By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
There should be plenty of fireworks and prices shouldn’t be too much higher than last year, despite the trade war between the United States and China.
That, according to Stacy Schneitter-Blake with Schneitters Fireworks and Importers of St. Joseph. Schneitter-Blake, the president of the National Fireworks Association, says nearly all the fireworks we shoot off this Independence Day are imported.
“For the consumer fireworks it’s 95 to 99% comes from China,” Schneitter-Blake tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.
Schneitter-Blake says most fireworks stands bought their fireworks early, before tariffs drove up the price. Fireworks wholesalers and retailers didn’t have to worry much about tariffs in the past. Schneitter-Blake says federal policy exempted fireworks from tariffs until 2019. Now, fireworks are in the thick of trade talks, especially this time of year.
Schneitter-Blake says she hasn’t seen a big impact on National Fireworks Association members this year.
“What I’m seeing right now, the prices are very similar as they have been in the past years,” Schneitter-Blake says. “They might have some, you know, maybe a little, slight difference in price.”
Supply might be a different story.
“We did leave some product in China,” according to Schneitter-Blake. “We have a lot of fireworks here, but I would encourage people to shop early in case there are certain items that we might be limited on.”
Schneitter-Blake says some fireworks manufacturers in China had to shut down production. They don’t have warehouse space and increasingly higher tariffs dampened demand from America. A 10% tariff early in the year quickly doubled and as the trade war escalated, tariffs on goods from China soared to 145% at one time.
Schneitter-Blake does advise consumers to shop early for their fireworks this Independence Day holiday. She says fireworks stands might be short on some items. Still, she doesn’t see much of an interruption to the celebrations this year.
Next year could be a different story.
“So, going into the 2026 season, we’re a little more leery about what that might happen to for next year, going into the 250th, semiquincentennial of our country,” Schneitter-Blake says.
The concern for next year is heightened by the approaching 250th anniversary celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
“My concerns right now are going into 2026,” Schneitter-Blake says. “Next year, for the semiquincentennial, the 4th of July lands on a Saturday. It’s kind of the perfect storm for a 250th anniversary of our country landing on a Saturday as well, on a weekend.”
Schneitter-Blake says the National Fireworks Association and the American Pyrotechnics Association are working together to lobby the federal government to once again exempt fireworks from tariffs.
Schneitters Fireworks and Importers is a retail, wholesale company that supplies fireworks to many companies that put on fireworks displays. It is celebrating its 130th anniversary. Schneitter-Blake says her parents and grandparents were founding members of the National Fireworks Association to have more of a say in federal policy. Schneitter-Blake has made several trips to Washington, D.C. to lobby for association members.
You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ
