4th of July fireworks brought to you by China

[Jefferson23]

By ERIC BRADNER | 7/3/14 6:00 PM EDT

On Independence Day, celebrations across the United States depend on China.

The sparklers, bottle rockets and Roman candles you’ll be using this Fourth of July almost certainly came from there. So did the professional-grade pyrotechnics that’ll be launched above the Washington Monument on Friday night.
It’s a quirky exception to “Buy American” sentiments that are otherwise going strong and picking up steam in Washington and corporate America, especially around patriotic events.


After all, Congress passed a law this year requiring flags flown by the U.S. military to be made in America. Ralph Lauren, meanwhile, scrambled ahead of this year’s Winter Olympics in Sochi to make sure that Team USA’s uniforms were all manufactured in the United States. And first lady Michelle Obama used U.S.-grown iris and quince blossoms at a state dinner for France in May, departing from the White House’s typical practice of using imported flowers.

But fireworks? No change there. Over the past 35 years, China has grabbed nearly the entire U.S. market — with 98 to 99 percent of what consumers will buy this year being made there, as well as 75 percent of the “display” fireworks, which are used in big, public shows.

Fireworks are a big business, with $675 million in sales just to consumers who will shoot off their own products expected this year, said Julie Heckman, the American Pyrotechnics Association’s executive director. Chinese imports are necessary, she said, because it’s “very, very labor-intensive to make fireworks. Basically everything is still made by hand.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/07/4th-of-july-fireworks-china-108543.html#ixzz36bXsm0Q3

[onehandle]

1. So if you attended fireworks last night, you support forced abortions by Communists.

What say ye, Hobby Lobby family?

[Jefferson23]

2. ha ha, good one.

Hope you had a happy 4th, onehandle.

[gordianot]

3. As has been the case for decades stretching back to Mao.

[MineralMan]

4. Think about how difficult it must be to build a new fireworks

factory anywhere in the United States. I can't imagine any populated area with enough potential workers ever giving a permit for such a factory, frankly. There are a few left, I suppose, probably grandfathered in, but it's not a growth industry here, and I doubt it will ever be again.

[Jefferson23]

5. We have a few, but yea..the federal regulations make manufacturing here difficult.

With that said, we're talking about a great deal of money going instead to China.

About Fireworks by Grucci



Holders of the Guinness World Record for the "Largest Fireworks Display" ever recorded, Fireworks by Grucci is a sixth-generation, family-owned and operated company. They are world-renowned for pyrotechnic artistry, scientific innovation and old-fashioned values. This year, they are proud to be commissioned for the “Star Spangled Spectacular,” in Baltimore, the official celebration of the 200th Anniversary of our National Anthem. Known as "America's First Family of Fireworks," the Gruccis have transformed the night skies to the delight of millions across the globe since 1850. Among their signature performances are countless performances in and around Las Vegas, NV., seven consecutive U.S. Presidential Inaugurations; the Olympic Games in Beijing, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles and Lake Placid; commemorations such as the Centennial of the Statue of Liberty and star-studded extravaganzas including the grand opening of the Atlantis Dubai and the Palm Jumeirah Island in the United Arab Emirates. On New Year’s Eve 2013, a stunning performance displaying 479,651 fireworks made its debut above Dubai’s iconic skyline. The Gruccis achieved their “Largest Fireworks Display” title with this performance and smashed the Guinness Book of World Record’s preceding mark. Phil Grucci currently serves as President/CEO of Fireworks by Grucci, Inc. and Pyrotechnique by Grucci, Inc., the manufacturing entity of the Grucci group of companies.

http://www.grucci.com/main.html?pgid=10

[MineralMan]

6. Grucci is certainly one of them.

They've been around for a very long time. The real problem is as I described. It would be very, very difficult for a new U.S. fireworks manufacturer to open for business or to be profitable. Literally nobody wants a fireworks factory nearby. They have a relatively poor history, really, of safety. The Federal and local permitting process, which regulates explosives and other pyrotechnic devices is complex and difficult. OTOH, it's less expensive to get licensed to transport, warehouse, and do other things with fireworks, and that's where the profitability is.

I live in Minnesota, St. Paul, specifically. Aerial and explosive fireworks are prohibited here. That is completely ignored, however, and a 20 minute drive into Wisconsin gives St. Paulites access to the full range of consumer fireworks. Last night, we had ample evidence of that in my neighborhood and in neighborhoods all over St. Paul and other Minnesota cities. Displays rivaled professional displays, just scaled down a little.

The people in Wisconsin, where those fireworks were purchased, make lots of money serving the Twin Cities metro area. But, the money is in retails sales of Chinese-made fireworks. If they had to get their fireworks from U.S. manufacturers, that business would not exist. There's no profitability in manufacturing fireworks for consumer use. For professional shows? Sure.