Trying to stop the tariff

[displayfireworks1]

From the APA and NFA.
.
.
7088
.
.
7089
.
.
7090


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdo3h-TgCzo

[Salutecake]

I hpoe it works! I don't hear China backing down on anything, and with that trump is threatening an addition 50% to make it a 109% tarrif.

[BMoore]

I hpoe it works! I don't hear China backing down on anything, and with that trump is threatening an addition 50% to make it a 109% tarrif.

My concern is that it may be too little too late. I've got about 85% of my 2025 purchases so the sting won't be too horrible this year, but what about 2026? Product leaving China this spring/summer makes up inventory for 2026 and distributors will need to recoup those costs. I feel like some of these discussions should have started long before now. What a shame if the 250th anniversary of our nation is the year where a lot of us are priced out of the game.

[Birdman]

My concern is that it may be too little too late. I've got about 85% of my 2025 purchases so the sting won't be too horrible this year, but what about 2026? Product leaving China this spring/summer makes up inventory for 2026 and distributors will need to recoup those costs. I feel like some of these discussions should have started long before now. What a shame if the 250th anniversary of our nation is the year where a lot of us are priced out of the game.

I wanted to bring this up a long time ago but didn't want to inject politics. I finally broke down and brought it up once tariffs were all but certain. At this point I have other uncertainties besides tariffs to contemplate and just need to play it by ear until I commit to any plans. I'm so annoyed with my entire situation that I just want to pack everything away and hope I live to see better days with a renewed excitement for the hobby. I just know come the 4th I'll most likely regret that decision.

[BMoore]

I wanted to bring this up a long time ago but didn't want to inject politics. I finally broke down and brought it up once tariffs were all but certain. At this point I have other uncertainties besides tariffs to contemplate and just need to play it by ear until I commit to any plans. I'm so annoyed with my entire situation that I just want to pack everything away and hope I live to see better days with a renewed excitement for the hobby. I just know come the 4th I'll most likely regret that decision.

I feel you brother. I too have other pressures in life putting headwinds against my hobbies. I had already kind of decided that I was maxed out on budget, maxed out on time to complete my show, maxed out on manpower to help, etc. My thought was to up my game again in 2025 (which I will), then pull out all stops for the 250th birthday in 2026 (My 50th birthday as well) and then call it a good time to semi-retire from the hobby or at least aim for smaller and less stressful. I'm now thinking I might need to move that timetable up a year, but we shall see. I was originally going to hold off on ordering until Spring this year due to some uncertainties at work but then a couple of cakes came in over the winter that I really wanted so I ended up pulling the trigger on about 85% of what I need. Probably not the wisest, but one of the luckiest decision I ever made as it probably saved me thousands in tariff upcharges. If not for that I'd probably be sitting 2025 out as well.

[jdels]

I feel you brother. I too have other pressures in life putting headwinds against my hobbies. I had already kind of decided that I was maxed out on budget, maxed out on time to complete my show, maxed out on manpower to help, etc. My thought was to up my game again in 2025 (which I will), then pull out all stops for the 250th birthday in 2026 (My 50th birthday as well) and then call it a good time to semi-retire from the hobby or at least aim for smaller and less stressful. I'm now thinking I might need to move that timetable up a year, but we shall see. I was originally going to hold off on ordering until Spring this year due to some uncertainties at work but then a couple of cakes came in over the winter that I really wanted so I ended up pulling the trigger on about 85% of what I need. Probably not the wisest, but one of the luckiest decision I ever made as it probably saved me thousands in tariff upcharges. If not for that I'd probably be sitting 2025 out as well.

Same here. Big order with WFBoom in Feb. Glad I did it. Next year will be it unless something drastic happens with pricing.

[KDirk]

I'm glad I have much leftover product from last year (I always overbuy) and already squared away my purchase for this year, which was a little lighter than usual due to budget constraints. I probably will not have nearly the leftover product after this coming Independence Day that I've had each of the last 3-4 years, so will be even more constrained going into 2026 if the tariff issue with China doesn't get resolved fairly quickly.

Obviously, product for next year will already be shipping as early as June and July of this year for the big wholesalers, so if it isn't square away before then, the price increases on any of that incoming product will be brutal. That doesn't account for the possibility that wholesalers may expect a precipitous loss of sales volume, and so will reduce their order accordingly. That could put the supply of product in a worse state than COVID did for a couple of years, in at least the 2026 season (assuming anyone is still buying at the elevated prices).

I too will be pretty bummed out if the 250th birthday of the USA is marked by an inability to put on a decent fireworks show. Of course if these issue doesn't get resolved pretty quickly, we'll have larger problems to focus our attention on than buying pyro product and having a big party. Given the rapid escalation of this situation, I don't think it can go on very long without capitulation taking place.

I imagine this will also impact the cost of firing hardware from the major players in the business, as at least some portion of their products is sourced from China. I'm in good shape as far as that goes, and have expanded my Cobra setup about as far as I feel I need to, for number of cues. This may impact replacement parts, though.

[displayfireworks1]

Recently released video from China Observer talking about the tariffs with China. Not necessarily specific to fireworks but the economic fundamentals of the situation.
.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcXB12HGZjo

[Salutecake]

Nice vid Dave.

I like Birdman refrain from the politics, I only wonder if you took that guy from the video and 5 others from China, plus 6 people off the street of the US, put them all in a room, I bet by the time lunch time rolled around a fair deal for both countries would be made.

[displayfireworks1]

Fireworks tariff fallout starting.
.
.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8ozu9EHgtM
.
.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGugxC0ssk8
.
.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jO8quBOxAM0

[KDirk]

I read earlier where there has now been an exemption carved out for smart phones and computers, as regards the tariffs on Chinese imports.. Not aiming to set off a poltiical debate whatsoever, but perhaps the pyro industry groups can more effectively lobby for fireworks product to be similarly exempted now, as they have already spoken of their efforts to that end.

It has been stated in interviews and other press materials from industry insiders, this is a highly seasonal business, and so time is of the essence in order to avoid wrecking 2025 sales. My only dog in the fight is having the ability to buy product without it being substantially more costly. I have no inside connections to the pyro business, so my livelihood isn't getting nicked, though maybe my wallet will be.

[Salutecake]

Not meaning this is a political way, but perhaps the APA and NFA should write a letter telling trump that if he wants to have fireworks for his birthday parade, he better remove the tarrifs.

[displayfireworks1]

From the New York Post. Posted today April 15, 2025. Reported to be the first newspaper President Trump reads every morning
.
.
https://nypost.com/2025/04/15/us-news/fireworks-industry-urging-trump-to-consider-tariff-exemption/

[mattfr12]

The price of stuff has sure surged that's for sure. One of the display companies i usually purchase from cant let go of any Chinese product. They have uncertainty they will have enough for themselves. The tariffs will eventually go back down its just when no one knows.

[Blaster]

Yea But,,, the 145% can't have that much of an effect for the upcoming season though. I mean, the vast majority of material is already in-country, at least the 1.3, the threat that the professional shows will be in danger, is kinda BS...

Looks like an opportunity for profiteering, by display companies, more than anything else right now ;)

By the 2026 Season, who knows where this will shake out...

[BMoore]

Yea But,,, the 145% can't have that much of an effect for the upcoming season though. I mean, the vast majority of material is already in-country, at least the 1.3, the threat that the professional shows will be in danger, is kinda BS...

Looks like an opportunity for profiteering, by display companies, more than anything else right now ;)

By the 2026 Season, who knows where this will shake out...

I think the issue is at this time of the year a lot of product is committed for shipment or already on the water and will get slapped with 145% or whatever we are up to now once it hits port. You can't sell the product with that kind of markup so the increased incremental cost is being equalized over the in-stock inventory. Some 1.3 product I had been waiting on got cancelled and I had to make substitutions. I've been informed that any additional orders I make this year will be subject to a tariff surcharge even if it is in-stock inventory. I'm glad I ordered early this year!

Generally speaking though I agree that there should be no product shortage for 2025 and cost increases should be relatively manageable. Its 2026 that we really need to worry about. And for all intents and purposes that worry should be now since 2026 inventory is what should be rolling in now and through the summer.

[KDirk]

This years consumer product is -mostly- already on shore, but Cody B (yeah, I know) did a video the other day in which he conversed with numerous people in the industry, and one big wholesaler/distributor stated 80% of their product was in "under the wire" while the balance was either going to get hit by the initial lesser tariffs, or simply not get brought in at all under the new 145% level.

So, there will probably end up being some product that just isn't available, I'd guess items that were newly developed for this year and were a bit later to ship. Either they will sit in China awaiting a resolution, or if not made yet, will have production cancelled until distributors can be confident the product can be imported at a reasonable cost.

I'd speculate 2026 is very much at risk right now, if this becomes a protracted situation. I try to consider that there are much bigger problems that need solving, and not simply go about talking my book because I'm a pyro hobbyist who is going to be stung in the wallet (or even potentially left with no available product) by current events. But it does kind of suck to be faced with this further setback after the hiccups COVID caused, and having invested heavily in Cobra hardware that may be idled if this doesn't see a prompt resolution.

[displayfireworks1]

Posted on my YouTube channel.
.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTwrUeDVDQo

[Salutecake]

Thanks Dave! and where did you get that Roman candle setup?

Anway, basically what you said, very correct. The sad part, is that if all of these tariffs don't go away soon the whole economy will be in jeopardy. Already, while some American jobs might begin to fourish, most of the American and Chinese jobs ar starting to tank. It's Global.

[displayfireworks1]

Thanks Dave! and where did you get that Roman candle setup?

It is called Winda Trooper Turret. Winda Fireworks is one of my advertisers. They send me various new and sample fireworks . I see American Fireworks sells it.
.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jkivVUevm0
.
.
On a side note , in the video I also mentioned China and "The Great Leap Forward" along with the Four Pest campaign.For anyone that enjoys reading about historic events.
.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Leap_Forward
.
.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Pests_campaign
.
.
7105

[displayfireworks1]

This is a YouTube channel that covers events in china. At a little over one minute into this video you will hear them discuss fireworks and the usual April deadline for getting the product to the USA for the holiday.
.
.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjgQ2uGg_9o

[KDirk]

At this point, as bummed as I am about price increases, I'm more concerned about the long term effects on availability of product, and in stunting further innovation of consumer class pyro. If this becomes a protracted situation, the Chinese factories that make the product may shutter, and that could create a situation where it will take years - if ever - for the same capacity and level of new product development to recover.

In the big picture, this is kind of a petty concern to get hung up on, as there will be far worse damage done to other more critical sectors of the economy that we'll have to muddle through. All the same, it doesn't portend well for our future enjoyment of shooting consumer pyro in the manner to which we have gotten accustomed, and I'm quite displeased at that prospect.

Just as the US is seeking to incentivize restoration of key manufacturing domestically, killing off Chinese manufacture of product categories that will never be made here under any circumstances most likely means we simply won't have those products anymore. Unless, of course, another country (like Mexico or some place elsewhere in Asia) spins up a lot of new capacity. Fireworks are one of those categories that I just don't see getting made to the current standards anywhere but China, and it sounds to me like Dave is leaning the same way here in his video. He has a lot of direct experience in the fireworks business, so I have to gather be knows of what he speaks.

[Birdman]

Unless, of course, another country (like Mexico or some place elsewhere in Asia) spins up a lot of new capacity. Fireworks are one of those categories that I just don't see getting made to the current standards anywhere but China, and it sounds to me like Dave is leaning the same way here in his video. He has a lot of direct experience in the fireworks business, so I have to gather be knows of what he speaks.

Part of the problem is that fireworks are more of art form that requires craftsmanship then simply a feat of engineering. Even new sources of cheap labor doesn't get around this. Some of these hurdles could be overcome in time (possibly decades) but I suspect you will never replace what is coming out of China. Any foodie knows you can by cheap similar foods that are similar but if you want your Italian dish to taste like it was made in Italy you need that imported parmigiana from Italy. Kraft "shake parm" just isn't going to cut it. The fireworks industry and consumers have been blessed with quality, innovation and affordability with the product coming out of China. I suspect it's rare to see all three of these occur in any industry. I just don't believe we could ever expect that to be the case if manufacturing moved out of China.

[displayfireworks1]

https://youtu.be/GTwrUeDVDQo?t=652
.
.

https://youtu.be/Cjj3F0k75k4?t=82
.
.
In my video I discussed above at the 10:55 mark, the tariff exemption for items of value less than $800.00 apparently is now closing to further put pressure on China to come to the bargaining table. That tariff exemption also known as the De Minimis Exemption will now add tariff cost of $75.00 to $150.00 or more as future dates arrive.
I suspect many fireworks users purchase consumer clip on igniters and fireworks firing systems from EBay etc. Those originate in China. As of May with further tariff increase planned for June 1. 2025 will go into effect. The duty will be at your expense.
My advice as of today is DO NOT order any eBay fireworks firing systems or related accessories that originate in China. This trade loophole is now closing. Further, they are evaluating if these rules should further extend to include Macau.
It is estimated there are 4 million De Minimis < $800.00 shipments into United States each day.
While the U.S. previously offered a generous de minimis exemption, China enforces strict import restrictions and tightly limits de minimis exemptions, showing no similar leniency toward U.S. shipments.

[KDirk]

Indeed, things like igniters and fuse will also be impacted. I have to wonder what effect this will have on Cobra, as I gather at least some components of their hardware are sourced from China, and this may have a major impact on the launch of the 18R3 (though it is doubtful I'll be upgrading to one of those, at least not right away) since my 18R2 does what I need it to, and is still in "as new" condition. I assume most slats are sourced from PCB manufacturers in China, so those get nicked as well.