Chinese tariffs expected to increase prices for American celebrations

SALT LAKE CITY — If you’re a fireworks fanatic, it’s time to start saving. Chinese tariffs are expected to impact Utah fireworks sellers.

China is America’s #1 source for fireworks

Heavy U.S. tariffs on China will cause American fireworks prices to soar over the next several years.

From February 2024 to January 2025, the United States imported $508 million in fireworks. $481 million, about 95%, of those fireworks originated in China.

To give that number more perspective, Spain was the second largest importer in 2024, providing $9.74 million, or 1.9%, of all America’s fireworks.

Chinese tariffs impact Utah firework sellers

Some Utah firework sellers are already hearing from Chinese and local suppliers about price hikes.

“We have been receiving emails from our vendors in China that we ordered directly from, talking about the impact of the tariffs,” said John Knecht, co-owner of Duncan’s Fireworks. “Our local U.S. wholesalers that we buy from have already advised us that their (prices are) going up a percentage. They’re trying to spread it out over time, as are we.”

Knecht is not expecting to raise prices too high this year because they planned ahead and received most of their 2025 supply back in August before the tariffs.

“This year we probably won’t feel the tariff as much as those that are just now getting their orders in because we were planning ahead,” he said. 

Larger sellers who ordered and received fireworks before the tariffs are likely to have only natural price increases this year. However, if heavy tariffs stay in place, prices will rise in years to come.

“We will have some increases in 2026 as necessary,” said Knecht. “We will not uplift any of the prices more than what we’re getting charged and what is being levied as a tariff.”

He continued, “We don’t feel that our clients should have to pay more than what’s required, but we can’t necessarily lose money so we will have to pass those along. But we hope to minimize them because we buy directly from from the vendors rather than having anyone in between, and since we’re independent, we can go negotiate with them the best price possible.”

Knecht added that although prices will rise over the next few years, they are not planning to cut back on supply or change their distributors.

“We will be at full capacity and we’re going to try and maintain the prices as best we can to ensure that our clients can continue to enjoy the celebrations around America’s freedoms.”

Risk in stockpiling fireworks

Nearly every time there is a period of sudden economic uncertainty, Americans rush to the markets to try and stockpile items they are worried about losing, such as the great toilet-paper run of 2020.

But stockpiling fireworks isn’t the safest idea.

“I really don’t think it’s safe for the general public to store fireworks, and I think the fire marshals across Utah would agree … We think people should still buy for the event, and we at Duncan will do our best to keep the prices low based on what our costs are.”

Most fireworks have a shelf life of at least three years, but they should never be stored near other combustible items.

Fireworks cannot be legally distributed in Utah until the end of June.

Additional firework safety information can be found here.

Read more:

• Toys are expected to cost more by fall due to new US tariffs on imports from China
• What’s the impact of Trump tariffs, travel restrictions on the Olympics? Here’s what an IOC executive says
• Trump limits tariffs on most nations for 90 days, raises taxes on Chinese imports