Save Our Fireworks

On July 1, 2019, Congressmen Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) and Tim Burchett (R-TN) wrote a letter to Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Acting Chairwoman Ann Marie Buerkle about their concerns of the agency’s proposed rulemaking around fireworks and their concerns that it will have on small businesses.

We hope that everyone had a safe Fourth, have had a few days off and are ready to return to the task of the CPSC and the proposed fireworks rule change. We don’t want to start with bad news, so let’s start with the good.  It seems that we were successful in pushing back the #BoomTax . On July 1 st , after President Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit, the President agreed to not implement the tariffs on $300 billion worth of Chinese imports that included fireworks - for now. That’s great news for our industry and our customers who won’t face the burden of figuring out how these tariffs effect their inventory, and the end user who won’t face the possibility of higher prices on products. It’s a short-term win, and maybe a long-term victory for everyone! Now, the not so good news. We still face the prospect of  rulemaking  from the Consumer Produc...

From the Washington Times : Mr. Houser of the National Fireworks Association said he heard the news about the postponement of tariffs after a meeting between Mr. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping while he was sitting in his office at 1 a.m. last week.   “I’m very happy to see that at this point it has been delayed because at the end of the whole discussion, I have nowhere else to go as a fireworks importer,” he said.  Mr. Houser said he talked with many fireworks retailers and vendors across the country leading up to July 1. He said they asked him whether they should raise the prices of their fireworks because of the trade tensions and potential tariffs. Mr. Houser said his prices did not rise this year because of the potential tariffs, but he told retailers that might not be the case next year.  “If the tariff actually happens, then you can rest assured that come next time around, and even this fall, there will be a price change to reflect the ...

WASHINGTON –  National Fireworks Association Secretary Steve Houser released the following statement upon hearing President Trump has re-opened trade negotiations with China:  “I’m pleased the President has recognized the devastating consequences a boom tax would have on such a seasonal industry such as fireworks. It’s even better for the millions of Americans who will be celebrating our nation’s birthday this week in backyards and block parties across the country.  “However, that doesn’t mean that consumers won’t have their fireworks eventually affected. The Trump Administration, under the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is currently considering a regulatory action that would severely alter the performance of the fireworks American consumers have come to know and love. This rule would make them less colorful, less enjoyable and potentially less safe.  “In addition, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) independently analyzed, c...