The American Independence Day celebration fireworks have encountered troubles. According to several American media reports, due to the US government’s tariffs, this year’s fireworks prices may soar, and supply will become even tighter. In previous years, the United States has almost entirely relied on China for its fireworks for Independence Day celebrations. The American fireworks industry believes that if tariff issues are not resolved in a timely manner, not only will the cost of celebrating Independence Day on July 4th this year increase significantly, but the 250th anniversary celebration of the founding of the United States in 2026 could also be “in jeopardy”.
Fireworks trade accounts for a very small part of the annual massive goods trade volume between China and the US, yet it is closely related to the lives of people in both countries and involves significant events such as Independence Day in the political life of Americans. It can be seen as a microcosm of the macro.
China is the birthplace of fireworks and the world’s largest producer and exporter of fireworks. Professional performance fireworks on American markets are all produced in China. According to Americans themselves, “Almost everything that makes a sound or buzzes in America comes from China.” In fact, it’s not just America; from Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks show to the Qatar World Cup closing ceremony, many major global celebrations cannot do without Chinese fireworks. Chinese fireworks bring joy, shock, anticipation, and emotion to countless people around the world.
Despite some American politicians repeatedly advocating for a “decoupling” between China and the US, the fact has proven that even with a small firework, achieving a “decoupling” is difficult.
The chairman of the American Firework Association confirmed that the US lacks raw materials, gunpowder, and chemicals needed for fireworks production, and even if someone wanted to produce them, chemicals still need to rely on imports. This is not a loss for the US but an active choice made by both countries to complement each other’s advantages in the global trade system. From toys for children to the gears required for production machinery, and then to corn and soybeans, the nutrients brought about by Sino-US trade have penetrated the capillaries of the two economic giants’ production and living.
China is the second-largest import source for the United States, enriching its shelves and lowering inflation, bringing tangible benefits to American citizens. China also ranks as the third-largest export market for the US, with soybeans, cotton, and integrated circuits accounting for about 30% of the US’s exports abroad, while coal, oil gas, and medical devices account for another 25%. These figures are not insignificant. Currently, the US fireworks industry is seizing the “import window” during the Sino-US economic and trade negotiations, indicating that the relationship between China and the US, characterized by a “mutual dependence,” is an economic rule and a popular sentiment. It underscores that China’s manufacturing advantages cannot be offset by tariffs; the economic complementarity and cultural integration between China and the US cannot be cut off by political manipulation. Washington’s politicians, attempting to suppress China in various fields and artificially create barriers to Sino-US exchanges, are essentially destroying the real interests and simple needs of American citizens at their own hands.
Recently, a video of a US blogger who tried to make barbecue brushes from Chinese goods went viral online.
In the era of increasingly specialized division of labor, protectionism is unsustainable. No country can or should relocate everything it needs back to its homeland for production.
A recent report by US media on the production of outdoor gear in the US demonstrates that the tariff policies aimed at achieving “manufacturing relocation” have had the opposite effect, even forcing American companies to consider moving their operations to China. A report released this year by the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation shows that despite facing tariffs and other policy impacts, most surveyed American businesses still wish to maintain their connections with China. The scale of China’s market, its complete supply chain and manufacturer system, and its skilled workforce are reasons they find irresistible.
近日，中美已就落实日内瓦共识的框架达成了补充谅解，中方将依法审批符合条件的管制物项出口申请，美方将相应取消对华采取的一系列限制性措施。中美贸易紧张局势得到缓和，而来自两国企业界更强烈的呼声是，不确定性是与高关税“等量齐观”的威胁，他们呼吁为两国贸易提供更加长远的稳定预期。
这需要美方与中方相向而行，按照两国元首
日通话重要共识和要求，进一步发挥好中美经贸磋商机制作用，排除各种干扰和破坏，让中美经贸合作重回健康稳定发展的正轨。