors say they canceled their shipments from China on the holiday on July 4th of this year. It has also stopped manufacturing in China in order to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s independence. Trump’s April 2nd tariff rollout, which he called “liberation day,” raised the effective import tax rate for almost all Chinese products to 145%, even after walking most of the other cleaning duties a few days later.
According to the National Fireworks Association, the chaotic trade policy fluctuations last month occurred just as U.S. fireworks companies were preparing to receive their cargo from the previous July 4th. Businesses say the tariffs are so steep that they can’t absorb them, and hiking prices are unruly able to handle the product to offset customers.
“There’s definitely a lot of urgency here for our industry, and it’s a very serious situation,” said Michael Ingram, CEO of Fireworks of America, a Missouri-based distributor. “It’s a shame that we’ll darken the sky on July 4th.”
Trump’s Chinese tariffs have ripple effects on the entire US economy, with retailers halting shipping products from China due to the high tariff costs. Seasonal products such as Christmas toys and Halloween costumes are particularly risky as companies need to produce and import them.
Trump on Wednesday dismissed the impact of the drop-off of cargo from China, saying “the ship is packed with ‘many of that, not all of it, what we don’t need.’
“Someone said, ‘Yeah, the shelves will be exposed.’ Well, maybe the kids have two dolls instead of 30? ” he said during a meeting with the Cabinet. “And perhaps two dolls would cost a few dollars more than usual.”
Ingram said his company was able to bring most of the July 4 fireworks to the US before the tariffs. However, he still stopped shipping 120,000 cases in China. Some of these supplies were aimed at groups of veterans who were planning to use the proceeds from firework sales to fund their suicide prevention programs.
“Shipping costs have essentially stopped. There are still a significant amount of fireworks in the US from the wholesalers we previously stocked, but many of us are usually dependent on cargo that arrived last month, so we are still looking forward to a shortage.”
Most large fireworks companies managed to get a large portion of their cargo before tariffs settled, but several smaller companies have planned to scale back their displays.
“It’s true that there are small businesses that could order one or two containers in a season, and their products are currently appearing at 145% tariffs, and they’re in real trouble,” Ingram said.
This likely means that retailers and people who buy fireworks from roadside stands on July 4th this year are priced higher and less choices, Schneiter Blake said. Her 130-year-old family business had to suspend some shipments that did not arrive before customs duties came into effect.
“At this high, bringing in fireworks was not impossible, so we had to leave the cargo overseas,” she said, adding that many others paid to return the cargo to the warehouse, rather than accepting more expensive delivery.
The tariffs put the country’s six-year-old fireworks supply at risk in July 2026. The uncertainty of the ongoing trade war has led many companies to cancel orders for next year’s show, and production has been stopped when Chinese plants should have ramped up.
“You can’t stay in that kind of business. No one can,” said Greg Hebert, owner of Houston-based adventure fireworks.
He said two large orders his Chinese suppliers arrived last month, leaving them slightly missing a tariff fee of thousands of dollars. It cleared the way his corporate clients showed fireworks placed for this summer celebration. However, tariffs have curtailed his company’s growth plans. He founded after the pandemic.
“Now we need to wait because we can’t afford a container ship for consumer fireworks now,” he said.
Even if the fireworks duties are lifted soon, it may be too late to step up production in time to meet our demands. By summer, fireworks production in China will be closed as the temperatures get too hot, and then production will be suspended again in the Chinese New Year before manufacturing products in the European and Chinese markets.
“If things don’t change over the next 30-45 days, it’s very nervous,” the company’s live event has been involved in the fireworks business for five generations, with 3,600 fireworks shows per year. “We ordered in 2026, but based on customs duties, we suspended production until certainty.”
Industry groups say they are seeking the White House for a tariff exemption similar to what they secured in 2019 during Trump’s first trade war with China. The group has met with administrators and lawmakers but says they have not received any commitments.
“The administration maintains regular contact with business leaders, industry groups and everyday Americans about our trade and economic policies,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement. “But President Trump was clear. If you’re worried about tariffs, the solution is simple. Make your product in America.”
This is not a good option, said Julie Heckman, executive director of the American Fireworks Association.
“It’s pointless to try and make it in the US at this point,” she said. “We don’t have raw materials and no one wants to do this kind of work. Making explosives is very dangerous and it’s very labor-intensive,” Heckman added that production facilities require a lot of land and safety regulations.
Vitale’s family once made fireworks in the United States, but was stopped in the 1990s.
“If we start trying to get back manufacturing tomorrow, it will take two or three years to rise and we can give 10% of the demand for our products,” he said. “No one can produce fireworks at a large professional or consumer level like the Chinese.”
Even if the tariffs are lifted in a few days or weeks, given the delay in shipment from China, there will not be enough time to bring the rest of his products to the US by July 4th.
Iowa Fireworks, which operates around 50 roadside stands across the state, recently cancelled two container shipments from China, said partner Zach Tellheak. However, he couldn’t stop a third. Currently on its way to the US, Tellhaak is trying to find a way to pay customs duties, retaining hopes for a certain exemption. Otherwise, he needs to charge more customers.
“I support President Trump and support what he’s trying to achieve, but it’s really bad timing for our industry and we’re stuck in the middle of this,” he said. “There are many industries like us, but it overlooks everything. A lot of seasonal business, you can’t just pause.
Tellheak said that his company’s fireworks stand is run by the Boy Scouts army, churches, families and school teachers. They rely on this money for the summer to pay bills and take time off with their families.