Particle.news

Download on the App Store

Fireworks Industry Presses for Tariff Relief as Temporary Pause Nears End

The pause on duties expires July 9, leaving suppliers uncertain about costs for the crucial 2026 season.

Meat is displayed at Best World Supermarket in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood of Washington, DC, on August 19, 2022.

Overview

  • The 30 percent tariff rate on Chinese fireworks is set to lapse July 9 when a 90-day pause concludes, raising the prospect of a return to 145 percent duties.
  • Most importers secured 2025 Independence Day inventory under the 30 percent rate, but higher costs have squeezed margins for smaller family businesses.
  • Trade groups including the American Pyrotechnics Association and National Fireworks Association are lobbying the administration and U.S. Trade Representative for exemptions or a reduced rate.
  • Domestic reshoring of fireworks manufacturing remains unworkable due to land, regulatory and safety constraints that limit new U.S. production.
  • Unpredictable duties threaten to shorten or cancel high-profile semiquincentennial displays in 2026, particularly in smaller communities.