Update – April 8, 2025

Fireworks Tariffs Increase to 59.3% – Order by April 9 to Lock in Current Pricing

Newly implemented tariffs have significantly raised the total duty on imported 1.4G fireworks to 59.3%, further impacting pricing across the industry. The updated breakdown includes a 5.3% general duty rate, a 20% previously imposed tariff, and a new 34% tariff targeting countries doing business with Venezuela—affecting China, the leading source of consumer fireworks in the U.S.

Effective Thursday, April 10, 2025, these changes will drive up costs for all fireworks orders.

To help customers secure inventory at current rates, Spirit of ‘76 Fireworks urges all orders to be placed by end of day Wednesday, April 9, 2025, with shipment scheduled no later than May 30, 2025.

We continue to advocate for the fireworks industry alongside the APA and NFA, encouraging swift action to reverse these tariffs. In the meantime, we thank you for your ongoing support and remain committed to offering the most competitive pricing possible.

On February 1, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order imposing an additional 10% tariff on all Chinese imports for the foreseeable future. For anyone who doesn’t know, a tariff is a tax “imposed by one country on goods imported from another country” (tarifffoundation.org). Tariffs may be defined as a tax on foreign businesses, but typically, the actual cost of such tax is paid by the entity or customer importing the goods as it is wrapped up in the final landed cost. 

While this announcement wasn’t entirely out of left field, the fireworks industry was holding out hope that there may be some exceptions to these additional tariffs, like in Trump’s first term. Unfortunately, our industry will be affected by the tariffs placed on Chinese goods. However, in this fast-paced world, changes can come rather quickly. With March and April being the peak shipping times for importing fireworks, these changes will affect everyone across the industry, so here’s what you need to know:

Rather listen to our team talk about it? Watch our recent YouTube Video here!

Let’s start with the good:

  1. Suppliers are still meeting demand. We’re not foreseeing product shortages due to these tariff changes.
  2. Spirit of ‘76 prices will remain unchanged through the end of February 2025, giving a little more time for these tariffs to be reversed or changed.
  3. Our ‘76 Pro Line, Pro Line Italia, and iShot products will be mostly unaffected by these particular tariffs. However, with talks of tariffs on the EU, this could change in the future.
  4. Tariffs on imports from Mexico were put on hold for now. While this is still an evolving situation, we’re taking this as a win, particularly since a lot of igniters come from Mexico!
  5. A 10% tariff does increase the cost of fireworks, but Spirit of ‘76 is actively evaluating the impact to make sure our pricing remains fair.
  6. The tariff only applies to the raw cost of the fireworks, not shipping, trucking, or other logistics costs.
  7. We will continue communicating with our customers as soon as we know anything.

Some questions we’ve seen:

  1. Why can’t we produce fireworks in the U.S.?
    • While we’d love to see more domestic production, it’s just not realistic in the short term or cost-effective. China, as a nation, is set up for mass manufacturing, from supply chains to logistics to the factories themselves. Unfortunately, the U.S. just doesn’t have the infrastructure to meet the demand at this time. 
  2. Why do we import from China? Couldn’t we find another supplier?
    • Again, China is simply the best at this point. A 10% increase, while not insignificant, is not enough to move the needle enough to search elsewhere for mass production.
  3. What is Spirit of ‘76 doing to help offset costs to their customers?
    • The complexities around tariffs, shipping costs, and product inventories are being taken into account to ensure we make the best decisions moving forward and we will continue to offer discounts and deals where we can to deliver the most affordable options. You can always stay current with our current sales, discounts, and promotions here.
  4. What’s the best way for customers to prepare?
    • Securing your inventory as early as possible. From what we’ve seen, including our plan, pricing across the industry will likely increase beginning March 1st. We encourage you to take advantage of pre-tariff pricing and combine it with our Special Order discount or shipping discounts to stock up and save as much as possible on inventory.

The fireworks industry is no stranger to change, and while these new tariffs bring challenges, Spirit of ‘76 is committed to keeping you informed and helping you navigate what’s ahead. We’ll continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as things develop. To ensure you don’t miss any important news, follow us on social media and subscribe to our email list for the latest industry updates, special offers, and expert insights. Let’s adapt together and make 2025 another great year for fireworks!

Watch our team hash this topic out below: