President Donald Trump-themed fireworks are among the popular new arrivals at a tent on Palm Beach Boulevard in Tice, just east of Fort Myers. Alongside mortars, Roman candles and hundreds of other pyrotechnics, these fireworks are made in China — like about 99% of those sold in the U.S. for the Fourth of July and other seasonal celebrations — and are subject to the shifting tariffs first announced by Trump on April 2.
The tariffs caused major disruptions for American fireworks retailers, though consumers have seen only modest price increases. Julie Heckman, executive director of the American Pyrotechnics Association, said that for a short time after April 2, overlapping tariff rules drove costs up by 145%. They have since dropped to 30% amid ongoing negotiations.
Fireworks dealers in Southwest Florida said they absorbed costs for this season or were lucky enough to avoid tariffs depending on when their product cleared for shipment. The good news for consumers in 2025 is that prices and available stock probably won’t change much.
“Most retailers have tried to maintain their pricing at 2024 levels,” Heckman said. “But the uncertainty has really challenged these small family businesses in knowing how to order their product.”
They often order about a year in advance with products shipping between January and May.
Lehigh Acres resident Frank Vargas, Frank’s Fireworks owner, narrowly missed paying Trump’s tariffs on his most recent shipments.
“We got lucky that the tariffs didn’t affect us,” said Vargas. “The Lord blessed us.”
The fireworks retail business that he recalls starting 20 years ago now includes 10 to 12 tents in Naples, Immokalee, Fort Myers, LaBelle and Okeechobee between June 20 and July 4 and during the winter season from Dec. 20 to Jan. 1. In between the holidays, Vargas’ company sells saw palmetto berries.
The Tampa-based company Galaxy Fireworks wasn’t so lucky, said President Sharon Hunnewell-Johnson. It was founded in 1984 and has four brick-and-mortar stores along with more than 100 seasonal Florida tents run by independent contractors.
Their most recent shipments were cleared after tariffs took effect, forcing the company to pay the previous 5.3% plus an added 30% tariff.
“We have not raised prices as a whole,” Hunnewell-Johnson said. “We import here year-round. We’re just going to average it out. Hopefully they work through this tariff thing.”
Fort Myers residents Steven Zilen and Haley Goodman are independent contractors for Galaxy, operating a tent in Tice on Palm Beach Boulevard. It’s their first time selling fireworks. They are hoping for a boost in sales this year since the Fourth falls on a Friday instead of mid-week.
“They said in the years past these tents really do good,” Zilen said. “It intrigued us to maybe keep going on and do this another year.”
Next year could be a different story depending on where tariffs settle. The APA sought an exemption, asking Trump in two letters to end or reduce tariffs that could dampen next year’s celebration for the U.S.’s 250th anniversary. It was expected to be among the best-ever years for fireworks sales but now uncertainty reigns.
“If [tariffs] revert to triple digits, it will be crippling to the industry,” Heckman said. “It would be impossible to try to pass on a 145% increase.”
The APA argued that tariffs don’t incentivize U.S. production, writing in a letter to Trump: “America’s lack of key raw materials, high labor costs and strict regulatory environment make fireworks production in the U.S. impossible. Rather than reshoring jobs, tariffs will only drive-up costs for American businesses, local governments and consumers.”
