Are tariffs threatening Fourth of July fireworks this year in Pierce County?

Yahoo

25-05-2025

Tariffs have gone into effect, raising prices on many different products — including an import popular for Independence Day.
This year, Steilacoom's annual Four on the Fourth celebration will include a show the same as last year's, with the same pricetag, Steilacoom Citizens' Fireworks Committee chair Andy Phillips told the News Tribune, adding that both cost $47,300 each in a deal negotiated with Western Display Fireworks.
Western Display Fireworks co-president Brent Pavlicek told the News Tribune on the phone Wednesday that the fireworks industry has been deeply concerned about the current administration's tariffs, especially because the vast majority of fireworks in the United States are imported from China, along with most fireworks used across the world. 99% of consumer fireworks and 75% of display fireworks in the United States originate from China, according to the American Pyrotechnics Association (APA).
All of Western Display's fireworks are imported from abroad; very few manufacturers in the United States are equipped to produce fireworks and it is a seasonal industry mostly dependent on summer sales, so the supply available domestically is severely limited, he said.
Currently, during the 90-day suspension of many tariffs between the U.S. and China — including a previous broad 145% tariff on many Chinese products — the tariff on consumer (1.4G) firework imports is set to 35.3%, and the tariff on display (1.3G) firework imports is set at 32.4%, according to the APA. As of May 21, the United States also has a base 30% tariff on most goods imported from China, according to the New York Times.
The tariffs are difficult to manage, Pavlicek said, adding that if the current tariffs persist or increase, fireworks prices will have to increase substantially. The News Tribune inquired how much prices had already increased under the tariffs, but did not receive an estimate from Western Display Fireworks by the time of publication. As other costs continue to climb for the fireworks industry's insurance, labor and other logistics, prices have already had to increase, and that trend will be significantly exacerbated if tariffs remain in place, he said.
'A 32.4% tariff is detrimental to the fireworks industry,' Pavlicek said. '.... There are no suppliers in the U.S. or the world that can fulfill the demand — as an industry, we don't have other sources like other industries do, and other countries are not set up for the production.'
Kyle Schmidtke, a spokesperson for Pierce County, told The News Tribune via email that Pierce County does not sponsor any public fireworks displays itself, but manages the permitting process for public and private displays in the area. He said so far, the county has received two public display permit applications for Fourth of July fireworks displays and expects to see more, adding that by May 22 of last year, the county had similarly received only three public display permit applications but eventually saw a final total of seven applications for 2024. Although there is no particular deadline, Pierce County recommends applicants submit their permit applications at least four weeks before an event to ensure they have time for processing, Schmidtke said.
He added the county had also received 41 applications for fireworks sales through tents and stands this year, while last year they received only 37.
'Consumer fireworks (1.4g) may be used without a permit on July 4 and New Year's Eve, but a permit is required for use on any other date,' Schmidtke added in the email. 'Private displays outside those dates—typically weddings or other celebrations — are relatively limited; we usually receive five or fewer permit requests annually.'
Steilacoom mayor Dick Muri told The News Tribune via phone Monday that the Steilacoom Citizens' Fireworks Committee, which puts together the city's annual display Four on the Fourth, had not seen an impact from the tariffs because their fireworks are usually bought far in advance.
Phillips said Steilacoom's fireworks display was negotiated around five months ago, before the implementation of President Trump's new tariffs, adding that many other local fireworks shows likely followed a similar timeline. Many of the fireworks they purchase from Western Display Fireworks, however, are imported from China, which could affect their prices for next year's display, he added.
In an April 3 letter posted to their website, the APA urged the Trump administration to lift the tariffs, citing the need for fireworks inventory for next year's 250th Independence Day anniversary, a lack of domestic alternatives for fireworks production, and severe budget impacts on local governments and communities that will cause event cancellations.
'Tariffs will not incentivize U.S. production — they will only increase costs. The reality is that there are no manufacturing alternatives available outside of China,' the APA wrote in the letter. '.... America's lack of key raw materials, high labor costs, and strict regulatory environment make fireworks production in the U.S. impossible.'
It is unclear exactly how much prices might increase next year because of the uncertainty of what might occur after the 90-day suspension or at any time that tariffs might change, Pavlicek added.
The APA noted in the letter that some nonprofit organizations such as churches, scout troops and veterans' groups rely on fireworks sales for fundraising which will also threaten their revenue sources if price increases continue and may cause those sales to stop. Pierce County's local Puyallup Tribe and Muckleshoot Indian Tribe also bring in revenue through seasonal fireworks sales. The News Tribune made contact with the Puyallup and Muckleshoot Tribes on Friday but did not receive a comment by the time of publication.
Even if the tariff stays at 32.4%, fireworks prices will likely increase by more than a third of the current price to cover those costs, Pavlicek said.
The city has seen increases in fireworks prices in the last few years, mostly attributed to inflation, Muri said. Phillips said around seven or eight years ago, the fireworks display used to cost around $32,000, and each year, there are negotiations with fireworks companies that continue to propose five — or sometimes ten — percent increases in the price.
Funding for the show is made up of individual donations fundraised by the committee by door knocking, T-shirt sales and local business sponsorships, among other methods; the city does not pay for the show, Phillips added. Should the fireworks become more expensive in the coming years, the committee would plan to continue to fundraise and do its best to put on a quality show, he said.
'We do expect that probably next year we will be impacted by the tariffs if somehow or another they don't get dialed back,' Phillips said. '.... But the fact is, we were able to negotiate the same rate to get a comparable show to last year's, and that's encouraging.'
The News Tribune previously reported that Tacoma recently announced plans to cut city funding for its own annual Fourth of July fireworks show, the Summer Blast event. The News Tribune reported that the city estimates it would save $180,000 in the 2025-26 biennial budget and hopes future fireworks costs will be covered by the event's presenter and community sponsors — city officials indicated they anticipated continuing the fireworks display, although should third-party funding not suffice, the display would need to be canceled.
Tacoma Venues & Events spokesperson Hillary Brenner told The News Tribune via email that this year's Summer Blast event will include a fireworks show at a cost of $89,000, and added that the event organizers are 'currently in the process of securing sponsorship opportunities,' and 'in discussion with multiple companies.' Tacoma Venues & Events will support any fireworks expenses not covered by partners through revenue from the excise food tax and beverage items at the Tacoma Dome and Greater Tacoma convention center, Brenner said in an email.
She directed The News Tribune to Parks Tacoma for further information about the firework show plans and fireworks provider Western Display Fireworks for tariff impacts. Parks Tacoma public information officer Stacia Glenn told The News Tribune via email that Parks Tacoma was not able to provide information in time for the publication of the article due to temporary staff absences.
Western Display's work with upcoming Fourth of July fireworks shows in Pierce County should not be affected by the current tariffs or any changes because those contracts were negotiated months ago, prior to the tariffs' implementation, Pavlicek said — those shows will be ready to go.
However, he cited the APA's letter in a follow-up email, which notes that most fireworks imports happen within the first five months of the year and the tariffs will have impacts on Independance Day celebrations as sales continue for this year and the next.
'Deals for next year will have to look different if tariffs stay the same or are raised.' Pavlicek said. 'There probably will be people who can't afford the same fireworks next year as in years past.'